Dell Networking Dell PowerSwitch S5296F-ON

Name: PowerSwitch S5296F-ON
Brand: Dell
SKU: powerswitch-s5296f-on

Dense, high-capacity, top-of-rack and aggregation switches for spine and leaf data center architectures.

LeafHigh Port CountHigh Density

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SKU: powerswitch-s5296f-on

Ports: 96x 25 GbE SFP28, 8x 100 GbE QSFP28
Capacity: 6.4 Tbps
NPU: Broadcom Trident3™-X7

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Overview of Data Center Switches

Dense, high-capacity, top-of-rack and aggregation switches for spine and leaf data center architectures.

Fiber models with high-performance for modern data centers.

Best For:

Enterprise data center networking
High-throughput server and storage connectivity
Scalable spine-and-leaf architectures

Scalable networking for the data center

Optimize your network with flexible, scalable, and high-performance data center switches. Designed for modern workloads, PowerSwitch aggregation and top-of-rack (ToR) switches deliver reliable and agile spine and leaf data center architectures, and enable seamless migration to software-defined data centers.

Overview of PowerSwitch S5296F-ON

PowerSwitch S5296F-ON Key Specifications

Designed for growing data centers, this switch delivers the throughput and port density needed to support demanding enterprise applications and expanding infrastructure.

NPU

Broadcom Trident3™-X7

Switch Capacity

6.4 Tbps

Forwarding

4.8 Bpps

Ports

96x 25 GbE SFP28, 8x 100 GbE QSFP28

Not sure if this is the right model?

If you're comparing PowerSwitch S5296F-ON vs PowerSwitch S5232F-ON or PowerSwitch S5248F-ON — Choose this if you need solid enterprise-grade performance with room to grow your data center fabric.

View full comparison

Features

Select hardware and software independently with our open standards-based switches, eliminating vendor lock-in for ultimate scalability.

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Flexible, open networking

Select hardware and software independently with our open standards-based switches, eliminating vendor lock-in for ultimate scalability.

Extreme performance

Accelerate workloads with line-rate throughput, low latency, and intelligent data center fabrics designed to handle demanding environments.

Simple management

Simplify deployment and lifecycle management with intuitive tools including Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Dell Technologies.

Efficient operation

Optimize power and cooling with compact 1U and 2U PowerSwitch models. Dell Smart Fabric Services automates management, reducing energy waste and cooling costs.

Common Mistakes When Choosing a Data Center Switch

Choosing based on specs instead of workload
Fix: Start with your environment. If you're running general enterprise workloads, focus on port density and manageability rather than maximum throughput.
Also consider: PowerSwitch S5232F-ON, PowerSwitch S5248F-ON
Underbuilding when planning for high-density workloads
Fix: If cloud, virtualization, or high-bandwidth workloads are on the roadmap, plan for the throughput requirements now.
Consider: PowerSwitch Z9664F-ON, PowerSwitch Z9432F-ON
Not planning for future growth
Fix: Choose a model that allows for expansion without replacing your core switch.
Consider upgrading to: PowerSwitch Z9664F-ON, PowerSwitch Z9432F-ON

Technical Details

Hardware Specifications

Complete technical specifications for the PowerSwitch S5296F-ON.

PERFORMANCE

NPUBroadcom Trident3™-X7

Switch Capacity6.4 Tbps

Forwarding Capacity4.8 Bpps

Latency850 ns

CONNECTIVITY

Ports96x 25 GbE SFP28, 8x 100 GbE QSFP28

Buffer Size32 MB

For full specifications, please reference the datasheet (PDF).

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All | Collapse All

Dell's data center switches are high-performance network switches designed for modern data centers. They provide the foundation for scalable, automated, and secure networking, helping you handle demanding workloads and drive business innovation.

Dell PowerSwitch delivers high-density, low-latency connectivity from 1GbE to 800GbE to eliminate network bottlenecks. Their open, standards-based architecture supports massive fabric scaling and seamless integration, ensuring your infrastructure can grow efficiently with your business demands.

The "-ON" (Open Networking) suffix indicates that the switch supports a choice of third-party operating systems, giving you the flexibility to build a network that fits your specific operational model.

The PowerSwitch Z-Series, particularly the Z9864F-ON, is engineered for high-performance data center spines and super-spines. It offers industry-leading 800GbE density and throughput to support the most demanding cloud, AI/ML, and large-scale enterprise workloads.

Dell PowerSwitch Layer 3 switches provide advanced routing capabilities to direct traffic efficiently across different network segments, which is critical for modern data center design. Many models in the S-Series offer flexible SFP+ ports for high-speed 10GbE fiber connectivity.

Yes, the Dell PowerSwitch E-Series includes multi-gigabit switches with 48-port configurations that support high-power PoE. These switches are ideal for powering devices like wireless access points, IP cameras, and VoIP phones.

A Top-of-Rack switch connects servers and storage within a single rack to the broader data center network, simplifying cabling and improving performance. The Dell PowerSwitch S- and Z-Series offers a range of 1 to 800 GbE switches that are perfectly suited for Top-of-Rack deployments, providing high-density connectivity and low latency.

Dell's data center switches like PowerSwitch provide the high-bandwidth, low-latency fabric essential for large data transfers in AI training and inference workloads. With support for up to 800GbE and advanced features, they ensure your network can keep pace with accelerated computing and storage.

Dell PowerSwitch incorporates a multi-layered security approach, including features like port security, access control lists (ACLs), Hardware Root of Trust features, Secure Boot, Trusted Platform Module TPM 2.0 and authentication protocols to safeguard your network. Open Networking models also support advanced security software to help you build a Zero Trust-ready architecture.

Yes, PowerSwitch is designed for modern, automated environments and support a wide range of management tools. They offer standard CLI, REST APIs, and support for automation frameworks like Ansible, allowing for seamless integration into your existing DevOps and NetOps workflows. They also offer SmartFabric Manager for SONiC, enabling simplified deployment, orchestration, monitoring and life cycle management of SONiC fabrics through a single pane of glass.

Product Comparison

Compare Fiber

See how the PowerSwitch S5296F-ON stacks up against other models in the lineup.

Model

NPU

Capacity

Ports

PowerSwitch Z9864F-ON

Broadcom Tomahawk™ 5

51.2 Tbps

64x 800 GbE OSFP112, 2x SFP+

PowerSwitch Z9664F-ON

Broadcom Tomahawk™ 4

25.6 Tbps

64x 400 GbE QSFP56-DD, 2x 10 GbE SFP+

PowerSwitch Z9432F-ON

Broadcom Trident4-X11™

12.8 Tbps

32x 400 GbE QSFP56-DD, 2x 10 GbE SFP+

PowerSwitch S5448F-ON

Broadcom Trident4™-X9

16 Tbps

48x 100 GbE QSFP56-DD, 8x 400 GbE QSFP56-DD, 2x 10 GbE SFP+

PowerSwitch S5232F-ON

Broadcom Trident3™-X7

6.4 Tbps

32x 100 GbE QSFP28, 2x 10 GbE SFP+

PowerSwitch S5296F-ON Current

Broadcom Trident3™-X7

6.4 Tbps

96x 25 GbE SFP28, 8x 100 GbE QSFP28

PowerSwitch S5248F-ON

Broadcom Trident3™-X7

4 Tbps

48x 25 GbE SFP28, 4x 100 GbE QSFP28, 2x 100 GbE QSFP28-DD

PowerSwitch S5224F-ON

Broadcom Trident3™-X5

2.16 Tbps

24x 25 GbE SFP28, 4x 100 GbE QSFP28

PowerSwitch S5212F-ON

Broadcom Trident3™-X5

2.16 Tbps

12x 25 GbE SFP28, 3x 100 GbE QSFP28

PowerSwitch S4348F-ON

Broadcom Trident3™-X5

2160 Gbps

48x 10 GbE SFP+, 6x 100 GbE QSFP28

PowerSwitch S4148F-ON

Broadcom Maverick

1760 Gbps

48x 10 GbE SFP+, 2x QSFP+, 4x 100 GbE QSFP28

PowerSwitch S4128F-ON

Broadcom Maverick

960 Gbps

28x 10 GbE SFP+, 2x 100 GbE QSFP28

PowerSwitch S4112F-ON

Broadcom Maverick

840 Gbps

12x 10 GbE SFP+, 3x 100 GbE QSFP28

Copper

Dense, high-capacity, top-of-rack and aggregation switches for spine and leaf data center architectures.

Explore Copper

Out-of-Band Management

Dedicated switches for management, orchestration, and troubleshooting of production infrastructure.

Explore Out-of-Band Management

Downloads

Documentation & Resources

Access datasheets and technical resources for the PowerSwitch S5296F-ON.

Hardware Spec Sheet

Complete hardware specifications, port configurations, and performance data.

Download PDF

Quick Reference Guide

A high-level architecture guide covering best practices for spine-and-leaf deployments.

Download Guide

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Related Models

Also Consider

PowerSwitch S5232F-ON

Leaf 100/400G Mix Balanced Deploy

NPU: Broadcom Trident3™-X7
Capacity: 6.4 Tbps
Ports: 32x 100 GbE QSFP28, 2x 10 GbE SFP+

Get a Quote More Details

PowerSwitch S5248F-ON

Leaf 25/100G Mix Balanced

NPU: Broadcom Trident3™-X7
Capacity: 4 Tbps
Ports: 48x 25 GbE SFP28, 4x 100 GbE QSFP28, 2x 100 GbE QSFP28-DD

Get a Quote More Details

PowerSwitch Z9664F-ON

Spine 400G Ethernet High Density

NPU: Broadcom Tomahawk™ 4
Capacity: 25.6 Tbps
Ports: 64x 400 GbE QSFP56-DD, 2x 10 GbE SFP+

Get a Quote More Details

Dell Networking Dell PowerSwitch S5296F-ON

Dense, high-capacity, top-of-rack and aggregation switches for spine and leaf data center architectures.

Scalable networking for the data center

PowerSwitch S5296F-ON Key Specifications

Not sure if this is the right model?

Common Mistakes When Choosing a Data Center Switch

Hardware Specifications

PERFORMANCE

CONNECTIVITY

Frequently Asked Questions

What are data center switches?

How do Dell PowerSwitch solutions enhance data center performance and scalability?

What is the difference between Dell PowerSwitch models with and without the "-ON" suffix?

Which Dell PowerSwitch series is best for high-density 800GbE data center fabrics?

What are Dell PowerSwitch Layer 3 switches, and which models include SFP+ ports?

Does the Dell PowerSwitch portfolio include 48-port Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches?

What is the role of a Top-of-Rack switch?

How do Dell data center switches support modern workloads like AI and machine learning?

What security features are built into Dell PowerSwitch data center switches?

Can Dell PowerSwitch switches be managed with existing network automation tools?

Compare Fiber

Copper

Out-of-Band Management

Documentation & Resources

Also Consider

PowerSwitch S5232F-ON

PowerSwitch S5248F-ON

PowerSwitch Z9664F-ON