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

Cisco Secure Firewall 220
Cisco Secure Firewall 220
★ 3.2 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 350 Mbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 200 Mbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 150 Mbps
  • Max Concurrent Sessions: 100,000
  • New Sessions/sec: 25,000
  • Interfaces: 2u00d7 Gigabit WAN + 2u00d7 Gigabit LAN + 1 Management
  • Form Factor: Desktop / 1U Rack-mountable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Compact form factor ideal for branch offices and remote sites; Modern cloud-managed platform via Cisco Defense Orchestrator; Integrated threat prevention with IPS, file sandboxing, and AMP; Support for advanced VPN including site-to-site IPsec and clientless SSL VPN; Low power consumption and minimal heat output
  • ✘ Cons: Limited throughput compared to enterprise-class firewalls; Requires active security subscriptions for full feature set (Threat Defense license); Only 4 data Ethernet ports may limit flexibility in multi-segment networks; Performance degradation when advanced threat prevention is enabled; Not suitable for high-traffic datacenter or enterprise core deployments
  • Est. Price: $900 - $1,400

Popular Comparisons

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