Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Reviews

We are customers of Dell and I'm a systems administrator. Our primary use case for the product is connecting the main core, the data center, with core switches. We have six floors in the building and on each floor we have two switches we connected using stack technology with a fiber network in between.

There are many valuable features - the cost was the best we found with comparable products. The technology is good and the interface is simple. We haven't had any bugs, disconnections or delays. It's good because we use it for streaming videos and things like that. There were no issues during implementation and we haven't had any issues in the time we've been using the product. 

A possible way the product could be improved would be to allow integration between other brands like HP or Cisco. It would be great if you could use the interface with more than one brand. Compatibility would be a good feature but it's unlikely to happen. 

Stacking and fiber cords would be good additional features in the next release. Because of the stackings, you lose some boards and the two switches. If they made a core cable that would be better. 

This is a new product for us and we've been using it for the last four, five months only. We're using the latest version. 

We haven't needed to contact technical support. 

In the previous project I used Sophos but it's for a different purpose with junior board switches. Now we're dealing with a security project so it's a different kind of project with different requirements. 

The initial setup was very straightforward and easy. It's a good feature in Dell switches.

Deployment throughout the building, including core switches, data switches, connecting the wires and fiber cable took about 10 days. We had two people assisting us from the vendor company and three people from our company. Initial deployment is the responsibility of the vendor. 

We evaluated numerous options before choosing Dell including Fortinet, HP and Cisco. But really it was this solution that worked given our budget and for installation, it was a good solution in terms of technical support, scalability, availability and a lot of things. It satisfied our requirements.

I would rate this product an eight out of 10. 

On-premises

The primary use case of this solution is for storage and connectivity.

The support is just so good that there is no reason to re-evaluate because of the impact on the trust structure of operations. 

There has never been a recorded event, even though we have had maybe, sixty, sixty-five, or even seventy incidents on the Proactive Care interventions data that have taken place.

I can recall at least three in the last five years, with physical outages, that were recovered without any impact on the operations. 

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

Proactive care is the highest level of support contract that you can have.

Everything from A to Z is better managed with Dell Support.

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.

I have been using this solution for eleven years.

This solution is 100% stable. There are no issues. There are failures, but the failures are backed up. Most of our failures have been studied by Dell Proactive Care before they even occur.

If there is an issue, like a hardware failure, then the configuration is set up in a way that there is a redundancy. The redundancy is confirmed, it's then checked and double-checked.

The impact on the operation is zero.

Usually, we don't even update them. We only apply patches to the storage switches, when they go, or when they are phased out.

That's usually the only time we do any maintenance on them, because it's such a critical factor, if the storage goes down, that has a massive impact on the environment.

Generally, there is no maintenance unless it is proactive maintenance or if there is a major fault.

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 hardware has already been purchased, and the contract has already been disclosed.

Scalability is dependant on your perspective. You can add another power connector that is the same with the same details, but scalability when it comes to sizing and increasing the capacity is more difficult and more complex.

The technical support is better than Cisco's. It's awesome and better than the others.

For the knowledge-based articles, the support web page is better designed. It is more categorized and structured.

Everything from A to Z is better managed with Dell Support.

For LAN switching it's always been Cisco.

For LAN switches it's always been Cisco and for Storage Networks it's always been with Dell.

I have never mixed them.

The initial setup is straightforward with complex settings. It's not as simple as taking it out of the box and assign an IP. Some parameters need to be checked.

Dell is very good at documenting, they provide best practices, and they check to see if you have applied those setting before activating the Proactive Care support contract.

Depending on the size, the deployment takes one or two days. If you have some experience it's easy and flexible.

I would say that a client without experience could perform the setup because the command line interface is very similar to Cisco. The entry-level two thousand series are pretty straightforward. The eight thousand and higher series would require some assistance from Dell to get the latest firmware, the proper configuration, and the proper support contract.

My advice would be to go with Proactive Care.

Proactive care is the highest level of support contract that is available or provided by Dell.

I would say it's recommended, especially for the power connector for a higher level and various switches like the eight thousand series and higher. 

My advice would be to always call for Proactive Care support contracts because they will make sure you get the best service that is available.

There is no need for improvement because they are proactively maintained by Dell themselves.

I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.

Very good value. This switch has a fairly easy to use web interface. It has nice features such as VLAN, config management, and other advanced networking features. I use a 6248 as my main switch. It handles all the traffic flawlessly and has never needed to be reset in the 4 years it has been on. My whole network consists of PowerConnect switches. They do everything I need them to.

I really haven't had any problems with these. I haven't used some of the more advanced features. For my small 100 node network, these switches have all the features I need.

If you need some advanced features and reliable core networking components at an affordable price, these switches are for you. I have used them for years now and never had any problems. Sometimes I wonder how Cisco isn't losing money to companies like Dell.

We use the solution in our data center.

It's easy to set up. We can put it in production in a couple of minutes. 

It has excellent technical support.

It is very scalable.

The solution is stable and reliable. 

The product is very affordable.

It has everything we need. I can't think of what we would want in the next release.

I've been using the solution for more than ten years.

The product is stable. It's reliable. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze.

The solution is easily scalable. We can configure a lot of features to stack and virtual links.

Technical support is great. they are helpful and responsive. 

It's very easy to set up. It's not complicated at all. 

It's a simple product and easy and low-cost to buy.

We have a lot of products here in many versions, in different versions. We use OS 10 or OS 9. It's many different products here. 

I'd rate the solution ten out of ten. I'd advise potential users to try it as it is easy to use.

On-premises

We use this solution for our local infrastructure and environment.

This solution comes with a lifetime warranty.

We have had some problems with the firmware. More stable firmware releases would be an improvement because we have had them randomly power on and off. These switches should be better tested before a firmware update is released.

Technical support for this solution should be improved.

I have been using this solution for between three and four years.

I have encountered two or three bugs that affected the stability of this solution.

These switches are scalable but I do not know to what extent.

We have eighty users who are mostly developers and our business centers.

The technical support for this solution is ok, but I have seen better. They are not the best.

At times they have responded quickly, but not always.

I do not like this solution. It runs ok but we have had problems.

This is a solution that I would recommend only for those without complex setup or networking.

I would rate this solution a five out of ten.

On-premises

Data center and distribution

The network is very stable, except for the detail that occurred in the update where we had problems due to a command to perform mirroring

The features I've found most valuable are that the product is very easy to configure and inexpensive.

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.

Around 8 years 

I would rate this solution as eight out of ten.

We use the Dell EMC Networking N1500 series switches. We use them primarily for access to the Local Area Network.

We have used these switches for data access the LAN. We have also used the switches for power over ethernet devices in the LAN. Also, we have attached cameras for IT surveillance. 

We have found that in our market the price is very good for our customers. When the price is competitive, the customers tend to choose the cheaper brand and then look at the features. So having a competitive price is a plus.

I would like to see better scalability and more features on these switches in the future.

We have been using Dell PowerConnect Switches for a year and a half.

These switches are stable and customers have been very happy. All the clients we have completed the switches for are happy and they don't have any issues with them.

Scalability can be a problem with these switches.

I have not been involved in the setup of these switches. I'm in sales so I am just learning of the features.

The Dell EMC Networking N1500 Switches are a great solution. They are great switches for access switch on LAN which they have combined for data, high-performance access-point, IT surveillance, and cameras. I would rate these switches a ten on a scale of ten out of ten.

On-premises

We are a product reseller and the Dell PowerConnect Switches are one of the solutions that we implement for our clients. They are used for connecting servers, hosts, PCs, and other devices.

The most valuable feature is stability.

The configuration should be improved. For example, the configuration on a Cisco switch is more logical than it is with Dell.

I have been working with these switch for between four and five years.

This is a stable product and I have not experienced any bugs.

I have contacted Dell technical support in the past, although it was in regards to a server and client, rather than for a problem with a switch. In most cases, Dell gives support-related problems to a subsidiary. The problem is that not all of the subsidiaries are professional.

 Overall, I was satisfied with them.

I have also worked with Cisco switches. I took the CCNA course and recognize the difference between Cisco and Dell switches.

The initial setup was not complex.

The price of these switches is okay.

This is a product that I can recommend for end-users.

I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.

On-premises