Dell PowerConnect Switches Reviews

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.

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.

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.

We do not use the product for access but for storage. We use it to connect to the storage. 

The product is cheap. 

The product needs to improve in terms of reports and backups. 

I have been working with the product for four to five years. 

The product is stable. 

The tool is scalable. 

The product's support is good and proactive. There are times when they see the problem beforehand. 

Positive

The tool's setup depends on the features that you need. The documentation is good. I don't see any problem with the solution's configuration. The tool's deployment can get completed in just a few hours. The solution's maintenance is good. 

The solution is worth its money. 

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

I would rate it a nine out of ten. The solution is a good switch but there is a learning curve for it. 

My primary use cases of this solution are for wireless, routing, and filtering. For example, we use one as an edge router for our DMZ, so people from outside can reach several DMZs from our enterprise organization.

The most valuable feature is its ability to multitask.

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've been using this solution for ten to twelve years.

The stability of this product is ok.

This solution is fairly scalable, though it is limited by the size of your CPU.

Technical support tends to give conflicting advice on how to configure the product.

I previously used Cisco ACI and Cisco Wireless but switched because of their pricing.

The initial setup was very complex.

I implemented this solution myself.

This product is fairly cheap compared to its competitors, and there are no additional costs.

I evaluated Cisco, Meraki, Ruckus, and SonicWall.

This is a very good product, and it can be used lightly, but you have to understand how it works before implementing it. I would give this product a score of seven out of ten.

We can configure it on our own and it works well. We don't need to do many changes on the device.

Its configuration is similar to Cisco switches. We don't have any unexpected problems with this solution.

The pricing is quite good.

The functionality is very good.

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.

We have been using the solution for half a year.

The solution is very stable. Once we set them up we don't need to worry about them anymore.

We've reached out to technical support, and we've had a good experience. Dell offers very good support.

We also use Cisco switches. They are very similar to this solution. Cisco and Dell have the same functionality. For Dell, however, it's two devices in one cluster. Still, it's very similar. I don't see any big difference between Cisco and Dell.

The initial setup is straightforward. It has an easy configuration. Once it's set up, you can basically walk away and forget it. 

Dell costs less than Cisco. Cisco, in comparison, is about four times more expensive.

We're just customers. We aren't partners with Dell.

The solution is fairly easy to use. We configured it and plugged it in, and now it works without a problem. We haven't had any issues with this platform after a year and a half of use.

We don't have any use cases with these devices currently. We do have corporate support from Dell because we bought switches and servers. I don't administrate servers, I only administrate on network infrastructure. 

The implementation we've done so far has been quite small. However, Dell is very good for big companies.

I'd recommend people buy the solution. It's much less expensive than Cisco, and yet it has the same functionalities.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

The ease of configuration and ease of use are great.

The solution is stable.

There's no maintenance required.

Dell offers very good support. 

I do not need any features added. I have no notes for improvement.

The pricing could always be a bit lower.

I've been using the solution for ten years. I've used the solution for a while at this point. 

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

We don't really deal with scaling. We are a small shop. It's likely better for smaller companies as opposed to large enterprises. 

I've used technical support in the past and have found them to be helpful and responsive. 

Positive

We do not require a lot of maintenance when dealing with the solution. This solution is deployed on-premises, not on the cloud. 

They are in a good price range for us. We do not find the solution to be too expensive. That said, we'd always like to see lower pricing. 

We are a customer and end-user.