Juniper Networks QFX5230-64CD vs Ubiquiti Enterprise 8 PoE: Specs & Price Comparison

Juniper Networks QFX5230-64CD

★ 3.2 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 25.6 Tbps unidirectional (51.2 Tbps bidirectional)
Forwarding Rate: 10.53 Bpps
Ports (breakdown): 64 x 400GbE QSFP56-DD (channelizable to 128 x 200GbE, 256 x 100GbE, or lower speeds); 2 x SFP+; 1 x RJ-45 console; 1 x RJ-45 management; 1 x USB Type A; 10 MHz and PPS timing ports
PoE Budget: N/A (no PoE support)
Layer: L2/L3
Stacking support: Not listed in Juniper specifications; Virtual Chassis support not confirmed
Packet Buffer: 112 MB
Jumbo Frame: 9,216 bytes
Form Factor: Fixed 2U chassis, 17.4 x 3.43 x 25.6 in
Power Supplies: 2 x hot-swappable 1+1 redundant (3000W AC or 2400W DC variants)
Power Draw: Average approx. 487-498 W; maximum approx. 1,396-1,446 W
Cooling: 4 hot-swappable fan modules; back-to-front (AFI) or front-to-back (AFO) airflow
Operating Temperature: 0 to 40 C
Weight: 55 lb (24.94 kg) fully loaded
Operating System: Junos OS Evolved

✔ Pros: Dense 64 x 400GbE QSFP56-DD in a 2U fixed chassis; Up to 25.6 Tbps unidirectional switching capacity and 10.53 Bpps forwarding for spine and super-spine roles; Port channelization allows 100G/200G breakout from 400G ports; 112 MB packet buffer and 9,216-byte jumbo frame support; Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching with EVPN-VXLAN fabric support on Junos OS Evolved; Redundant 1+1 hot-swappable power supplies and fan modules; AC and DC power and airflow variants for flexible data center deployment
✘ Cons: No PoE support, so it is unsuitable for access-layer powered devices; Virtual Chassis or stacking support is not confirmed in Juniper's specifications; Premium price of roughly $55,000 to $63,000 per unit based on the reseller listings found; Average power draw near 500 W and maximum near 1.4 kW require substantial power and cooling planning; Only 2 SFP+ ports limit legacy 1G/10G connectivity; AFO variants are rated for altitudes up to 6,000 ft and use different airflow than AFI variants, which complicates procurement; Price range is based on only two US reseller listings and may not reflect Juniper list pricing
Est. Price: $54,635 - $63,300

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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