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) Instant On AP33
Aruba (HPE) Instant On AP33
★ 3.6 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2x2
  • Aggregate Throughput: 3.0 Gbps
  • Radio Bands: Dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
  • 2.4 GHz Throughput: ~600 Mbps
  • 5 GHz Throughput: ~2.4 Gbps
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1 GbE (Gigabit Ethernet)
  • Maximum Clients: 100-150 concurrent clients
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3at PoE+ (90W max)
  • Form Factor: Wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted
  • Antennas: Internal antennas

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) performance at SMB price point; PoE powered with simplified cloud-based management via Instant On ecosystem; Dual-band coverage with solid 5 GHz performance (2.4 Gbps); Low power consumption relative to capabilities; Easy deployment and configuration for non-IT teams
  • ✘ Cons: 2x2 MIMO limits maximum throughput compared to 4x4 models; Single 1 GbE uplink port creates potential backhaul bottleneck in high-density deployments; Limited advanced features compared to flagship enterprise models; Power over Ethernet requirement may complicate retrofit installations; Scaling to larger deployments requires multiple units with potential management overhead
  • Est. Price: $299 - $429

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