PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Aruba AP-515
Aruba AP-515
★ 3.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4 MIMO (2.4GHz & 5GHz)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 1.73 Gbps
  • Radios: Dual-band (2.4GHz: 574 Mbps; 5GHz: 1.20 Gbps)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1 GbE
  • Max Clients: 256 concurrent
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3at PoE+ (30W)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 performance with 4x4 MIMO for high-throughput coverage; Excellent dual-band design supports dense deployments with strong backward compatibility; 802.3at PoE+ simplifies installation without external power supplies; Advanced security features including built-in threat detection and encryption; Strong support for IoT and mobile device density; Proven reliability in campus and distributed enterprise networks
  • ✘ Cons: 1 GbE uplink can become bottleneck in high-density deployments (>100 clients); Requires PoE+ infrastructure; Higher initial cost compared to Wi-Fi 5 alternatives; Requires Aruba controller or Instant On mode for advanced management; 2.4GHz band maxes out at 574 Mbps, limiting legacy device throughput; Some advanced features require Aruba licensing or subscriptions
  • Est. Price: $600 - $900

Compare Against

Cisco Catalyst 9178i
Cisco Catalyst 9178i
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 204.8 Tbps (full chassis)
  • Forwarding Rate: 204.8 Tbps
  • Ports: Up to 288 u00d7 10/25/40/100 Gbps (via modular line cards)
  • Layer: L2/L3
  • Stacking Support: Yes (up to 9 units via Stacking Cables)
  • Chassis Type: 3-slot modular chassis
  • PoE Budget: Up to 5.6 kW per module (optional PoE+ modules)
  • Max Power Consumption: 10.2 kW (full chassis)
  • Backplane Bandwidth: 204.8 Tbps
  • Throughput per Port: Up to 100 Gbps per port
  • Cooling: Redundant, variable-speed fans
  • Uplinks: Multiple 100 Gbps QSFP28 capable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Industry-leading 204.8 Tbps switching fabric supports next-generation high-density deployments; Modular architecture allows flexible line-card configurations for different port densities and speeds; Full redundancy support (PSU, fan, uplinks) ensures carrier-grade reliability; Native support for Cisco DNA Center and SD-Access intent-based networking; Excellent in-service upgrade capabilities with no traffic disruption
  • ✘ Cons: Significantly higher capital cost compared to fixed-configuration switches; Requires skilled technical staff for modular line-card installation and configuration; Power and cooling infrastructure overhead for large deployments; Complexity of managing modular chassis in smaller networks may be overkill; Limited flexibility in port mix compared to disaggregated options
  • Est. Price: $85,000 - $125,000

Popular Comparisons

Aruba AP-515 vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max Aruba AP-515 vs Ubiquiti U7 Pro Aruba AP-515 vs Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Aruba AP-515 vs Cisco Catalyst 9178i Aruba AP-515 vs Cisco Catalyst 9176I (CW9176I)