PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Palo Alto Networks ION 3200-S
Palo Alto Networks ION 3200-S
★ 4.2 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Product Type: SD-WAN Edge Appliance (Gateway/Router)
  • Throughput (Data/WAN): 3-4 Gbps
  • Max Concurrent Connections: 2M+
  • Max New Connections/sec: 100K+
  • Interfaces: 4x 1GbE + 2x Management (Dual LAN/WAN capable)
  • Form Factor: 2U Rack Mount
  • Redundancy: Dual WAN, Hot Standby capable
  • Supported Protocols: IPsec, SSL, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, static routing

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Purpose-built for SD-WAN edge deployments with integrated security (threat prevention, DNS filtering); Dual WAN failover capability with automatic path optimization; Rich routing and policy control supporting MPLS, BGP, and dynamic failover; Centralized management via Panorama/Cloud portal for fleet-wide visibility; Supports multiple ISP links with load balancing and intelligent path selection; Lower operational costs vs. traditional WAN appliances through SD-WAN automation
  • ✘ Cons: Licensing costs for SD-WAN fabric, threat prevention, and advanced features can significantly exceed hardware cost; Not a traditional firewall (lacks deep packet inspection throughput ratings some organizations require); Requires cloud-based orchestration/Panorama for optimal benefit; Limited local performance if cloud connectivity fails; More complex deployment vs. plug-and-play traditional routers; Overkill for simple branch sites with single WAN link needs
  • Est. Price: $18,000 - $35,000

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

Popular Comparisons

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