Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON
The Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON is a compact 1U open networking switch providing twenty-eight 10GbE SFP+ ports and two 100GbE QSFP28 uplinks for smaller enterprise server racks, branch data centers, and dedicated storage fabrics. Delivering 960 Gbps of line-rate switching capacity, it features sub-microsecond latency and multi-protocol flexibility. The S4128F-ON supports ONIE for third-party operating systems as well as Dell SmartFabric OS10. Second-hand market purchasers frequently deploy it as an affordable 10GbE Top-of-Rack switch for virtualization clusters. Buyers should verify fan tray airflow direction and test both 100GbE ports.
Also written as: PowerSwitch S4128F-ON, Dell S4128F-ON, S4128F 10GbE Switch
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerSwitch |
| Form factor | 1U rack |
| Released | Jun 2017 |
| Ports | 28x 10GbE SFP+ + 2x 100GbE QSFP28 ports |
| Switching capacity | 960 Gbps (1.92 Tbps full duplex) |
| Power supply | Dual redundant hot-plug 350W AC or DC power supplies, normal or reverse airflow |
Generations
- Next generation: Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON
Works together
How the Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON connects to servers, storage and the network: 3 ways, with the parts and products on each path.
iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet
Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.
Servers
Dell PowerEdge R640 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R740 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R440 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R540 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R740xd 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R940 3U rack
Adapters for the server
540-BBGN Dell Broadcom 57412 Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Adapter
540-BBRL Dell Intel X710 Quad Port 10GbE SFP+ Full-Height PCIe Adapter
540-BBGO Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 PCIe Adapter
540-BBGP Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter
Storage
Dell PowerVault ME4024 2U rack
Dell PowerVault ME5024 2U rack
Dell PowerVault ME4012 2U rack
Dell Unity XT Unity 300 2U rack
Dell Unity XT Unity 400 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
Optics
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Servers
- Dell PowerEdge R640 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R740 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R440 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R540 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R740xd 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R940 3U rack
Adapters for the server
- 540-BBGN Dell Broadcom 57412 Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Adapter
- 540-BBRL Dell Intel X710 Quad Port 10GbE SFP+ Full-Height PCIe Adapter
- 540-BBGO Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 PCIe Adapter
- 540-BBGP Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter
Storage
- Dell Unity XT Unity 300 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT Unity 400 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 380XT 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480XT 2U rack
Optics
Hyperconverged cluster
Plan at least two 25GbE ports per node to two switches; all-NVMe clusters often move to 100GbE.
HCI nodes
Dell VxRail P Series P570F 2U rack (1 node)
HPE SimpliVity 380 Gen10 2U rack
HPE SimpliVity 380 Gen9 2U rack
Lenovo ThinkAgile HX3320 1U rack
Adapters for the server
- 540-BBGN Dell Broadcom 57412 Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Adapter
- 540-BBRL Dell Intel X710 Quad Port 10GbE SFP+ Full-Height PCIe Adapter
- 540-BBGO Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 PCIe Adapter
- 540-BBGP Dell Broadcom 57416 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter
Optics
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- iSCSI explained mrplanb.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- Network monitoring tools compared mrplanb.com
- Dell E-Lab Navigator (Dell interoperability) dell.com
Check compatibility with Dell
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Dell has tested with the Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON.
- Compatibility Dell E-Lab Navigator (storage and SAN interoperability) (free vendor sign-in)
- Support Dell Support: drivers, manuals and service tag lookup
Equivalent models from other brands
- Cisco Nexus 93180YC Ex
- Arista 7050SX2 48YC6
Buying a used S4128F-ON: what to check
Verify fan tray airflow direction matches power supplies, confirm Dell OS10 or ONIE operating environment, and test all 28 SFP+ ports with 10GbE transceivers.
FAQ
What uplink ports are provided on the S4128F-ON?
Two 100GbE QSFP28 ports that can be used as 100GbE uplinks or broken out into 4x 25GbE / 4x 10GbE connections.
What power supplies does the S4128F-ON use?
Dual redundant hot-pluggable 350W AC or DC power supplies.
Buying or selling S4128F-ON?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27