Abstract

Tolly Group Report #202138 (August 2002) validates Dell’s PowerConnect 3024 (24 × 10/100 + 2 × GbE) and PowerConnect 3248 (48 × 10/100 + 2 × GbE) for Layer-2 interoperability. The test methodology required error-free operation while exercising auto-negotiation, IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation, 802.1p/Q VLAN tagging, and single-link Gigabit-Ethernet uplinks between each Dell switch and twelve third-party models from eight vendors.

Results. Both PowerConnect models passed every mandatory check with every peer device, confirming they can form multivendor trunks, exchange VLAN-tagged traffic, and negotiate Gigabit uplinks without loss or configuration workarounds.

Third-party equipment verified: Alcatel OmniSwitch 7000, Allied Telesyn AT-9812TF, Avaya P882, Cisco Catalyst 6500, Extreme Alpine 3804, Extreme BlackDiamond 6808, Extreme Summit 48si, Foundry FastIron 400, NEC BlueFire 720, NEC BlueFire 740, Nortel Passport 8600, and Nortel BayStack 470-48T.

Take-away. PowerConnect 3024 and 3248 integrate seamlessly into heterogeneous Fast-Ethernet and Gigabit backbones, providing standards-compliant trunking, VLAN, and uplink functionality while ensuring full interoperability across eight leading switch vendors.