PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Palo Alto Networks ION 1200-S
Palo Alto Networks ION 1200-S
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: Not published by Palo Alto
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: Not published by Palo Alto
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 700 Mbps (encrypted, 1400-byte packets, Prisma SD-WAN datasheet); 250 Mbps at 600-byte packets
  • Max Sessions: Not published
  • New Sessions/sec: Not published
  • Interfaces: 2 x RJ-45/SFP combo WAN, 2 x RJ-45 10/100/1000 WAN/LAN, 6 x RJ-45 GbE Layer 2 switch ports (4 PoE), 1 x RJ-45 bypass pair, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x RJ-45 console
  • Form Factor: Fanless rack or desktop, 9 in W x 13 in L x 1.73 in H, 7.85 lb
  • PoE Budget: 90 W total across 4 PoE ports (60 W max per port, 802.3bt); port-level PoE figures in the official table conflict, so verify against the PDF
  • Layer: L2 switch ports with SD-WAN routing (appliance function)
  • Stacking support: Not supported
  • Cellular: Base ION 1200-S has no cellular; -C-NA and -C-ROW variants have 4G LTE; -C5G-WW has 5G NR sub-6 GHz
  • Memory / Storage: 8 GB RAM / 128 GB eMMC
  • Power: AC 100-240 V, 150 W adapter (derated to 50 W above 45 C) to 12 VDC
  • Operating Temperature: 0-40 C at 3,000 m (0-60 C for C5G-WW with PoE disabled)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Fanless design suits branch and desk deployments; Integrated PoE++ Layer 2 switch ports reduce the need for a separate switch; Multiple WAN options including dual-WAN and cellular variants; Lower cost than the ION 3200 and larger Prisma SD-WAN models; Bypass pair on the ports helps keep the network up if the device fails
  • ✘ Cons: Encrypted throughput of about 700 Mbps caps it well below larger branch devices; Palo Alto does not publish firewall, threat prevention, or session capacity figures; PoE budget and port-level figures are inconsistent across sources; The 5G and LTE variants add cost and depend on carrier certifications; Built around Prisma SD-WAN, so it is a poor fit for standalone firewall use
  • Est. Price: $1,614 - $2,152

Compare Against

Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro Max
Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro Max
★ 5.0 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: Not published by Ubiquiti. Third-party tests: about 3.8-4.7 Gbps internet (WAN) throughput; about 3.0 Gbps inter-VLAN routing
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 5 Gbps IDS/IPS (Ubiquiti spec)
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: Not published by Ubiquiti. Unverified third-party estimate of about 1.8-2.2 Gbps
  • Max Sessions: Not published
  • New Sessions/sec: Not published
  • Interfaces: 2x 10G SFP+ ports; 8x 1GbE RJ45 LAN ports; 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 WAN port (sources conflict on WAN; one lists a 25GbE WAN port)
  • Form Factor: 1U rackmount

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: 5 Gbps IDS/IPS rating from Ubiquiti; 10G SFP+ ports for fast uplinks or LAN; Multi-WAN support with 2.5GbE WAN; Integrated UniFi Network controller and UniFi OS for centralized management; Built-in NVR bay for UniFi Protect cameras; Rackmount 1U form factor suited to server racks
  • ✘ Cons: Ubiquiti does not publish firewall, VPN, or session-rate figures; Real-world WAN throughput in independent tests is about 3-4.7 Gbps, below the 5 Gbps IDS/IPS rating; Port layout and WAN specs differ between sources; Costs about 2x the UDM Pro (about $220 more) for a modest throughput gain; Limited 1GbE LAN port count compared with dedicated switches; Requires UniFi ecosystem for full feature set
  • Est. Price: $599 - $660

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