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 175 Cisco Catalyst Switches reviews

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3,248 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...

Read 34 Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] reviews

90% willing to recommend

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 12, 2025

Cisco Catalyst Switches and Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] compete in the network switch market, catering to different needs. While Cisco Catalyst Switches have an edge in advanced features and stability, Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] are notable for their cost-effectiveness and simplicity.

Features: Cisco Catalyst Switches are known for reliability with features like load balancing, VLAN capabilities, and PoE. They offer strong management options, scalability, and stability. Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] are valued for their ease of integration with other solutions and basic switching capabilities. They have a straightforward setup process and are suitable for basic network needs.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Catalyst Switches face challenges with high pricing and complex licensing. Users desire a more user-friendly configuration interface and better third-party integration. Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] could improve in scaling and stability, with enhancements in security features and integration capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Catalyst Switch deployments are complex, especially for on-premises and cloud integrations, yet they provide responsive global customer support. Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] are easier to deploy for straightforward networks and offer reliable technical support, making them accessible for simpler requirements.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Catalyst Switches are costly, with high initial pricing and additional costs for licensing, leading to a slower ROI. Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] are more cost-effective, offering quicker ROI due to lower pricing and being an attractive option for budget-conscious setups seeking basic functionality.

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LAN Switching

March 2025

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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:

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

175

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

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Featured Reviews

Joshua Odunsi

I.T INFRASTRUCTURE/SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR at Haggai Mortgage Bank Ltd

Ensures efficient performance and supports network growth with optimal speed

Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization. I experience optimal speed and effective configuration, making them stand out compared to other switches. The PoE switches offer more ports on SFP, and it is efficient in use. Overall, the switches provide me with the value I expect in terms of speed and efficiency.

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MOHAMEDELSHERIF

Senior Technical Consultant at International Turnkey Systems - ITS

You can cluster two switches together to increase redundancy in the environment

You can carry on a project without any consultation. Since the VxRail solution is experiencing significant growth and demand, integrating Dell PowerConnect switches becomes crucial. This integration enhances the VxRail server by offering three distinct solutions. Thus, this gives Dell PowerConnect an edge over Cisco. If you want to connect your virtualized environment and networks to your physical environment and users. In that case, Dell PowerConnect Switches, with VxRail, is the best choice for integrating such features into the hypervisor environment. This product is mainly targeted to virtualization environments. Therefore, Dell has considered this product's scalability, reliability, and robustness. If someone wants the server with VxRail as a free solution, I recommend going with the Dell PowerConnect. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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 switches."

"Technical support is always very helpful and fast to respond."

"The pricing is quite good."

"I have not opened up a ticket for Cisco Catalyst Switches. However, I have used the support from Cisco and they are very good and responsive."

"The solution works well with analytics."

"The product is reliable."

"The product is stable, and it performs well."

"These switches are stable."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches pros

"There is high reliability since we have used them for close to twenty years and only had possibly one failure."

"The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that it is a stable and reliable product covered with good warranties and prices that ensure deep discounts for partners."

"The most valuable feature of Dell PowerConnect Switches for me is the throughput. I also like that the product has more compatibility with Dell infrastructure, especially with EMC and new generation Dell servers. Dell PowerConnect Switches can also easily integrate with Dell servers, and this is another pro."

"The tool is reliable, and it stands up well. The solution works fine and lasts a long time."

"The solution's most valuable feature is its good integration with solutions from other vendors."

"Its throughout and compatibility are the most valuable."

"Their support has been excellent, and it has been quite stable and easy to set up."

"The most valuable features are the jumbo frames and the stacking."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pros

Cons

"It is not easy for everyone to configure the product's initial setup part, making it an area where improvements are required."

"The solution could improve by allowing administrators to create scripts to help automate processes to make tasks easier."

"These switches should have better compatibility with software-defined technology."

"It should have better security and the prices can always be lower. The cheaper the price, the better but if the quality is good, it's worth it. They also have to improve the firewalling."

"t is one of the most expensive solutions."

"The solution offers a bit of complexity and you need a specialized workforce."

"For the time being, Cisco Catalyst Switches are working well, but they are not PoE switches, which is why we would consider replacing them."

"The product's high price is an area of concern where improvements are required."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches cons

"Accessibility and management could be improved."

"What's lacking in Dell PowerConnect Switches is SD-WAN integration, and this is what needs to be improved in it. All enterprises now move towards SD-WAN infrastructure, and because Dell PowerConnect Switches don't currently support SD-WAN, the product would be replaced, considered a secondary switch, or linked up to a different switch. Integration or support for SD-WAN is what I'd like to see in the next version of Dell PowerConnect Switches."

"The product's infrastructure and connectivity features need improvement."

"An area for improvement would be that it's very hard to configure if you're not familiar with the UI or CLI of the product. The UI itself could also be improved."

"More stable firmware releases would be an improvement because we have had them randomly power on and off."

"Not a ten because I have to do a lot of testing on it. The correlation is okay."

"The solution's ROI for generic networking is not extraordinary."

"The IOS software that is used on the switches could be improved."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If you consider Cisco's price with the Dell, you will definitely lose with Cisco. But Cisco has a major area of equipment in general. Cisco has routers, firewalls, NAC, certain video conferencing, Apple phones, and different security solutions. But Dell doesn't have such areas, Dell only has switching architecture."

"Cisco Catalyst Switches is a very expensive solution."

"Licensing is on a yearly basis. We usually spend up to $20,000."

"Not one of the cheapest switches in the market. There are a lot of other cheaper switches, but in terms of availability and reliability, Cisco Catalyst Switches meet all requirements."

"The price should go down instead of up. "

"Compared to the price of other solutions such as Huawei and HP, Cisco Catalyst Switches is a cheaper solution."

"You don't have to pay any additional costs while using the product."

"The licensing, and maintenance fees are paid on a yearly basis."

More Cisco Catalyst Switches pricing and cost advice

"The product is cheaper than Cisco and licensing is yearly. We have to pay additional costs for support."

"In my opinion, it is a product that is priced somewhere in the middle, making it a well-priced solution in the middle. It is not a very cheap product."

"Cheaper than its competitors"

"PowerConnect Switches are priced well."

"I would rate the pricing as a seven or eight."

"This solution is much cheaper than comparable products by Cisco."

"The price of these switches is okay."

"Its price is okay. Sometimes, it is lower than a Cisco solution."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

67%

Computer Software Company

Government

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

16%

Government

10%

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

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...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?

Although Juniper is cheaper, Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.

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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

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Catalyst Switches

March 2025

Download Cisco Catalyst Switches product report

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

March 2025

Download Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] product report

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst

PowerConnect Switches

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.

Cisco

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.

Dell Technologies

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

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