We're looking to get a 24-port managed switch and the two we're looking at are the HP 2524 (nice!) and the Dell PowerConnect 3024. Has anyone had any experience with the Dell? I've heard only great things about the HP but I'd like to hear if anyone has any good/bad experiences with the Dell before we commit to either.

A big reason why we are considering the Dell is because of the 3yr 4hr response time to a fried switch. HP has a lifetime next-day response time to a fried switch.

Any and all responses would be appreciated!

We use the 2524s and as you mentioned, they are very nice :)

I was comparing the features of the Dell & HP the other day and the Dell seems to handle more traffic. The one thing that HP has on it's side is that we all know that the HP is going to be reliable, but then again Dell always makes great products and I doupt they would stop now.

I am too interested in other's opinions of the Dell switches.

Actually if i remember correctly the dell switches are actually branded 3com switches. 3com makes good gear their at least as good as hp, better in some aspects.

Better in which aspects? The Dell is rated at 12.x Gbps where the HP is rated at 9.x Gbps (I forget what the x's are). Otherwise they look pretty similar to me on the surface.

3com makes good gear their at least as good as hp, better in some aspects.Really, I heard the 3Com switches were crap. I have never seen a 3Com rated well. I will have to dig around a bit .....

I dont use 3com, dont think i ever have, but have always heard good things about them....

Nope, not 3Com but a 3rd party OEM. Here are a couple of quotes I dug up:

"The PowerConnect switches, which are manufactured by Delta Networks, a Taiwanese switch OEM vendor."

"While Dell has historically skirted the networking sector, opting to offer rival manufacturers' products to its customers, the company has put a lot of effort into marketing and promoting the new switches. The company is in a bid to obtain as much of this high-margin market share as possible, and has decided to produce and offer a proprietary product (manufactured by Taiwan partner Delta Networks Inc.) rather than continuing to sell other vendors' products for a low margin. "

My bad i rmember now, dell used to sell 3com switches direct, i knew they had someone else make their switches though :)

Well, we got a PowerConnect 3024 and I have yet to plug it in and start pumping data through it. I'll letcha know how it turns out in case anyone else is interested in them.

We use the Cisco 2924, 2950 HP 2524 and the Dell 3024 although we don't use the Dell in production anymore. I guess go with the solution you can maxamize with. We like the HP's because of their management and modular approach where the Cisco lacks on the 2950 in that area. Look at your network design, do you need management features above and beyond. We do some really heavy configs so something with an OS that can support things like arp tables and mac aging is important where it might not be for others. Or just shut your eyes and say "I like the one in green" ;).

Well, we chose the Dell for 2 main reasons: it's managed and it has a 4-hour replacement guarantee. I know the HP is managed too, and is very good from what I hear, but we'll give the Dell a shot and see how it does. Depending on its performance and its managability, we may pick up an HP in the future to compare.

Yes, please let us know how goes it :)

Originally posted by allera
Better in which aspects? The Dell is rated at 12.x Gbps where the HP is rated at 9.x Gbps (I forget what the x's are). Otherwise they look pretty similar to me on the surface.

There is a difference in rated throughtput and actual throughput. Also, look at the latency of the switch in addition to the throughput.

HP, for the 30+ years I've used their equipment, has always been rather conservative in their specs. And HP equipment has always been rather solidly designed.

My expereince with Dell only goes back about 15 years, to the time he was selling PC Limited PCs out of his dorm room. Dell has had times when their quality was a bit, err..., sketchy.

From a personal opinion I like my network all CISCO :D

Though they tend to be more expensive then the rivals.


edit:

talking about HP- We found a HP signal generator in a friends house. It was twice the size of your average tower PC. Had all valves and stuff for setting freq etc. lol must be rather old.

Originally posted by Mike the newbie
There is a difference in rated throughtput and actual throughput. Also, look at the latency of the switch in addition to the throughput.
Actually, I read some reports about the Dell PowerConnect 3024 and they said the switch performed at maximum (100% throughput). They claim they fully tested it and all. I don't know, we'll see what happens. These Dell switches just came out in Sept 01, so we'll see if anything comes out about them in the near future. In the mean time, we'll use one and see how it goes.

Here is the Tolly report on the Dell switch (be warned, PDF) http://www.dell.com/downloads/us/pwcnt/tollyreport.pdf