WRHD6 Dell 96 Ports Switch 8P QSFP28 OS10 S5296f-on SFP28

Dell WRHD6 96 Ports Switch S5296F-ON SFP28 8P QSFP28 OS10 Overview

The Dell WRHD6 96 Ports Switch S5296F-ON SFP28 8P QSFP28 OS10 is a high-performance, enterprise-grade data center switch designed for environments that demand ultra-low latency, massive throughput, and scalable architecture. This model belongs to Dell’s S-Series of open networking switches, which are engineered for top-of-rack (ToR) deployment in both traditional and modern software-defined data center networks. With a compact 1RU design and 96 high-speed ports, this switch delivers unparalleled flexibility, performance, and control through Dell's OS10 operating system.

Hardware Specifications and Port Architecture

Port Configuration

The Dell WRHD6 S5296F-ON switch features 96 SFP28 ports for 25GbE connectivity and 8 QSFP28 ports that support 100GbE. This configuration enables dense server and storage connectivity while also offering uplink and spine-leaf architecture flexibility. Each QSFP28 port can be configured for 100GbE or broken out into four 25GbE interfaces using DAC or breakout cables, thereby maximizing port density and scalability.

High-Speed Data Throughput

The switch supports a non-blocking throughput of up to 6.4Tbps and a packet forwarding rate of up to 4.76 billion packets per second. This makes it ideal for high-performance computing (HPC), hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), and data-intensive enterprise applications. The consistent low-latency switching capabilities help in maintaining real-time data processing and application responsiveness.

Redundant and Hot-Swappable Components

Designed for maximum uptime, the Dell WRHD6 S5296F-ON includes redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and fans. This ensures minimal disruption during maintenance or component replacement. Both front-to-back and back-to-front airflow options are available, enabling compatibility with various data center cooling architectures.

Software Architecture: Dell OS10

Modular Linux-Based Operating System

The Dell S5296F-ON runs on the Dell OS10 Enterprise Edition, a Linux-based, modular operating system that provides a rich set of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking features. OS10 also enables programmability and automation, making it an excellent fit for DevOps-driven infrastructures. Its open architecture facilitates integration with third-party tools and automation frameworks like Ansible, Chef, and Puppet.

Automation and Scripting

OS10 supports industry-standard scripting and automation tools. Network administrators can use Python and RESTful APIs to automate switch configuration and management. This reduces manual configuration errors and significantly accelerates deployment timelines for large-scale environments.

Network Visibility and Telemetry

Dell OS10 includes advanced telemetry features, enabling real-time network visibility and troubleshooting. The switch supports streaming telemetry, SNMP, sFlow, and IPFIX, which allow IT teams to monitor network performance, detect anomalies, and optimize resource allocation proactively.

Advanced Networking Features

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Capabilities

The WRHD6 S5296F-ON offers comprehensive support for Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols, including VLANs, Spanning Tree (STP), Link Aggregation (LACP), OSPF, BGP, and EVPN-VXLAN. These capabilities make it suitable for both simple and complex network topologies in enterprise and service provider environments.

VXLAN and Network Virtualization

VXLAN support allows the switch to create scalable, isolated Layer 2 networks across Layer 3 infrastructure. This is essential for multi-tenant environments and cloud data centers that require network segmentation and traffic isolation for security and compliance purposes.

Multicast Routing and QoS

The switch supports advanced multicast routing protocols like PIM-SM and IGMP Snooping, ideal for streaming and broadcast applications. Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms are integrated to prioritize critical traffic, ensuring minimal latency and jitter for applications like VoIP, video conferencing, and data replication.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

Top-of-Rack in Spine-Leaf Architecture

As a high-density ToR switch, the WRHD6 is ideally suited for spine-leaf architectures in modern data centers. Its mix of 25GbE and 100GbE ports enables direct server connections and uplinks to spine switches, reducing oversubscription and enhancing east-west traffic efficiency.

Enterprise Core Switching

The switch can serve as a core switch in medium to large enterprise networks, offering the necessary redundancy, high throughput, and advanced routing capabilities. Its scalability and programmability allow organizations to future-proof their core infrastructure while ensuring seamless integration with emerging technologies.

Hyper-Converged Infrastructure Support

The S5296F-ON is fully compatible with hyper-converged infrastructure platforms, offering the bandwidth and low-latency required for storage and compute traffic consolidation. With support for RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), the switch enhances storage performance in NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF) deployments.

Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design

Low Power Consumption

The Dell WRHD6 S5296F-ON is built with energy-efficient components and dynamic power management features. It consumes significantly less power per gigabit compared to older generation switches, which contributes to reduced operating costs and a greener data center footprint.

Environmental Certifications

The switch complies with major environmental standards and certifications, including RoHS and ENERGY STAR. It is also optimized for use in high-temperature environments, with operational thresholds suitable for modern high-density rack deployments.

Security and Compliance Features

Network Access Control

OS10 offers robust access control mechanisms such as IEEE 802.1X authentication, MAC address filtering, and role-based access control (RBAC). These features protect the switch from unauthorized access and ensure that only authenticated users can modify configurations or access critical data.

Secure Management Protocols

Secure management protocols such as SSH, HTTPS, and SNMPv3 are supported, enabling encrypted communication between administrators and the switch. This helps safeguard configuration and monitoring activities from interception and tampering.

Firmware Integrity and Chain of Trust

Dell’s Secure Boot and BIOS-level security features ensure firmware integrity throughout the system's lifecycle. The switch also supports signed firmware updates, providing assurance that only authenticated, untampered software can run on the device.

Scalability and Future-Readiness

Modular Software Upgrades

OS10’s modular architecture allows individual services to be upgraded without impacting the entire system. This feature is vital for maintaining high availability in mission-critical environments and for rapidly deploying new network features.

Investment Protection

The switch’s versatile hardware and software design ensure long-term usability, even as network demands evolve. Its support for industry standards and open APIs future-proofs the infrastructure and protects your capital investment from rapid obsolescence.

Integration with Dell Ecosystem

Open Networking Ecosystem

As part of Dell’s open networking initiative, the S5296F-ON supports third-party network operating systems like Cumulus Linux and SONiC. This provides unparalleled flexibility for organizations pursuing disaggregated networking strategies.

End-to-End Lifecycle Management

Dell provides comprehensive lifecycle management tools for the WRHD6, including OpenManage Network Manager (OMNM), which allows centralized configuration, monitoring, and reporting. Seamless integration with Dell EMC platforms also ensures unified management across compute, storage, and network layers.

Comparison with Competing Switches

Competitive Advantage Over Arista and Cisco

Compared to competing models from Arista and Cisco, the WRHD6 S5296F-ON offers superior port density and flexibility at a competitive price point. Dell’s commitment to open networking and modular OS10 software distinguishes it as a leader in customizable enterprise switching solutions.

Flexible Licensing Model

Dell’s OS10 licensing model is designed for flexibility, offering various tiers of functionality based on enterprise requirements. This ensures organizations can scale features and capabilities according to their specific needs and budget constraints.

Maintenance and Support

Dell ProSupport and ProDeploy

The WRHD6 is backed by Dell’s industry-leading support services, including ProSupport for 24/7 issue resolution and ProDeploy for hassle-free installation and configuration. These services ensure optimal performance and reduce the time-to-value for new deployments.

Firmware and Software Update Management

Dell provides timely and secure firmware updates that address vulnerabilities and introduce new features. OS10 also supports automated update workflows that can be executed via CLI, REST APIs, or orchestration tools.