Dell Switches?

[allan]

Does anyone use them? If so, what has your experience been -- I am particularly interested in anyone using them in a high traffic environment.

[RRolfe]

My entire work network works on dell 3024's. Works GREAT.
I can't image using anything else. The 3024 also comes with a web interface to manage everything.

[jbiz718]

I use a 2016 for home, never had any problems.

Keep in mind that the dell switches are just 3com switches with dell config. At least thats what mine was.

[allan]

Is that the general consensus? That the Dell switches are just rebranded 3COM switches?

[jbiz718]

Allan it may have changed since i bought one, but dell rebrands alot of the products they offer.

[allan]

Originally posted by jbiz718:

Allan it may have changed since i bought one, but dell rebrands alot of the products they offer.

Yea, that has been my understanding as well, so it would be good to know who they are rebranding. Thanks for the information Joe.

[allera]

We've got a Del 3024 and it's great. We don't push a lot of traffic through that one (only a few megs), but it has yet to fail (knock on wood). I like the interface better than that damn IOS stuff running on our Cisco. IOS is nice and powerful, but I don't need that much power in a switch.

[DizixCom]

Does Dell offer a multi-layer switch similar to the Cisco 3550? I'm shopping for a pair of replacements and would love to get something more friendly than IOS at a decent price. And everything else I have is Dell, so it seems fitting!

[allan]

Originally posted by DizixCom:

Does Dell offer a multi-layer switch similar to the Cisco 3550? I'm shopping for a pair of replacements and would love to get something more friendly than IOS at a decent price. And everything else I have is Dell, so it seems fitting!

Good question -- the Dell website does not really make it clear:

http://www.dell.com/us/en/esg/topics/esg_ntwrk_3000_networks_1_pwcnt_3248.htm

It says that the switch is Layer 3 "aware", but I don't know if it is true multilayer (ie had a route processor). If you find out from your Dell rep let us know :).

[no1v2]

Did you ever find out? I'm curious too. I'm guessing no, because I think that's a feature they would strongly and clearly advertise.

[allan]

Originally posted by no1v2:

Did you ever find out? I'm curious too. I'm guessing no, because I think that's a feature they would strongly and clearly advertise.

Not yet -- though given 3Com's perilous financial state lately, I'm not sure Dell would want to brag about it if they were :D. It does indicate on the Dell website that they can:


Can be managed via an industry-standard CLI


Which to me sounds like they are using someone else's CLI, or rebreanding someone else's equipment. I'll let you know what I find out.

[tpetersen]

Dell does not have any layer 3 switches currently available. Oddly enough, if you look at the back of the Dell switch and compare it to a Cisco Catayst they look strikingly similar. In fact, the Dell switch as a RPS connector on the back that looks as though it would work with a Cisco RPS. Suppose thats why Cisco took away Dells Gold reseller status?

TP

[Adam]

To be honest with you guys, i'd stick to the people who are pro's and dont rebrand. Yeah ok granted dell can be considered a "pro" but not everything is entirely their own equipment or manufacture!

For my network i use Extreme Networks Summit 48 switches, they only just over $1k second hand and if you ask me they are worth it. I havent had a fault yet! And the remote configuration is nice.

[Adam]

Oh and if you are worried about speeds and how it handles, it has a nice 17.5 gigabit/sec switching fabric :)

[elementip]

The Dell switches are rebranded SMC switches (actually learned this from a PC mag article .. .i guess it's good for something). They have a different management, however (dell proprietary, and dell firmware).

Take a look at the SMC website, they are identical.

[Adam]

Verry true!

[nickn]

Actually,

A good number of the higher end dells are rebranded Extreme switches.

[Adam]

Rebranded extremes? The only rebrands of extreme that i knew of was Compaq and Cisco. Im pretty sure Dell dont rebrand extreme.