Dell PowerSwitch S5296F-ON
The Dell PowerSwitch S5296F-ON is a massive 2U open networking leaf switch built for ultra-high-density compute racks, web-scale cloud data centers, and multi-tenant virtualization fabrics. Featuring ninety-six 25GbE SFP28 server access ports and eight 100GbE QSFP28 uplink ports, it provides 6.4 Tbps of line-rate switching capacity in 2U. As an open networking platform running ONIE, it allows data center architects to standardize on Dell SmartFabric OS10 or open NOS distributions like SONiC. Secondary market shoppers should verify power supply wattage (1600W) and ensure all four modular fan trays operate quietly.
Also written as: PowerSwitch S5296F-ON, Dell S5296F-ON, S5296F 96-Port Switch
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerSwitch |
| Form factor | 2U rack |
| Released | Mar 2019 |
| Ports | 96x 25GbE SFP28 + 8x 100GbE QSFP28 ports |
| Switching capacity | 6.4 Tbps (12.8 Tbps full duplex) |
| Power supply | Dual redundant hot-plug 1600W AC or DC power supplies, normal or reverse airflow |
Compatible parts
Transceivers
407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
Cables
470-BCIX Dell Networking Cable QSFP28 to QSFP28 100GbE Passive Direct Attach Copper 1m
470-BCIY Dell Networking Cable QSFP28 to QSFP28 100GbE Passive Direct Attach Copper 2m
470-BCIZ Dell Networking Cable QSFP28 to QSFP28 100GbE Passive Direct Attach Copper 3m
470-BCJA Dell Networking Breakout Cable QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 100GbE to 4x25GbE Passive DAC 1m
470-BCJB Dell Networking Breakout Cable QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 100GbE to 4x25GbE Passive DAC 2m
470-BCJC Dell Networking Breakout Cable QSFP28 to 4x SFP28 100GbE to 4x25GbE Passive DAC 3m
Works together
How the Dell PowerSwitch S5296F-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 MX840c blade
Dell PowerEdge MX750c blade
Dell PowerEdge MX760c blade
HPE ProLiant DL325 Gen10 Plus v2 1U rack
HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10 Plus 1U rack
HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus 2U rack
Adapters for the server
540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
540-BBJL Dell Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 Network Daughter Card (rNDC)
540-BCND Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Adapter
Storage
Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 380XT 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480XT 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 680F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 680XT 2U rack
Optics
- 407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)
7G17A03537 Lenovo ThinkSystem 25Gb SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver
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 MX840c blade
- Dell PowerEdge MX750c blade
- Dell PowerEdge MX760c blade
- HPE ProLiant DL325 Gen10 Plus v2 1U rack
- HPE ProLiant DL360 Gen10 Plus 1U rack
- HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus 2U rack
Adapters for the server
- 540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
- 540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
- 540-BBJL Dell Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 Network Daughter Card (rNDC)
- 540-BCND Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Adapter
Storage
- Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT 380XT 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT 480F 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT 480XT 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT 680F 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT 680XT 2U rack
Optics
- 407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
- 407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)
- 7G17A03537 Lenovo ThinkSystem 25Gb SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver
Hyperconverged cluster
Plan at least two 25GbE ports per node to two switches; all-NVMe clusters often move to 100GbE.
HCI nodes
Lenovo ThinkAgile VX650 V2 2U rack
Lenovo ThinkAgile HX3320 1U rack
Adapters for the server
- 540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
- 540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
- 540-BBJL Dell Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 Network Daughter Card (rNDC)
- 540-BCND Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Adapter
Optics
- 407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
- 407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)
- 7G17A03537 Lenovo ThinkSystem 25Gb SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver
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
Equivalent models from other brands
- Cisco Nexus 9364C
- Arista 7050SX3 96YC8
Buying a used S5296F-ON: what to check
Verify all 4 modular fan trays and dual 1600W power supplies share matching airflow direction. Confirm port health across all 96 SFP28 interfaces, and test OS10 or ONIE boot.
FAQ
How many 25GbE ports are on the S5296F-ON?
Ninety-six fixed 25GbE SFP28 ports plus eight 100GbE QSFP28 uplinks in a 2U rack form factor.
What is the switching capacity of the S5296F-ON?
6.4 Tbps (12.8 Tbps full duplex) non-blocking throughput.
Buying or selling S5296F-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 S5296F-ON Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27