Compatibility between Dell PowerConnect 6224 and Cisco SG500x (L3 switches)

If you are referring to this stack technology > www.dell.com
Then no it is not compatible, Dell PC62xx cannot be stacked with other switch models as per this article: www.dell.com
"Section 4: Points to remember
Software version should be same on both the switches
If a software upgrade is performed after formation of stack, the master switch will automatically distribute the new code to the slave switches.
PC62XX cannot be stacked with other switch models
The switch which has the highest uptime or lowest MAC address is elected as the master
The front panel lights indicate the master status of the switch. If the master LED is lit, it indicates that the switch is acting as the master of the stack. The unit LED light indicates the unit number of the switch."

Dell and Cisco switches are not compatible to stack. This is largely due to differing stacking module physical configuration.

I can advise buy back option instead so that you switch the entire stuck to Cisco-Cisco and get credits to retire the Dell Switches.

Hi Anand

It isn't possible to create a stack with switches of different vendors as previous answers stated. The requirement "same switch series and same software version" is defined by each vendor (Huawei, Cisco, DELL, HPE/H3C, and so on).

As Michael Waranowicz or networkc279465 suggested, you could establish Layer-2 links between the stack and the new switch. I suggest to create a Link Aggregation (Cisco: EtherChannel, Dell: Port Channel), but you should configure them in LACP mode (standardized variant). Unfortunately, Cisco uses a properitary mode by default.

Finally, you create a small layer-2 network with above suggestion, so you should be aware about Spanning Tree (Root Bridge), if network will expand in the future.

Typically you cannot stack unlike manufactures but even then, the technologies advance with the same manufacturer and the design teams move forward not backward so you reach a point where old switches wont stack with new. Anand would not be able to stack with a Cisco, only add ports on to the stack. I would suggest LAG/MLAG multiple ports from the stack to the new switch.

Terry Rauk
Network Administrator
Missoula County

The proprietary Dell stacking module will not work with other
manufacturers' switches. And in general, you'll never be able to treat
all of the switches as "one switch" if they're from different
manufacturers.
For that, you would have to go to some place like eBay and get more
6224/6248 switches and stacking modules and cables.

If you're simply looking for higher throughput between the Dell and Cisco
switches, Dell and Cisco give you ways of connecting some ports at 10 GB.

Instead of the stacking module, you can get a 10GB SFP+ transceiver for
each switch and an SFP+ cable to connect them.

Failing that, you will need to connect the switches with a standard
Ethernet cable and live with the ~1GB throughput between them. You could
try a link aggregate with LACP.

Be sure to configure spanning tree correctly on the ports that connect the
switches.

Hope this helps

Spencer

As others have pointed out, you will not be able to Stack the switches from two different vendors. Another option would be to connect them via ethernet, however, you will not get the same throughput this way. You can also use link aggregation to bundle several ports and compensate.

My question would be, is there a reason to purchase switches from different vendor? If not, just continue using your Dell Switches. Otherwise, you'll need to replace the entire stack (all switches).

Best regards,

Yes they will technically work. Both support vlan trunking, stp etc. It is always an adventure to iron out connections between different vendors but they have compatible features to support most topologies.

Thanks

Bruce

The Cisco & Dell stacks cannot be stacked together. The best avenue is to create a port channel between then but this is less than ideal.

Regards,

Matt Iggo

You cannot stack the cisco into the dell's. you can create a trunk port and link them that way. Depending on traffic you may want to use two or more interfaces in a lag for redundancy and interface saturation overflow.

Without knowledge in your environment and configuration this is the best information I can offer.

It would not work.
Regards,-Sabir

This will work as long as you are using fiber to connect the switches.

Hi Anand,

You won't be able to directly stack the Cisco switches with the Dell switches. You could, however, uplink them using some of the existing ports. You may want to consider using multiple ports on each switch and creating a port channel for that purpose.

Hello,
It would work doing a port channel connection, in brief how does you network look like, is it like the below
Router --> Dell Switch --> Cisco Switch (New One)
If its like the above illustration, then it will be a simple Layer 2 connection (1-2 cables) between the switches.
Thanks.