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

Fortinet FortiGate 120G
Fortinet FortiGate 120G
★ 3.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 4 Gbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 1.5 Gbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 1 Gbps
  • Max Sessions: 64000
  • New Sessions/sec: 6000
  • Interfaces: 9x GE (8x data + 1x mgmt)
  • Form Factor: 1U Rackmount

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Excellent mid-market value with balanced throughput for SMB deployments; Multiple GE ports enable flexible network segmentation and redundancy; Comprehensive FortiOS feature set including application control, IPS/IDS, sandboxing, and regular security updates; Strong SSL VPN support for remote access; Proven reliability with mature firmware
  • ✘ Cons: Throughput insufficient for high-performance data center or core network deployments; Aging platform (released ~2013) with newer FortiGate models offering better performance per watt; Limited horizontal scalability compared to FortiGate 200/300 series; Power consumption (~450W) higher relative to throughput class; Threat Prevention throughput bottleneck reduces effective inspection capacity at line rate
  • Est. Price: $2,200 - $3,400

Popular Comparisons

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