Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Sep 4, 2022

We performed a comparison between Cisco Catalyst Switches and Dell PowerConnect Switches based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Cisco Catalysts Switches users say the setup can be very complex for the novice user; Cisco network experience or certification is advised. Dell PowerConnect users feel deployment is easy and straightforward.
  • Features: Cisco Catalyst Switches users like the spanning tree and redundancy features. The solution offers great PoE capabilities, load balancing, and DHCP functionalities. Some users feel that security and wireless functions could be improved, in addition to better compatibility with today’s software-defined technologies.

    Users say Dell PowerConnect Switches are very compatible and provide great throughput. They are very stable, easy to configure, and can easily multi-task. Many users tell us some newer versions are not compatible with older versions, which can cause latencies, network blockages, or even outages.
  • Pricing: Many users feel Cisco Catalyst Switches are a very expensive solution. Dell PowerConnect Switches users feel they are very moderately priced and very cost-effective.
  • Service and Support: Users of both solutions are happy with the level of service and support they have received.

Comparison Results: Users feel Cisco Catalyst Switches provide great stability, intuitive reliable analytics, seamless scalability, excellent PoE capabilities, and solid robust security. However, users are happier with the pricing of Dell PowerConnect Switches.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. Dell PowerConnect Switches Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"It is a pretty good product. I don't see a problem with this product. Cisco Catalyst Switches fit the best for the type of systems that we deploy. Our customers usually are happy with Cisco equipment. Many partners and third parties have ordered this solution.""In terms of technology, Cisco is the leader in everything. I'd rather buy a second-hand Cisco switch than a brand new switch from a competitor. They're that reliable and resilient.""The most valuable feature is the interface, it's easy to configure. The command line uses a switch that gives us security.""Cisco Catalyst Switches is very stable, configurable, and durable. It is also easy to manage.""Cisco Catalyst Switches are very stable.""The availability of resources for learning about the product and doing evaluation of any issues is excellent.""The product is also flexible.""The most valuable features of the solution are BGP, VPN, and spine-leaf architecture."

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"The product is reliable.""The technology is good and the interface is simple. We haven't had any bugs, disconnections or delays.""Dell offers very good support.""The most valuable features are the jumbo frames and the stacking.""Its throughout and compatibility are the most valuable.""It's easy to set up. We can put it in production in a couple of minutes.""This solution comes with a lifetime warranty.""We have these switches installed in an environment with hardware from many other vendors, and so far, so good."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches Pros →

Cons
"Cisco Catalyst Switches could improve by having more integration with third-party products.""Cisco should support all of the features that are included with the suite.""Their centralized management could be better. There should be some kind of software for centralized management so that I don't need somebody else to manage it.""The product must improve its security.""My company would prefer that the price was more cost-effective.""I would like for Cisco to come up with an affordable dynamic VLAN solution.""The only improvement I would like to see with Cisco Catalyst Switches is the pricing.""Cisco switches are expensive."

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"A user can take care of the product's installation part, but it may not seem to be an easy process.""We've only been using the solution for half a year. We haven't run into any issues, but maybe over time, that may change. It's too soon to tell. Offhand, there aren't any features that are lacking.""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.""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.""I would like to see better scalability and more features on these switches in the future.""I can't think of what we would want in the next release.""The solution's ROI for generic networking is not extraordinary.""Dell is sometimes slow to provide updates to firmware."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "​The price should go down instead of up. ​"
  • "It has a very high cost, but understandably, due to its very good quality."
  • "Cisco's prices are not cheap, but the stability is worth it."
  • "Pricing could be better."
  • "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."
  • "Generally, Cisco Catalyst would be relatively expensive compared to the competition, it would be on the expensive side."
  • "Pricing is an issue I have been facing, in comparison with HPE or Juniper. The Nexus series is out of the question right now. Scalability is more an issue on the pricing side and less on the technology side."
  • "Catalyst is very expensive."
  • More Cisco Catalyst Switches Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "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."
  • "Cheaper than its competitors"
  • "Inexpensive"
  • "If you want to purchase a new Dell PowerConnect Switch, you will pay up to $1,600, but I bought them used. I bought the four Dell PowerConnect Switches that I used for $1,000."
  • "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."
  • "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."
  • More Dell PowerConnect Switches Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer: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… more »
    Top Answer:The most valuable features of the solution are BGP, VPN, and spine-leaf architecture.
    Top Answer:The solution’s technical support is good.
    Top Answer: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.
    Ranking
    1st
    out of 16 in LAN Switching
    Views
    11,301
    Comparisons
    5,661
    Reviews
    20
    Average Words per Review
    449
    Rating
    8.8
    3rd
    out of 16 in LAN Switching
    Views
    3,354
    Comparisons
    2,548
    Reviews
    10
    Average Words per Review
    359
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
    PowerConnect Switches
    Learn More
    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
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company13%
    Comms Service Provider11%
    University10%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization52%
    Computer Software Company9%
    Government4%
    Manufacturing Company4%
    REVIEWERS
    Media Company19%
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Engineering Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company18%
    Government9%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business41%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise42%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business11%
    Midsize Enterprise57%
    Large Enterprise31%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business63%
    Midsize Enterprise20%
    Large Enterprise17%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business30%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise54%
    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. Dell PowerConnect Switches
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. Dell PowerConnect Switches and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Cisco Catalyst Switches is ranked 1st in LAN Switching with 166 reviews while Dell PowerConnect Switches is ranked 3rd in LAN Switching with 29 reviews. Cisco Catalyst Switches is rated 8.6, while Dell PowerConnect Switches is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Cisco Catalyst Switches writes "Reliable and stable catalyst switch; can be easily installed". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Dell PowerConnect Switches writes "Excellent support, good pricing, and easy setup". Cisco Catalyst Switches is most compared with Arista Networks Platform, HPE ProCurve, Cisco Nexus, ExtremeSwitching and Aruba Instant On Switches, whereas Dell PowerConnect Switches is most compared with Cisco Nexus, HPE ProCurve, NETGEAR Switches, Arista Networks Platform and Dell PowerSwitch N-Series. See our Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. Dell PowerConnect Switches report.

    See our list of best LAN Switching vendors and best Data Center Networking vendors.

    We monitor all LAN Switching reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.