PACKETPERF

Primary Device

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

Compare Against

Aruba (HPE) 7030
Aruba (HPE) 7030
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2x2 MIMO (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 2.4 Gbps (1.2 Gbps 5GHz + 1.2 Gbps 2.4GHz)
  • Radios (bands): Dual-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1 Gigabit Ethernet
  • Max Clients: 256
  • PoE Requirement: PoE+ (30W typical)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Compact form factor ideal for dense deployments; Excellent Wi-Fi 6 performance suitable for high-density enterprise environments; Backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac devices; Built-in security features including WPA3; Energy-efficient for cost savings; Strong management capabilities via Aruba Central
  • ✘ Cons: Higher upfront cost compared to older Wi-Fi 5 models; Requires PoE+ infrastructure; Single 1GbE uplink can be limiting in high-throughput scenarios; Overkill for small office environments with few users; Limited to 2x2 MIMO compared to higher-end models with 4x4 configuration; Cooling considerations in very dense deployments
  • Est. Price: $450 - $750

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