To make you more familiar with the concepts of network switching and to get acquainted with the reputable vendors of network switches, we have prepared a number of blogs as a series, the different parts of which are as follows:

In this series of blogs you will come across a variety of terms, abbreviations, concepts, and technologies. We have tried to explain the general concepts and terms as much as possible in the first three parts of this series. In the following sections, we assume that you have read these two sections and therefore we will not re-explain these concepts and terms in the following sections. Of course, each vendor also has a number of specific terms and concepts that are explained in blogs related to the same vendor’s products.

Last note, all the content as well as the images used in this series of blogs are taken from the official websites of the reviewed vendors (Cisco, Microtik, HP and Dell).

 

 

Part 10 – Dell Switches: Concepts and Technologies, and PowerSwitch Managed Campus

 

Dell is an American multinational computer technology company that develops, sells, repairs, and supports computers and related products and services, and It is one of the biggest PC product companies in the world. Dell sells personal computers (PCs), servers, data storage devices, network switches, software, computer peripherals, HDTVs, cameras, printers, and electronics built by other manufacturers. (Source: Wikipedia.com)

In this post, we are going to introduce the network switches of this company. The company has divided its switches into three general categories as follows:

  • PowerSwitch Managed Campus (Include N series)
  • PowerSwitch Data Center Switches (Include S series, and Z series)
  • PowerEdge M-Series Blade Switches

 

 

Concepts and Technologies 

MLAG: Multi-switch link aggregation (MLAG) is a feature that allows two Dell Networking switches to act as a single switch, providing multiple paths across the network.

ONIE: The Open Network Install Environment, or ONIE, is an open-source project within the Open Computer Project that provides the option to install different network operating systems on a common set of networking hardware. You can read more about it here: Dell EMC Networking ONIE Quick Start Guide.

 

 

PowerSwitch Managed Campus 

This category currently includes N series switches, i.e. the following series:

ITperfection, network switches, network switching, dell switches, PowerSwitch Managed Campus

 

ITperfection, network switches, network switching, dell switches, PowerSwitch N1100 Series

This layer 2 series switch is fully managed. All N-Series switches include Dell EMC Networking OS6. These switches uses one common command line interface (CLI) and graphic user interface (GUI). These switches can be well combined with Cisco switches and Promote greater interoperability through interfaces with Cisco’s Rapid Per VLAN Spanning Tree (RPVST+) and devices using Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP).

Key Features:

  • Data rates up to 176Gbps (full duplex) and a forwarding rate of up to 164Mpps
  • Four 10GbE SFP+ ports for high-speed uplinks and a stacking architecture up to four units at 40Gbps
  • Stackable capability up to 196 1GbE ports

Stacking Attributes of this series switches:

  • Maximum stacking distance (meters): 3
  • Maximum stacking speed (full-duplex): 176Gbps
  • 8 port switch is not stackable
  • 10G SFP+ ports needs to be configured for stacking
  • 24 and 48 port T and P switches can be mixed in a stack

This series includes the following models:

  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N1108T-ON Switch: It has 8x 10/100/1000Mbps half/full duplex RJ45 ports plus, and 2x GbE RJ45, and 2x GbE SFP interfaces. It operates fanless.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N1108EP-ON Switch: It has 8x 10/100/1000 Mbps half/full duplex RJ45 ports, and 2x GbE RJ45 and 2x GbE SFP interfaces, and 8x PoE/PoE+ (137W) RJ45 ports.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N1124T-ON Switch: It has 24x 10/100/1000Mbps half/full duplex RJ45 ports, and 4x SFP/SFP+ 1/10GbE ports. This switch operates fanless.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N1124P-ON Switch: It has 24x 10/100/1000Mbps half/full duplex RJ45 ports, and 4x SFP/SFP+ 1/10GbE ports, and 12x PoE/PoE+ (190W) ports.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N1148T-ON Switch: It has 48x 10/100/1000Mbps half/full duplex RJ45 ports, and 4x SFP/SFP+ 1/10GbE ports. This switch operates fanless.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N1148P-ON Switch: It has 48x 10/100/1000Mbps half/full duplex RJ45 ports, and 4x SFP/SFP+ 1/10GbE ports, and 24x PoE/PoE+ (375W) ports.

Also, on this page of the official Dell website, you can read complete information about this series of switches.

 

ITperfection, network switches, network switching, dell switches, PowerSwitch N3000 Series

These distribution/access switches are Layer 3 switches. This series of switches are equipped with MLAG capability. These switches uses one common command line interface (CLI) and graphic user interface (GUI). As a Layer 3 switch, it has advanced routing, security and scalability features (for both IPv4 and IPv6). Also, this series switch supports full bandwidth Wave 2 wireless with 2.5/5GbE ports on the N3132PX-ON model. And finally, these switches can be well combined with Cisco switches and Promote greater interoperability through interfaces with Cisco’s Rapid Per VLAN Spanning Tree (RPVST+) and devices using Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP).

Other Features:

  • Data rates up to 260Gbps (full duplex) and a forwarding rate of up to 193Mpps
  • Built-in stacking ports and standard N-Series stacking cables support a stacking architecture up to 12 units at 84Gbps
  • Stacks up to 624 1GbE ports can be managed

Stacking Attributes of this series switches:

  • Integrated rear mini-SAS stacking ports: 2 x 21gbps
  • Maximum stacking distance (meters): 3
  • Maximum stacking speed (full-duplex): 84gbps

This series includes the following models:

  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3024ET-ON: It has 24 RJ45 10/100/1000Mb auto-sensing ports, and two integrated 10GbE SFP+ ports, and two GbE combo media ports for copper or fiber flexibility, and two dedicated rear stacking ports.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3024EF-ON: It has 24 SFP 1000Mb auto-sensing ports, and two integrated 10GbE SFP+ ports, and two GbE combo media ports for copper or fiber flexibility, and two dedicated rear stacking ports.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3024EP-ON: It has 12 RJ45 10/100/1000Mb auto-sensing PoE 60W ports, and 12 RJ45 10/100/1000Mb auto-sensing PoE+ ports, and two GbE combo media ports for copper or fiber flexibility, and two dedicated rear stacking ports.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3048EP-ON: It has 12 RJ45 10/100/1000Mb auto-sensing PoE 60W ports, and 36 RJ45 10/100/1000Mb auto-sensing PoE+ ports, and two integrated 10GbE SFP+ ports, and two GbE combo media ports for copper or fiber flexibility, and two dedicated rear stacking ports.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3132PX-ON: It has 24 RJ45 10/100/1000Mb auto-sensing PoE 60W ports, and 8 RJ45 10/100/1000/2500/5000Mb auto-sensing PoE 60W ports, and Four integrated 10GbE SFP+ ports.

On this page of the official Dell website, you can read complete information about this series of switches.

 

ITperfection, network switches, network switching, dell switches, and PowerSwitch N2200 Series

This series of switches can be managed by one of this three operating systems: OS6, Cumulus, and Pica8. These switches are 24 and 48 port Multi-Gig and Multi-Gig 60W PoE.

Stacking Attributes of this series switches:

  • 160Gbps Stacking with up to 12 members
  • 25GbE Uplinks to aggregation

This series includes the following models:

  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N2224X-ON: It has 24x 1/2.5GbE RJ-45 ports. This switch is stackable: 160Gbps Stacking with up to 12 members, and 25GbE Uplinks to aggregation.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N2224PX-ON: It has 24×1/2.5GbE RJ-45 with 802.3bt Type-3 (60W) PoE on 12 ports and 802.3at (30W) PoE on 12 ports. This switch is stackable: 160Gbps Stacking with up to 12 members, and 25GbE Uplinks to aggregation.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N2248X-ON: It has 48×1/2.5GbE RJ-45 ports. This switch is stackable: 160Gbps Stacking with up to 12 members, and 25GbE Uplinks to aggregation.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N2248PX-ON: It has N2248PX-ON – 1RU, 48×1/2.5GbE RJ-45 with 802.3bt Type-3 (60W) PoE on 24 ports and 802.3at (30W) PoE on 24 ports.

 On this page of the official Dell website, you can read complete information about this series of switches.

 

ITperfection, network switches, network switching, dell switches, PowerSwitch N3200 Series

This series of switches can be managed by one of this two operating systems: OS6, and Pica8.

This series includes the following models:

  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3208PX-ON: It has 4×1/2.5/5G RJ-45 with 802.3bt Type-4 (90W) PoE, and 4x1G RJ-45 with 802.3bt Type-4 (90W) ports. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 88Gbps, and forwarding rate is 122Mpps. Also, it has 10G Uplinks for aggregation.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3224F-ON: It has 24x 1G SFP, and 4x 10G SFP+ ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 10G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 528Gbps, and forwarding rate is 733Mpps.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3224P-ON: It has 24x1G RJ-45 with 802.3at (30W) PoE ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 10G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 528Gbps, and forwarding rate is 733Mpps.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3224T-ON: 24x RJ45 10M/100M/1G auto-sensing ports, and 4x 10G SFP+ ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 10G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 528Gbps, and forwarding rate is 733Mpps.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3224PX-ON: It has 24×1/2.5/5/10G RJ-45 with 802.3bt Type-4 (90W) PoE on all ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 25G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 1080 Gbps, and forwarding rate is 1500 Mpps.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3248P-ON: It has 48x1G RJ-45 with 802.3at (30W) PoE ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 10G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 576Gbps Gbps, and forwarding rate is 800 Mpps.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3248PX-ON: It has 48×1/2.5/5/10G RJ-45 with 802.3bt Type-4 (90W) PoE on all ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 25G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 1560 Gbps, and forwarding rate is 2167 Mpps.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3248TE-ON: It has 48x1G RJ-45 with 802.3at (30W) PoE ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 10G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 576 Gbps, and forwarding rate is 800 Mpps.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3248X-ON: It has 48×1/2.5/5/10G RJ-45 ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 25G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 1560 Gbps, and forwarding rate is 2167 Mpps.
  • Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3248PXE-ON: It has 48×1/2.5/5/10G RJ-45 with 802.3bt Type-4 (90W) PoE on all ports. This model is also suitable for stacking: 400G Stacking with up to 12 members, and 25G Uplinks for aggregation. Switch fabric capacity (full duplex) is 1560 Gbps, and forwarding rate is 2167 Mpps.

On this page of the official Dell website, you can read complete information about this series of switches.

 

 

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Source: In preparing this blog, we have tried to use the documents and content available on the Dell official website, namely the website dell.com. All information is based on the contents of this website.

 

 

Read other blogs related to this series: