PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Cisco Catalyst 9500-48Y4C
Cisco Catalyst 9500-48Y4C
★ 3.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 80 Tbps
  • Forwarding Rate: 1.9 Tbps
  • Ports: 48x 25GbE (SFP28) + 4x 100GbE (QSFP28)
  • Layer: L3 (Full Routing Capable)
  • Stacking Support: Yes (up to 9 units)
  • Max Power Consumption: 3500W
  • Throughput per Port: 25 Gbps (data ports) / 100 Gbps (uplinks)
  • Memory: 16 GB DRAM, 4 GB Flash
  • PoE: Optional PoE modules available

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Industry-leading 80 Tbps switching capacity for ultra-high-performance core/distribution deployments; Modular architecture supports line-rate forwarding on all ports with consistent low latency; Comprehensive L3 routing with hardware-based VXLAN/MPLS for advanced network designs; Redundant supervisors and power supplies for carrier-grade availability; Cisco Catalyst 9000 software suite enables AI-driven networking, telemetry, and segment routing
  • ✘ Cons: Exceptionally high capex cost ($95k-$145k+) limits deployment to large enterprise and service provider networks; Requires skilled networking staff for full feature utilization including programmability and automation; Power and cooling requirements (3.5kW+) significant for smaller data centers; Complex licensing model for advanced software features; Overkill throughput specifications for organizations with modest switching needs
  • Est. Price: $95,000 - $145,000

Compare Against

Ubiquiti Enterprise 8 PoE
Ubiquiti Enterprise 8 PoE
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2x2 MIMO (2 spatial streams per band)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 1.8 Gbps (1.2 Gbps 5GHz + 600 Mbps 2.4GHz)
  • Radios: Dual-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1 Gbps Ethernet
  • Max Clients: 128-200 concurrent clients
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3at PoE (30W)
  • Antenna Type: Internal omni-directional
  • Coverage Area: ~400 sq ft / ~37 sq m
  • Frequency Bands: 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g/n/ax), 5 GHz (802.11a/n/ac/ax)
  • Data Rate (5GHz): Up to 1.2 Gbps
  • Data Rate (2.4GHz): Up to 600 Mbps
  • Security: WPA2/WPA3 Enterprise & Personal
  • Management: UniFi Network Controller, cloud/on-prem
  • Form Factor: Compact ceiling or wall-mount

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 with strong dual-band coverage; Simple PoE power delivery (802.3at standard); Excellent UniFi integration and centralized management; Cost-effective for mid-market deployments; Reliable firmware and security updates from Ubiquiti
  • ✘ Cons: Limited to 2x2 MIMO (lower stream count than flagship models); 1 Gbps uplink can bottleneck in high-density deployments; Requires UniFi Controller ecosystem (not standalone); Internal antennas limit customization; 5GHz range more limited than external-antenna competitors
  • Est. Price: $249 - $349

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