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Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] vs ExtremeSwitching comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...
Average Rating
8.2
Number of Reviews
34
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
ExtremeSwitching
Average Rating
8.4
Number of Reviews
20
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (7th), Data Center Networking (6th), AV Over IP Switching (3rd)
 

Featured Reviews

MOHAMEDELSHERIF - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 12, 2024
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.
AnkurKumar - PeerSpot reviewer
Sep 21, 2022
God performance, cost-effective, and capable of expanding
When I see the tech engineers, they join the calls whenever there is any performance issue. Whenever there is an RMA required to replace the switches, they don't commit to the timelines. Also, the support is not straightforward. There are so many processes in between. They lack responsiveness. Whenever we open a priority one case, they don't respond quickly at all. If there is an outage, we don't have any options. Sometimes we feel embarrassed providing support to our business. In contrast, I don't see any issue in the support model of Cisco. They are timely and respond fast. Everything is on time, actually. Even RMA delivery, if we are enrolled with their smart support, they can deliver the product within four hours, which is quite good actually. In terms of the support model, ExtremeSwitches is lagging.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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."
"The solution’s technical support is good."
"We have these switches installed in an environment with hardware from many other vendors, and so far, so good."
"Its throughout and compatibility are the most valuable."
"The most valuable feature is its ability to multitask."
"The tool is reliable, and it stands up well. The solution works fine and lasts a long time."
"PowerConnect Switches' stability is satisfactory."
"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 stability has been largely pretty good."
"ExtremeSwitching is a good, stable platform."
"The price is low compared to the competition."
"The performance of ExtremeSwitching is good."
"They are good. We have been using them for about two years, and we are satisfied with their performance. For our network environment, these switches are working fine."
"ExtremeSwitching fabric technology is a unique technology used to protect against viruses. ExtremeCloud IQ is a very good and feature-rich solution compared to Cisco, Ruxi Networks, or Huawei."
"ExtremeSwitching switches are highly reliable."
"The solution can scale."
 

Cons

"The IOS software that is used on the switches could be improved."
"The network features are not good."
"Scalability, especially with the power connect series is something that you have to take into account before starting the project because any changes to an ongoing project can be difficult."
"The one issue you face in the industry there is always some planned obsolescence in these switches."
"More stable firmware releases would be an improvement because we have had them randomly power on and off."
"Their hardware is not reliable, it's faulty."
"A big issue with this product is that when our customer migrated the data center, one cluster blocked the whole network and because we had a new approach, some commands were not compatible with the new version."
"It would be great to have modules that integrate with SDN solutions such as Cisco ACI, Arista SDN, Huawei Agile, and IBM."
"There are latency issues that need to be addressed."
"ExtremeSwitching switches are not prevalent in the industry, so it's harder to go online and research how to deploy their APs or switches. There is a broader user community for Cisco and Juniper because they've been around for a while and everybody has a bit of knowledge they can publish online."
"Extreme Networks does not have any entry-level products. This is a problem for them because Aruba has an Instant On series, which is new and cost-effective. Cisco also has the 1000 series, and other brands offer entry-level products."
"We noticed over the years that the price of the Extreme Switches has been rising and this will become a concern in the future."
"ExtremeSwitching is scalable to a certain extent for SME-segmented IP."
"The licensing is expensive."
"Improving product awareness and possibly enhancing technical documentation or training resources could be beneficial."
"ExtremeSwitching hardware lacks flexibility compared to some other options."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is cheaper than Cisco and licensing is yearly. We have to pay additional costs for support."
"Pricing for Dell PowerConnect Switches is quite competitive compared to Cisco and HP pricing. Dell has cheaper pricing and the company is trying to push for sales for its switching infrastructure because right now, the current market is dominated by Cisco. In the US market, there's Cisco, HP, Juniper, and Arista which you can buy for data center switching meant for different kinds of enterprises and ISPs. Dell PowerConnect Switches, on the other hand, is a product for people who need smaller setups or individual switches, especially those looking for a cheaper product and basic switching, though you can also buy a complete suite packaged with the switches."
"Its price is okay. Sometimes, it is lower than a Cisco solution."
"I would rate the pricing as a seven or eight."
"The initial cost was high but since they have lasted for over ten or twenty years they are worth it."
"Dell PowerConnect switches are cheaper than Cisco switches. Cisco's higher capacity switches (100 or 200 gigs) are super-expensive. With the higher capacity, the price of the switches and the price of the architecture go high. Dell is cheaper and modular. So, I don't need to invest 100% upfront. I can invest as I progress. That is an option because the chassis will not be populated with all the pluggables. I have a choice because it is modular. I can go for 25 gigs today, and after four months, I can go for 100 gigs, and after that, I can go for 200 gigs. I have a choice when it is not a fixed switch."
"The product has a low price for the features it provides."
"Inexpensive"
"There is a cost for ExtremeSwitching and if you want the support and maintenance, there are additional costs. My clients typically pay for the support and maintenance annually."
"We paid 25,000 to 30,000 INR."
"It is not a subscription-based model, and there is no licensing concept. We have to pay for hardware AMC. We have hardware on our premises and for the hardware support, we have to go for the annual maintenance contract with the partner."
"On pricing, ExtremeSwitches are going to beat most of the major competition."
"ExtremeSwitching offers very good pricing plans for their licenses. Compared to their rivals, ExtremeSwitching's prices are very affordable and reasonable. This is why our customers are happy to pay for their service critical support. ExtremeSwitching also offers a great portal to track clients, further satisfying our customers. They are always happy to pay for the service every month. The pricing is very reasonable."
"The product is expensive."
"There is no license required to use the solution. The hardware controller is expensive, and this is why I prefer controlling ExtremeSwitching on the cloud."
"The pricing and licensing are good with the cloud."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Educational Organization
7%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Computer Software Company
11%
Real Estate/Law Firm
9%
Construction Company
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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.
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...
What do you like most about ExtremeSwitching?
The product offers a single management platform for multiple models of switches. The tool also allows users to manage multiple sites from a single dashboard.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ExtremeSwitching?
The product pricing competes favorably with Cisco, making it a viable option for cost-conscious customers.
What needs improvement with ExtremeSwitching?
Improving product awareness and possibly enhancing technical documentation or training resources could be beneficial.
 

Also Known As

PowerConnect Switches
No data available
 

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Overview

 

Sample Customers

Amerijet Holdings Inc., CGD Securities, MavenWire, Tulane University
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