PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Palo Alto Networks PA-555-POE
Palo Alto Networks PA-555-POE
★ 3.2 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 2 Gbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 650 Mbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 550 Mbps
  • Max Sessions: 100,000
  • New Sessions/sec: 4,000
  • Interfaces: 1x Management + 4x 1GbE Data (RJ45 with PoE) + 1x Console
  • Form Factor: 1U rack-mounted

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Compact 1U form factor ideal for space-constrained deployments; Integrated PoE support on data ports eliminates need for external power injectors for edge devices; Advanced threat protection with next-gen firewall capabilities; Suitable for medium-sized branch offices and mid-market businesses
  • ✘ Cons: 1.5–2 Gbps throughput may be insufficient for high-traffic enterprise environments; Limited to 4 data ports restricts network scalability without additional switching; Mid-range pricing without high-end performance targets a narrow market segment; PoE power budget is limited for power-hungry network devices
  • Est. Price: $8,500 - $14,999

Compare Against

Aruba (HPE) Aruba 9106 Gateway
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

Popular Comparisons

Palo Alto Networks PA-555-POE vs Fortinet FortiGate 400G Palo Alto Networks PA-555-POE vs Aruba (HPE) Aruba 9106 Gateway Palo Alto Networks PA-555-POE vs Palo Alto Networks ION 3200 Palo Alto Networks PA-555-POE vs Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H-C5G-WW Palo Alto Networks PA-555-POE vs Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)