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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] comparison

Cisco and Dell Technologies are both solutions in the LAN Switching category. Additionally, 95% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Dell Technologies users who would recommend it.
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Read 173 Cisco Catalyst Switches reviews
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  • 4,412 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 8, 2024

Cisco Catalyst Switches and Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] compete in the networking market. Cisco seems to have an advantage in pricing and support, while Dell PowerConnect is preferred for its features.

Features: Cisco Catalyst Switches are known for advanced configuration options, high performance in large networks, and strong security features. Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] are favored for scalability, ease of integration, and enhancing complex networks.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Catalyst Switches require simplification in management and reduced learning curve. Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] need better documentation, improved technical support, and expanded user guidance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Catalyst Switches demand a detailed initial setup, but ongoing support is strong. Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] allow straightforward deployment, with room to improve troubleshooting support.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Catalyst Switches have higher initial costs, but deliver satisfactory ROI due to long-term stability. Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] offer a budget-friendly initial setup, with mixed ROI reviews based on network size.

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Buyer's Guide
LAN Switching
November 2024
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
9.0
Cisco Catalyst Switches support receives mixed reviews, ranging from efficient and expert service to dissatisfaction with delays and support inefficiencies.
No sentiment score available
 

Room For Improvement

Sentiment score
4.5
Cisco Catalyst Switches require better pricing, user-friendly interfaces, third-party compatibility, enhanced security, adaptability, and faster delivery.
No sentiment score available
Cisco Catalyst Switches could be a little bit cheaper as they are very costly.
For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Catalyst Switches report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] report
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.8
Cisco Catalyst Switches offer scalability and performance, making them a popular choice for medium to large enterprises despite challenges.
No sentiment score available
Cisco Catalyst Switches are scalable, and I would rate them eight to nine out of ten for scalability.
For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Catalyst Switches report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] report
 

Setup Cost

No sentiment score available
Cisco Catalyst Switches are costly but valued for quality, reliability, support, with complex licensing and potential cost-saving subscriptions.
No sentiment score available
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.1
Cisco Catalyst Switches are renowned for long-term reliability, with improvements addressing earlier hardware issues and minimal maintenance needs.
No sentiment score available
 

Valuable Features

Sentiment score
8.0
Cisco Catalyst Switches are renowned for their security, reliability, performance, and manageability, with excellent support and extensive documentation.
No sentiment score available
The most beneficial features for our network management are their stability and good customer support.
For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco Catalyst Switches report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] report
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
173
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Ethernet Switches (7th), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
Dell PowerConnect Switches ...
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
8.2
Number of Reviews
34
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Featured Reviews

SameerBali - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable and stable catalyst switch; can be easily installed
I like Cisco Catalyst Switches because most of the time, we can do what we want with the product. Cisco has good guidelines that enable us to implement anything, so we can have a multiple ability product on most of the network equipment worldwide. Cisco has communities or forums that help us implement more complicated areas in terms of network, so in addition, Cisco is not just a network equipment company, because they provide us most of the solutions, development, protocols, and new technologies, more than any other company in the world. I also like the availability of Cisco Catalyst Switches, including scalability and reliability. You can find all these in this product.
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Hasan Haseeb - PeerSpot reviewer
Excellent support, good pricing, and easy setup
I expect it to be a zero-touch or a plug-and-play device. To some extent, it is, but we need to know the architecture, and we need to know what exactly we are doing. It is not so easy to implement. It depends on what exactly we are doing and it is still not a plug-and-play or zero-touch device. In the upcoming version, they can make it zero-touch, where we can just power it on and start using it. They can have some templates for different scenarios, such as when you are using it for the data center or adding it to your existing infrastructure.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
61%
Computer Software Company
8%
Government
3%
Financial Services Firm
3%
Computer Software Company
17%
Government
10%
Educational Organization
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
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What do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
Cisco Catalyst Switches are quite pricey.
See all answers
What do you like most about Dell PowerConnect Switches?
Dell PowerConnect Switches have a VTL feature similar to Cisco's VSS. With VTL, using this technology, you can cluster two switches together to increase redundancy in the environment.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerConnect Switches?
The solution is cheaper than Cisco.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Dell PowerConnect Switches?
Some proprietary commands available in Cisco are preferred by users accustomed to Cisco systems. These users might hesitate to switch because they want to continue using familiar commands and see t...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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HPE ProCurve vs Cisco Catalyst Switches
Compared 15% of the time
Aruba Instant On Switches vs Cisco Catalyst Switches Logo
Aruba Instant On Switches vs Cisco Catalyst Switches
Compared 14% of the time
ExtremeSwitching vs Cisco Catalyst Switches Logo
ExtremeSwitching vs Cisco Catalyst Switches
Compared 12% of the time
Cisco Nexus vs Cisco Catalyst Switches Logo
Cisco Nexus vs Cisco Catalyst Switches
Compared 11% of the time
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Cisco Nexus vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
Cisco Nexus vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 12% of the time
NETGEAR Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
NETGEAR Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 8% of the time
Arista Networks Platform vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
Arista Networks Platform vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 8% of the time
HPE ProCurve vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
HPE ProCurve vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 8% of the time
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 7% of the time
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
November 2024
Cisco Catalyst Switches reportDownload Cisco Catalyst Switches product report
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
November 2024
Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] reportDownload Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] product report
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
PowerConnect Switches
 

Learn More

Cisco
Video not available
Dell Technologies
 

Overview

Cisco Catalyst Switches are a reliable and scalable network switching and routing solution, focusing on VLANs and VLAN switching. They are used as access switches, distribution switches, and core switches in various environments, deployed on-premises, and used for long connections. The switches are easy to configure, install, and upgrade and offer good pricing. 

The most valuable features include warranty and firmware support, stability, security, good performance, flexibility, etc. The Cisco Catalyst Switches have provided a stable solution for the organizations and are widely used, trusted, and well-known in the networking industry.

PowerConnect Switches family offers a set of flexible, manageable and comprehensive switch solutions supporting up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and optimized Internet iSCSI (iSCSI) performance with Dell Storage solutions, ideal for enterprise and campus LAN environments alike.

 

Sample Customers

Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Amerijet Holdings Inc., CGD Securities, MavenWire, Tulane University
Buyer's Guide
LAN Switching
November 2024
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