Primary Device
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
Compare Against
Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Wall
★ 3.6 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Wi-Fi Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
- Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2x2 MIMO (4 total streams with dual-band)
- Aggregate Throughput: 1.2 Gbps
- Radios: Dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)
- 2.4 GHz Throughput: 300 Mbps
- 5 GHz Throughput: 867 Mbps
- Uplink Port Speed: 1u00d7 Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps)
- Max Clients: 300+
- PoE Requirement: 802.3at PoE+ (up to 30W)
- Form Factor: Wall-mounted compact
- Processor: Dual-core
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Discreet wall-mounted design perfect for offices and hospitality environments; WiFi 6 performance with excellent range and multi-device efficiency; Seamless UniFi ecosystem integration for centralized management; PoE+ powered eliminates cable clutter; Dual-band simultaneous operation reduces congestion; Solid performance at mid-range price point; Proven reliability in enterprise deployments
- ✘ Cons: Uplink limited to Gigabit Ethernet (no multi-gig for ultra-high-density deployments); Wall-mount restricts placement flexibility compared to ceiling/pole options; PoE+ power requirement (30W) demands compatible switch infrastructure; Requires UniFi Controller for advanced features (dream machine or cloud); Premium pricing versus consumer-grade WiFi 6 alternatives; Not ideal for deployments needing extreme outdoor range; Single-unit architecture without mesh or stacking capabilities
- Est. Price: $220 - $320