Fortinet FortiSwitch 124G vs Ubiquiti Enterprise 8 PoE: Specs & Price Comparison

Fortinet FortiSwitch 124G

★ 3.4 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 240 Gbps (duplex)
Forwarding Rate: 355 Mpps (64-byte)
Ports (breakdown): 24x 2.5GbE RJ45 (2.5G/1G/100M/10M) + 6x 10G SFP+ uplinks (10G/1G SFP+/SFP)
PoE Budget: None (PoE not supported on the 124G; the 124G-FPOE is the PoE variant with a 780 W budget)
Layer: Layer 2 managed switch (FortiLink-managed by FortiGate; L3 feature support not confirmed for this model)
Stacking support: FortiLink Stacking (Auto Inter-Switch Links) supported; not standalone switch stacking
MAC Address Table: 32K entries
Packet Buffer: 2 MB
Latency: < 1 u00b5s
VLANs: 4,096 (figures vary between sources)
Form Factor: 1RU rack-mountable
Wi-Fi Standard: N/A
Notes: Price range reflects SHI and SHI Direct USD selling prices ($1,255u2013$1,256) up to listed MSRP ($1,705). Specs are from reseller pages and a Fortinet family datasheet; a 128 Gbps capacity figure on one reseller listing for the FPOE model conflicts with 240 Gbps and was not used.

✔ Pros: Multigig 2.5GbE access ports allow Wi-Fi 6/6E APs and other 2.5G endpoints to run above gigabit speeds; 6x 10G SFP+ uplinks provide high-bandwidth aggregation to a FortiGate or core switch; Managed by FortiGate via FortiLink, giving centralized policy, VLAN, and security configuration; FortiLink Stacking (Auto Inter-Switch Links) simplifies multi-switch deployments; 240 Gbps switching capacity and 355 Mpps forwarding support line-rate performance for access layers; Fanless-class access switch design in a compact 1RU form factor; Lower price than the PoE variant when PoE is not needed
✘ Cons: No PoE on the base model, so PoE-dependent devices such as cameras, phones, and APs need the separate FPOE SKU or external injectors; Requires a FortiGate for full management, so it is less useful as a standalone switch; Lacks Layer 3 routing features in most listings, limiting use as a distribution or core switch; Specs are mostly from reseller listings rather than a standalone official Fortinet datasheet, and some figures (such as VLAN count) vary between sources; Price varies by reseller and currency, and support licenses such as FortiCare are priced separately
Est. Price: $1,255 - $1,705

Ubiquiti Enterprise 8 PoE

★ 4.2 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 80 Gbps
Forwarding Rate: 59.52 Mpps (Ubiquiti tech specs list 60 Mpps)
Non-Blocking Throughput: 40 Gbps
Ports (breakdown): 8 x 2.5GbE RJ45 (all PoE+; 2.5G/1G/100M/10M) + 2 x 10G SFP+ (10G/1G)
PoE Budget: 120W total PoE; 802.3af/at (PoE+) only, up to 32W per port
Layer: L3 (managed)
Stacking Support: Not stated in official specs
Packet Buffer: 1.5 MB
MAC Address Table: 16,000 entries
Power Consumption: 30W excluding PoE; 150W including PoE output
Form Factor: Compact desktop, wall-mount kit included
Dimensions: 200 x 248 x 44 mm
Management Display: 1.3-inch color LCM touchscreen
Product Status: Listed as 'Enterprise 8 PoE (Vintage)' on Ubiquiti's store; no official replacement or EOL announcement found

✔ Pros: Eight 2.5GbE PoE+ ports suit multi-gig Wi-Fi 6 access points and desktop devices; Layer 3 managed feature set at a low price for the class; 80 Gbps switching capacity and 59.52 Mpps forwarding rate cover small-office and branch loads; Two 10G SFP+ uplinks allow 10G backhaul or fiber links; Compact desktop form factor with wall-mount kit and LCM touchscreen for local status; 120W PoE budget is enough for several PoE+ access points or cameras
✘ Cons: Only 802.3af/at PoE+ (max 32W per port), so it cannot power PoE++ devices such as Ubiquiti's U7/E7 access points; Product is listed as Vintage with no official successor named, so long-term availability and firmware support are uncertain; 120W total PoE budget limits how many high-draw devices can be powered at once; Only two SFP+ uplinks and no stacking support, which limits scaling; Price varies widely across resellers ($479 on Ubiquiti's US store, up to about $688 or more at third-party sellers)
Est. Price: $479 - $688

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