Primary Device
Netgate 6100
★ 3.2 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Firewall Throughput: 2.5 Gbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 1.5 Gbps
- IPsec VPN Throughput: 1.2 Gbps
- Max Sessions: 512,000
- New Sessions/sec: 50,000
- Interfaces: 8x GbE Ethernet ports + management port
- Form Factor: 1U Rackmount
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Compact 1U form factor suitable for datacenter deployments; Robust VPN capabilities with strong throughput performance; Excellent value for mid-tier enterprise security; Runs pfSense or OPNsense for flexibility
- ✘ Cons: Throughput plateaus below 3 Gbps, insufficient for high-demand core network roles; Limited redundancy options compared to modular enterprise firewalls; May require additional hardware for advanced threat prevention at scale
- Est. Price: $3,500 - $5,000
Compare Against
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