PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Palo Alto Networks PA-545-PoE
Palo Alto Networks PA-545-PoE
★ 3.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 4 Gbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 3 Gbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 2.5 Gbps
  • Max Concurrent Sessions: 2 Million
  • New Sessions/sec: 85,000u2013150,000
  • Interfaces: 8x 1GbE + 1x Mgmt; PoE support on 4 ports
  • PoE Budget: 90W total
  • Form Factor: 1U Rackmount
  • Max Power Consumption: 1000W

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Built-in PoE support eliminates need for separate power injectors for access points and cameras; Strong threat prevention capabilities with advanced security subscriptions; Good balance of performance and cost for mid-market deployments; Enterprise-grade reliability with hot-swap power supplies; Flexible licensing options for scaling security features
  • ✘ Cons: Subscription licensing model required for full threat prevention features adds significant ongoing costs; Lower throughput compared to PA-5000 and PA-7000 series; High power consumption requires robust cooling and power infrastructure; Complex licensing management with multiple required subscriptions (Threat Prevention, URL Filtering, Advanced Threat Prevention); PoE budget of 90W is insufficient for powering many high-consumption devices simultaneously
  • Est. Price: $9,000 - $14,000

Compare Against

Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)
Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Device Type: UniFi Network Appliance / Gateway
  • Processor: Quad-core ARM (MediaTek MT7986)
  • RAM: 2 GB DDR4
  • Storage: 32 GB eMMC + 1 TB HDD (for protect/video)
  • Network Interfaces: 1u00d7 WAN (2.5G), 3u00d7 LAN (GbE), 1u00d7 Console (USB)
  • Routing Throughput: 3.5 Gbps
  • Switching Capacity: 5 Gbps fabric
  • Max Concurrent Connections: 100,000+
  • VPN Support: IPsec, WireGuard, L2TP
  • Security Features: Built-in IPS/IDS, DPI, threat management
  • Form Factor: Compact Desktop (1U appliance)
  • Power Consumption: 35W typical
  • PoE Output: 1u00d7 802.3af (for optional AP)
  • Management: UniFi OS + Cloud integration
  • Redundancy: Dual WAN capable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: All-in-one network appliance with built-in UniFi OS, video storage, and robust security; Excellent value for SMBs combining routing, switching, and threat protection; Includes 1TB HDD for UniFi Protect video surveillance; Silent fanless design or passive cooling; Seamless integration with UniFi ecosystem; Low power consumption (~35W)
  • ✘ Cons: Limited to 2.5G WAN uplink (not enterprise-grade 10G); Overkill for very small networks (branch offices with <50 users); Less granular control than dedicated enterprise firewalls (Cisco ASA, Fortinet FortiGate); Storage not user-upgradeable; Noise from HDD if used heavily for video recording; Requires UniFi Cloud account for optimal features
  • Est. Price: $299 - $349

Popular Comparisons

Palo Alto Networks PA-545-PoE vs Fortinet FortiGate 400G Palo Alto Networks PA-545-PoE vs Aruba (HPE) Aruba 9106 Gateway Palo Alto Networks PA-545-PoE vs Palo Alto Networks ION 3200 Palo Alto Networks PA-545-PoE vs Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H-C5G-WW Palo Alto Networks PA-545-PoE vs Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)