PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Fortinet FortiSwitch 1048G
Fortinet FortiSwitch 1048G
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 96 Gbps
  • Forwarding Rate: 71.4 Mpps
  • Ports: 48x 1GE RJ45 + 4x 10GE SFP+
  • PoE Budget: 370W (1048G-POE model)
  • Layer: L2/L3 (managed)
  • Stacking Support: Yes (FortiSwitch Stacking cables; up to 6 units)
  • VLAN Support: 4K VLANs
  • Form Factor: 1U Rackmount
  • Management: Web UI, CLI, FortiGate/FortiManager integration
  • Power Consumption: 90W typical (fanless model available)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Excellent port density with 48 gigabit ports plus 10GE uplinks for high-speed core connectivity; Strong PoE+ support (370W) powers enterprise access points, cameras, and IoT devices; Deep FortiGate ecosystem integration provides unified threat management and centralized security; L3 routing capabilities enable VLAN routing and micro-segmentation; Low power consumption and fanless options reduce data center costs; Stackable architecture simplifies management and scales to 288 ports across 6 units
  • ✘ Cons: Premium pricing limits deployment in budget-constrained environments; Limited 10GE uplink capacity (only 4 SFP+ ports) compared to larger enterprise switches; Requires FortiGate appliance or FortiManager for full management capabilities and security features; Complex CLI-based configuration has steeper learning curve than consumer-grade switches; PoE power budget (370W) insufficient for high-density PoE deployments (e.g., 48 PoE+ devices simultaneously); Fewer advanced features (MLAG, EVPN) compared to carrier-class alternatives
  • Est. Price: $1,599 - $3,200

Compare Against

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Pro Max 16 PoE
Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Pro Max 16 PoE
★ 4.1 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 360 Gbps
  • Forwarding Rate: 268 Mpps
  • Ports: 16x Gigabit Ethernet PoE + 2x 10G SFP+ uplink
  • PoE Budget: 240W total
  • Layer: L3 (Managed/Routing)
  • Stacking Support: Yes, stackable via stacking ports
  • Max Power Consumption: 400W
  • Dimensions: 17.3 x 8.9 x 1.7 inches
  • Management: UniFi Controller / Web UI

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: 240W PoE budget for high device density; Dual 10G SFP+ uplink ports for high-bandwidth core connectivity; Layer 3 routing capabilities for VLAN and inter-subnet management; Centralized UniFi controller integration with intuitive dashboard; Stackable design for scalable network growth; Fanless or near-silent operation; Enterprise-grade build quality in compact form factor
  • ✘ Cons: Requires UniFi Controller for advanced management features (standalone mode is limited); Higher initial cost compared to unmanaged switches; Limited to 10G uplinks rather than 40G or higher bandwidth options; Learning curve for users unfamiliar with UniFi ecosystem; No console port for legacy terminal-based management; PoE budget may be insufficient for very high-density deployments with power-hungry APs
  • Est. Price: $899 - $1,399

Popular Comparisons

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