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Dell Network Hardware: Opinions?

T

Thoreau

Golden Member
I recently (read: less than 2 days ago) ordered two Dell PowerConnect 2324's from the Dell website and I am anxiously awaiting their arrival. In the meantime, in typical idiot-fashion, i started reading up on the product. I haven't been able to find much information about these switches, let alone much of any info on Dell network hardware and was hoping someone here might have some experience with their stuff.

On a related note, these two switches will be used for a 40'ish person LAN party in May (See link in sig), and will continue to be used as we expand in size (hence the gigE uplink ports.) Later on we will probably pick up more of this same model switch and an 8-16 port all gig switch to serve as the backbone.
 
I have 2 Dell switches. One 16port Gigabit unmanaged, and one 3248 Managed 50port. AFAIK, these are SMC fabs. I haven't had any probs with them so far. Then again, I'm only using them as "dumb" L2 switches. Not using the L3 forwarding or multiple VLANS. I do have the MACs set as static though.
 
We use the 5212's and the 5224's at work. They're very good switches, they've been solid thus far. Only thing I dont like about them is that the GUI and the CLI both SUCK. Your switches might be different though.

As far as the documentation goes, good luck finding any of use. I found a manual for the 52xx but it fails to explain quite a few options - mostly the important ones.

The only things the 52xx series switches have going for them is that they are cheap and they perform well. The documentation sucks, the interfaces suck, and Dell support is a joke. Hey....they still think that Dell makes their OWN switches. 😀
 
I use 24 port Dell unmanaged switches and they've performed very well. Never had to reset them or anything. They just work. 🙂
 
One of my CCIE friends said that the higher end ones were rebadged Catalyst's. Whether its true or not I don;t know, but I tend to believe him.

Whether they are Cicso, SMC< or something else, theres a very high chance ther're rebadged somethings.
 
I highly, highly doubt that there are any Cisco switches which have been rebadged as Dell. Cisco and Dell hate each other very much. The 52xx series bears no resemblence to any Cisco gear I've ever used, and thats one of the top models from Dell.

I know Dell resells some 3com gear, and I also know some of their switches are made by Delta Electronics, I also think some are SMC.

Here's an article that discusses who makes the 52xx series:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1041423,00.asp
 
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