Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Reviews

Dell PowerConnect Switches are primarily used at the distribution layer, but as the product evolved, higher models became available. These newer models can function closer to the core network or the backbone.

I have used these switches in banks and government hospitals in Nigeria. They are also deployed in universities and SMEs.

The tool is very user-friendly, with features catering to beginners and advanced users. For beginners, there are models with interactive and easy-to-navigate GUIs that aid in initial deployment and updates. For advanced users, there is the option to use the CLI.

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 their work on the new system. Although Dell PowerConnect switches support many industry standards, vendor-specific proprietary commands still differ between OEMs like Cisco, HP, and IBM.

It is designed to accommodate industry standards and ensure vendor compatibility. This approach would create a more seamless transition for users, allowing them to use familiar commands across different devices.

Intellectual property issues or policies might restrict this kind of implementation, but offering the ability to use proprietary commands from various vendors on a single device would provide a competitive edge and a better overall solution for users.

I rate the solution’s stability an eight out of ten.

The solution is scalable. 500 users are using this solution. It offers scalability and room for expansion through modular designs. They include chassis-based switches that can be expanded with additional Dell modules. These switches are ideal for data centers where space and cooling are not major concerns, allowing for significant growth and flexibility. While other brands of modular switches, such as Falcon Elite, are available. However, due to the bulkiness and higher demands for power and cooling, these chassis-based switches may not be the best fit for data centers with limited space and resources.

Support for Dell PowerConnect Switches is generally good, but there's room for improvement. Sometimes, the support process involves redundant steps, and the severity of the case can affect the responsiveness. When an engineer is finally assigned, the approach is very procedural, often requiring a detailed description of the issue in the ticket. Ideally, the initial conversation should quickly cover the requirements and the problem within a few minutes. If a fix is readily available, it should be applied immediately, and if further action is needed, it should be addressed.

The initial setup is easy and takes 10-15 minutes for a beginner to complete. It can be deployed using CLI or connected apps. Since I have experience, it took seven minutes to deploy.

The solution is cheaper than Cisco.

Dell PowerConnect Switches offer advanced segmentation, traffic suppression, and bandwidth based on requirements. They provide a level of security that ensures Application A cannot communicate with Application B. This is achieved by isolating applications on dedicated VLANs, ensuring they do not share resources. This is particularly important from a PCI DSS perspective, as sensitive applications must be isolated to prevent data breaches.

The switches support virtual operations, enabling efficient network segmentation. This is especially beneficial for traditional three-tier architecture setups, where web applications, service centers, and applications are each placed on separate VLANs. This logical separation enhances security and performance, making Dell PowerConnect Switches a unique solution for managing network traffic and ensuring secure, efficient operations.

If they want a replacement for their Dell PowerConnect switches, I recommend upgrading to a higher model. A higher model offers improved features and better performance. These newer models come with enhancements and additional capabilities to meet their needs. They can benefit from the latest advancements while maintaining compatibility with their current infrastructure. It's important to remember that it's an open market, so they can choose the best option.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

Dell PowerConnect Switches are the main switches we use for our users.

The solution’s technical support is good.

The IOS software that is used on the switches could be improved. The solution is a little cumbersome to configure and get them up in the environment.

I have been using Dell PowerConnect Switches for six years.

I rate the solution an eight out of ten for stability.

I rate the solution a six out of ten for scalability.

The solution’s technical support is good.

Positive

I've previously used Cisco switches. I switched to Dell PowerConnect Switches because it was less expensive and more cost-efficient.

The solution’s initial setup was a little complex. Two people were involved in the solution’s deployment.

We have seen a return on investment with Dell PowerConnect Switches.

The solution is less expensive and more cost-efficient.

Users will take a little time to configure the solution and get things up and running. However, the solution is pretty stable once it's up and running.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

They do not have any extraordinary features.

The switches are generic. There are no significant differences between the product and competitors. The commands may be different, but functionalities are the same. But, as Cisco dominates the network, Cisco-centric things might need to be present in Dell products. One area that needs improvement is their routing protocol approach or command, which gets a little complex.

We have been using the solution for three to four years.

It is a stable solution. I rate it as a six out of ten for stability.

The solution has 300-400 users in our company.

We have used solutions from Cisco, HP, Telstra, etc.

The setup is straightforward. It takes minimum time for deployment. Although the following policy configuration takes a little time, that doesn't hamper the business.

We implemented the solution with the help of a general networking resource.

The solution's ROI for generic networking is not extraordinary. As long as the price is reasonable, it is fine.

The licensing of the solution depends on what comes with the model. There's no add-on license apart from it. There could be one for the very high-end supply.

I recommend others use the solution to some extent. I suggest they prioritize solutions from HP over it. I rate it between six and seven.

My main use case for Dell PowerConnect Switches is as a data center switch, but only for specific servers.

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.

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.

My experience with Dell PowerConnect Switches is three to four years.

Dell PowerConnect Switches is a product that's quite stable.

I find Dell PowerConnect Switches scalable.

The technical support for Dell PowerConnect Switches isn't comparable with Cisco, Dell, and other major vendors. Dell support is improving, and it's good, not bad, but it's not comparable to Cisco support as the Cisco team is more knowledgeable and Cisco has a knowledgebase that's more easily available and reachable online. While in general, Dell products and systems has a knowledgebase that's still lacking.

If I were to rate the support for Dell PowerConnect Switches, I'd give a rating of two out of five.

Setting up Dell PowerConnect Switches is quite easy. On a scale of one to five, with one being difficult and five being easy, my rating for the initial setup of the product is four.

If you buy Dell PowerConnect Switches as a bundle with computers and the rest of the infrastructure, it's a good setup and you'll get value from your investment or ROI from the product.

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.

I have one customer that has a VxRail setup, a computer, an LDN platform, then Dell PowerConnect Switches. That customer has a complete rack, for example, four racks, and on top of the racks are Cisco switches, with the Dell switches linked up to the Cisco switches, rather than integrating the full environment with Dell. There's only a partial setup for the Dell PowerConnect Switches, then the rest of the environment has Cisco switches set up.

Many customers focus on Cisco or Arista gear, but smaller organizations or anybody looking for a smaller setup would find Dell competitive, easy to pitch, and easy to sell.

I evaluated Cisco, HP, and Arista products.

In comparison, Dell PowerConnect Switches provide normal switching or just the basic switching and routing protocols required for DC or campus area network infrastructure, while Cisco and HP have industry-standard and advanced protocols such as EVPN, IRS, clustering, VPC, virtual channels, etc., which are missing in Dell PowerConnect Switches. Even Arista has a good switching infrastructure for data centers.

Dell PowerConnect Switches is quite simple to operate, but if you compare it with Cisco, Arista, or HP, the switching infrastructure of Dell is inferior, and the main challenge is that it's missing industry-standard or advanced switching protocols.

The reason many people still buy Dell PowerConnect Switches, particularly the big organizations, is because of the Dell infrastructure. For example, if you buy the Dell rack solution "VxRail", then you have NSX and a complete Dell suite with storage, you'll want to have  Dell PowerConnect Switches, so mostly, the switches from Dell work perfectly because they're part of a bundle of Dell products.

I've been working with Dell PowerConnect Switches.

I would 100% recommend Dell PowerConnect Switches if you have a Dell environment and Dell infrastructure for more compatibility.

I'm rating Dell PowerConnect Switches seven out of ten. The product is fine in terms of reliability. It's just that its knowledge base is lacking and its technology also needs improvement versus other solutions in the market, so many people don't consider Dell PowerConnect Switches as primary switches.

I'm an integrator of Dell PowerConnect Switches.

The product has a low cost. The product is reliable.

The network features are not good.

My organization has a partnership with Dell.

The tool’s stability is good. I rate the stability a nine out of ten.

We have multiple customers. Each customer has around 100 users.

The technical support team is good.

Positive

The solution is not popular in the market. Cisco and other brands are more popular. The customers often choose Cisco. Cisco is known for its good network features.

The initial setup is easy. The tool doesn’t provide a GUI. Other products provide GUI. The time taken for deployment depends on the configuration and how the servers and nodes are connected.

The product has a low price for the features it provides. The price is comparable to other brands like HPE. The solution is worth the money.

It is a good solution with good features. Overall, I rate the tool a nine out of ten.

The platform's most valuable features are network switch functionality and fiber switch capabilities. The integration with both Dell and other vendors like Cisco is also seamless.

The product's infrastructure and connectivity features need improvement.

I have been working with Dell PowerConnect Switches for approximately five years.

I would rate the stability as a nine.

We have 70 to 100 Dell PowerConnect Switches users in our organization.

We also work with Cisco for hyper-converged infrastructure.

The installation process was relatively straightforward. It took around three to four days to complete. However, migration can be complex due to the prerequisites and integration with other products.

I handle maintenance with support from Dell as well as my professional team.

There has been a reduction in operational costs, by approximately 20% after implementing the solution.

I would rate the pricing as a seven or eight. 

The platform works well with PowerEdge and other servers, providing good compatibility and performance.

I rate it a nine out of ten. 

Our primary use case is we connect people to them.

They are easy to work with and very reliable.

The one issue you face in the industry there is always some planned obsolescence in these switches.

I have been working with Dell PowerConnect Switches for the past ten years.

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

We do not stress out our systems and so there is very little need for extra maintenance.

The initial setup was easy you just turn them on and plug them in.

The initial cost was high but since they have lasted for over ten or twenty years they are worth it.

I would rate Dell PowerConnect Switches a ten out of ten.

Dell is sometimes slow to provide updates to firmware. In the future, I would like PowerConnect Switches to be more secure and more manageable in web-based environments.

I've been using PowerConnect Switches since before 2018.

PowerConnect Switches' stability is satisfactory.

PowerConnect Switches are priced well.

I would give PowerConnect Switches a rating of eight out of ten.