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 Cloud Gateway Max
Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max
★ 4.9 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 2.5 Gbps (routing, IDS/IPS off)
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 1.5 Gbps (IDS/IPS on)
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: Not published by Ubiquiti; WireGuard/Site-Magic VPN up to 500 Mbps (third-party review, untested method)
  • Max Sessions: Not published
  • New Sessions/sec: Not published
  • Interfaces: 5x 2.5GbE RJ45 (1 WAN + 4 LAN, one LAN port can be remapped to a second WAN)
  • Form Factor: Compact desktop, 142 x 127 x 30 mm, USB-C 5V/5A power (max 16.1 W)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: 2.5GbE WAN and LAN ports on a compact, low-power chassis (max 16.1 W); 512GB built-in NVMe storage on the standard SKU for local UniFi data; Integrated UniFi controller with IDS/IPS and no license or subscription fees; Supports 300+ clients and 30+ UniFi devices; Multi-WAN capable through the remappable LAN port
  • ✘ Cons: Only 1.5 Gbps with IDS/IPS enabled, well below the 2.5 Gbps routing figure; IPsec VPN throughput, session counts and new sessions per second are not published; No PoE output and no built-in Wi-Fi access point; No LAG/LACP support; 500 Mbps VPN throughput is limiting for high-volume site-to-site tunnels
  • Est. Price: $240 - $279

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