PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H
Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H
★ 3.7 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 1.5 Gbps (secondary source, unverified; not in Palo Alto's published docs)
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: Not published
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 1.5 Gbps (secondary source, unverified)
  • Max Sessions: 80,000 (secondary source, unverified)
  • New Sessions/sec: 6,000 (secondary source, unverified)
  • Interfaces: 6x 10/100/1000 RJ-45 (Ports 1-2 WAN/LAN as RJ-45/SFP combo) + 2x RJ-45/SFP combo WAN/LAN + Port 0 (1GbE) + 4x 1GbE L2 switch LAN ports + 1 bypass port pair; 1 RJ-45 console; 2x USB 3.0 Type-A
  • Form Factor: Fanless desktop/rack/wall-mount, 9 x 13 x 1.73 in (228.6 x 330.2 x 43.9 mm), 9.85 lb, IP40
  • Storage/Memory: 128GB eMMC / 8GB RAM
  • Power: 180W external adapter; redundant DC 12-48 V input (4 A)
  • Operating Temperature: -40 C to 70 C (0 C to 60 C with provided adapter)
  • PoE: None on the H variant (PoE is on the non-H ION 3200)
  • Wi-Fi/AP: None listed for ION 3200H
  • Cellular: ION 3200H-C5G-WW variant adds worldwide 5G with TPM; carrier certifications AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon
  • Research Note: Throughput/session figures conflict across sources: Palo Alto best-practices page lists 1.3 Gbps / 1.7 Gbps (metric not stated); CDW lists 1.7 Gbps. Official device-spec page (docs.paloaltonetworks.com) gives ports, power, and physical specs but no performance numbers. Price range is an estimate, not a verified USD list price; CDW lists request-pricing only.

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Official docs list 4x L2 switch LAN ports and a bypass pair, so it covers branch LAN switching and inline failover in one box; Fanless design with wide -40 C to 70 C operating range suits harsh or unconditioned sites; Redundant DC 12-48 V input supports industrial and vehicle power; Certified to IEEE 1613 and IEC 61850-3 for power-substation use; 5G WW variant (ION 3200H-C5G-WW) provides built-in cellular backup with TPM key storage; Managed through Prisma SD-WAN with centralized policy and VPN orchestration
  • ✘ Cons: Firewall, VPN and session performance are not published in Palo Alto's official docs, and the figures found are inconsistent and from secondary sources; Only 8GB RAM versus 16GB on the standard ION 3200; No PoE on the H variant, unlike the standard ION 3200; Public USD list price is not available (CDW shows request-pricing only), so pricing is quote-based; Low claimed throughput (about 1.5 Gbps) is limiting for multi-gigabit WAN links; Requires Prisma SD-WAN controller and licensing to be useful
  • Est. Price: $3,500 - $5,500

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

Popular Comparisons

Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H vs Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H vs Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro Max Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H vs Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H vs Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max) Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H vs Ubiquiti Enterprise Fortress Gateway (EFG)