PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Fortinet FortiGate 3500G
Fortinet FortiGate 3500G
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 40 Gbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 20 Gbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 8 Gbps
  • Max Sessions: 10 Million
  • New Sessions/sec: 500,000
  • Interfaces: 16x Gigabit Ethernet ports (8 dedicated to management), optional SFP+ slots
  • Form Factor: 2U Rack-mount
  • Memory: 16 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB SSD
  • Power Consumption: ~1,200W

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Purpose-built high-performance enterprise firewall with excellent threat prevention capabilities; Strong FortiOS ecosystem integration with advanced threat detection and VPN capabilities; Reliable and mature platform widely deployed in Fortune 500 companies; Excellent throughput-to-cost ratio for mid-enterprise deployments; Supports extensive network interfaces and modular expansion options
  • ✘ Cons: Premium pricing compared to some competitors like Palo Alto Networks PA-5220; Steep learning curve for advanced configuration and FortiOS-specific features; Requires FortiCare subscription for optimal threat updates and support, adding ongoing costs; High power consumption and cooling requirements in datacenter environments; Limited scalability - organizations outgrowing 40 Gbps must migrate to larger models
  • Est. Price: $15,000 - $32,000

Compare Against

Aruba (HPE) Aruba 9106 Gateway
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
  • Est. Price: $1,200 - $1,800

Popular Comparisons

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