Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] vs ExtremeSwitching comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Dell Technologies and Extreme Networks are both solutions in the LAN Switching category. Additionally, 90% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Extreme Networks users who would recommend it.

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...

Read 34 Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] reviews

90% willing to recommend

ExtremeSwitching

Read 26 ExtremeSwitching reviews

2,865 Views
1,862 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...

ExtremeSwitching

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] and ExtremeSwitching based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Extreme Networks and others in LAN Switching.

To learn more, read our detailed LAN Switching Report (Updated: October 2026).

Buyer's Guide

LAN Switching

October 2026

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Helped 917,433 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

8.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

ExtremeSwitching

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

LAN Switching (6th), Data Center Networking (11th), AV Over IP Switching (4th)

Featured Reviews

LarsEvans

Chief Technology Officer / Chief Information Security Officer at Lorton Data, Inc.

Reliable and useful for network segmentation

The solution's most valuable feature stands up well. The tool is reliable, and it stands up well. The solution works fine and lasts a long time. I think if you speak about the features that have a flow and you can measure, it is hard to say. I don't spend a lot of my time with the tool, but I know that Dell APEX is the solution's cloud. I would say the VLAN features are important. The VLAN features are really useful because network segmentation is important. I would say the tool is easy to program. I don't know if the tool has any security features that I am aware of other than the fact that the solution is for networking. The VLAN and the ability to segment your networks are easy, which is its security feature.

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Meric-Dinc

Director, Solutions at TopTel

Automated fabric networking has simplified large deployments and now streamlines complex operations

The best features in ExtremeSwitching that I appreciate include the technology known as Extreme Fabric, which our customers find miraculous because it enables automated networks. With fabric technology, customers are very happy since they don't need to perform new configurations in the core, distribution, or access site, but only some configuration in access switch ports, as the network automatically knows where services start and end. It is definitely secure and very easy to install. We are utilizing ExtremeSwitching's automated network management feature, and when we sell our products to clients, we always offer Extreme Site Engine or now Platform One for cloud. Having this automated network management helps streamline operations by requiring less manpower, as infrastructure is hard to manage, but with the visualization provided by network management systems, clients only need to use a few clicks to deploy new services. There is no need to create multiple ports or VLANs, allowing even one or two individuals to operate very large networks. ExtremeSwitching's intuitive management interface has improved network performance significantly. For instance, Extreme Networks currently utilizes a very good AI system. When users need to perform configurations like MLAG, they can simply log in, ask for the configuration, and receive recommendations. This capability makes clients very happy because the management software inspects the entire network and provides valuable recommendations that lead to significant improvements.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The setup is straightforward. It takes minimum time for deployment."

"The functionality is very good."

"It has excellent technical support, is very scalable, stable, reliable, and the product is very affordable."

"This is a very reliable solution."

"Dell offers very good support."

"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."

"There is high reliability since we have used them for close to twenty years and only had possibly one failure."

"It's easy to set up. We can put it in production in a couple of minutes."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pros

"First of all, the product is robust and they are also coming up with new features; the second part is the support is excellent from ExtremeSwitching, they maintain delivery time and follow through on their commitments properly, and the performance we expected, we are getting from ExtremeSwitching."

"Advice that I would give to people considering switches is that I think Extreme products are pretty feature-rich and they are definitely worth considering alongside the competition."

"The solution excels in configuration and other aspects. It offers reliability and performance."

"The most valuable features of ExtremeSwitching are that they are robust and have plenty of features. There is a lot of functionality. They have a lot of other features ExtremeSwitching that you can get involved with but I haven't been using many of them."

"It is meeting our expectations in terms of performance as well as cost-effectiveness."

"ExtremeSwitching switches are highly reliable."

"ExtremeSwitching fabric technology is a unique technology used to protect against viruses. ExtremeCloud IQ is a very good and feature-rich solution compared to Cisco, Ruxi Networks, or Huawei."

"The price is low compared to the competition."

More ExtremeSwitching pros

Cons

"Because of the stackings, you lose some boards and the two switches."

"The IOS software that is used on the switches could be improved."

"The solution could provide more integration to focus on targeting the network as a whole rather than a unified environment. It is meant for a built environment, so integration with other third-party vendors will likely be necessary."

"The configuration should be improved."

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

"I think accessibility and management could be improved."

"Their hardware is not reliable, it's faulty."

"The one issue you face in the industry there is always some planned obsolescence in these switches."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] cons

"ExtremeSwitching is scalable to a certain extent for SME-segmented IP."

"ExtremeSwitching has many features but having come from Cisco environments, there is a steep learning curve to learning all the functionality."

"It could be a bit more reliable; however, it is fine for smaller businesses."

"The interface could be improved."

"From a marketing perspective, I would like to see Extreme Networks expand its product line to include small and medium business (SMB) solutions, as many customers do not have large budgets."

"ExtremeSwitching should come out with simpler but lower-cost switches that are more suited to the Asian market."

"Their pricing could be a bit cheaper, as Huawei switches offer better pricing."

"I believe they should be more aggressive in terms of pricing."

More ExtremeSwitching cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"In my opinion, it is a product that is priced somewhere in the middle, making it a well-priced solution in the middle. It is not a very cheap product."

"PowerConnect Switches are priced well."

"The product has a low price for the features it provides."

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

"Its price is okay. Sometimes, it is lower than a Cisco solution."

"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."

"Inexpensive"

"The initial cost was high but since they have lasted for over ten or twenty years they are worth it."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pricing and cost advice

"ExtremeSwitching offers very good pricing plans for their licenses. Compared to their rivals, ExtremeSwitching's prices are very affordable and reasonable. This is why our customers are happy to pay for their service critical support. ExtremeSwitching also offers a great portal to track clients, further satisfying our customers. They are always happy to pay for the service every month. The pricing is very reasonable."

"On pricing, ExtremeSwitches are going to beat most of the major competition."

"The price is expensive. We pay for a license, but you have to pay more if you want to increase the number."

"It is not a subscription-based model, and there is no licensing concept. We have to pay for hardware AMC. We have hardware on our premises and for the hardware support, we have to go for the annual maintenance contract with the partner."

"The product is expensive."

"There is no license required to use the solution. The hardware controller is expensive, and this is why I prefer controlling ExtremeSwitching on the cloud."

"There is a cost for ExtremeSwitching and if you want the support and maintenance, there are additional costs. My clients typically pay for the support and maintenance annually."

"We paid 25,000 to 30,000 INR."

More ExtremeSwitching pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

26%

Outsourcing Company

13%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

12%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	21
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	12
Midsize Enterprise	8
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ExtremeSwitching?

Regarding pricing, I find it very competitive, especially in Turkey, where markets in the Middle East and Africa tend to be price-sensitive. Our prices are very competitive when compared to Cisco a...

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What needs improvement with ExtremeSwitching?

From a marketing perspective, I would like to see Extreme Networks expand its product line to include small and medium business (SMB) solutions, as many customers do not have large budgets. Unlike ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ExtremeSwitching?

We are utilizing Extreme products in many cases, including a significant project in Antalya, Turkey, involving five five-star hotels, as well as several municipality projects around a million. Most...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 24% of the time

HPE ProCurve vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 17% of the time

Arista Networks Platform vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 12% of the time

NETGEAR Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco Nexus vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 6% of the time

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Competitors

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs ExtremeSwitching

Compared 21% of the time

Cisco Networking Platform vs ExtremeSwitching

Compared 12% of the time

NETGEAR Switches vs ExtremeSwitching

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco Nexus vs ExtremeSwitching

Compared 11% of the time

Ixia Bypass Switches vs ExtremeSwitching

Compared 9% of the time

More ExtremeSwitching Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

October 2026

Download Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] product report

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeSwitching

October 2026

Download ExtremeSwitching product report

Also Known As

PowerConnect Switches

No data available

Overview

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.

Dell Technologies

ExtremeSwitching delivers robust security and scalability, valued for deep packet inspection and cost-effectiveness. It simplifies deployment and enhances network management with innovative features, despite requiring improvements in cyber attack management and 5G capabilities.

ExtremeSwitching is designed for seamless performance in networking environments. Its ease of configuration, coupled with advanced fabric technology, simplifies deployment. However, challenges include software inconsistencies and pricing issues. The intuitive interface provides enhanced visibility and control, yet could benefit from simplification. Reliability and innovative functionalities contribute to high satisfaction, although support resources require enhancement. Integration of AI features could benefit usability for less skilled administrators, and improvements in entry-level options are needed.

What are the key features of ExtremeSwitching?

Robust Security: Offers advanced security features to protect network infrastructure.
Scalability: Easily scales to accommodate growth within networking environments.
Deep Packet Inspection: Provides detailed analysis of data passing through the network.
Cost-Effective Pricing: Offers competitive pricing that maximizes value for users.
Ring Topology Protocol: Utilizes a unique protocol for efficient network architecture.
Fabric Technology: Simplifies deployment with minimal manpower needed.

What benefits and ROI should users look for when evaluating ExtremeSwitching?

Reliability and Performance: Ensures robust network connectivity in demanding environments.
Cost Efficiency: Offers low-cost solutions that provide significant value.
Innovative Functionalities: Provides features that enhance network management and visibility.
Seamless Operation: Delivers smooth functionality without complex configurations.

ExtremeSwitching assists sectors like education, hospitality, IT, and manufacturing. It supports networking infrastructure, Wi-Fi, and enterprise core functionalities, ideal for projects such as smart city development and government networks. Its deployment aids connectivity in LANs, campuses, and data centers, ensuring reliable system and user networking.

Extreme Networks

Sample Customers

Amerijet Holdings Inc., CGD Securities, MavenWire, Tulane University

Blue Waters

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Extreme Networks and others in LAN Switching. Updated: October 2026.

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