PACKETPERF

Primary Device

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

Compare Against

Palo Alto Networks PA-415
Palo Alto Networks PA-415
★ 3.2 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 650 Mbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 395 Mbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 150 Mbps
  • Max Sessions: 200,000
  • New Sessions/sec: 3,500
  • Interfaces: 4x GE RJ45 + 1x Mgmt + 1x HA
  • Form Factor: 1U Appliance
  • Power Consumption: ~230W

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Compact 1U form factor ideal for branch offices and SMB deployments; Solid threat prevention capabilities with advanced security features; Good price-to-performance ratio for mid-range deployment; Reliable enterprise-grade platform with extensive management tools; Supports High Availability clustering for redundancy
  • ✘ Cons: Lower throughput compared to PA-430 and higher models limiting core performance; Limited to 4 gigabit interfaces insufficient for large enterprise deployments; Session limit of 200k could be constraining for high-traffic environments; No integrated SSD storage like newer models; Power efficiency lower than more recent appliance generations
  • Est. Price: $8,000 - $12,000

Popular Comparisons

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