✔ 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
Compare Against
Aruba (HPE) Aruba 9106 Gateway
★ 4.3 Value Score
Technical Specifications
Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4 MU-MIMO
Aggregate Throughput: 2.4 Gbps
Radios: Dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
2.4 GHz Throughput: 574 Mbps (802.11ax)
5 GHz Throughput: 1.2 Gbps (802.11ax)
Uplink Port Speed: Multi-Gigabit (10GBase-T capable with optional modules)
Max Clients: 250+
PoE Requirement: 95W (High Power PoE)
Form Factor: Compact wall-mount or ceiling-mount
Security: WPA3, 802.1X, Built-in WIPS
Curation Review
✔ Pros:Exceptional Wi-Fi 6 performance with high client density support; Integrated wireless controller reduces infrastructure complexity; Strong enterprise security features with WPA3 and threat detection; Flexible deployment (wall/ceiling mount); Excellent range and coverage
✘ Cons:High power consumption requires robust PoE infrastructure; Limited to wireless access point role, not a standalone gateway/firewall; Expensive upfront licensing for management and analytics; Proprietary controller integration required; May be overkill for small deployments