Juniper Networks QFX5230-64CD vs Ubiquiti Switch Pro Max 24 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 Switch Pro Max 24 PoE

★ 4.1 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 112 Gbps
Non-Blocking Throughput: 56 Gbps
Forwarding Rate: 83.3 Mpps
Ports: 24 total: 8x 2.5GbE PoE++, 8x 1GbE PoE++, 8x 1GbE PoE+, plus 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks
PoE Budget: 400W total (max 60W per port)
Layer: L3
Stacking support: Not confirmed; no physical stacking documented in sources reviewed
MAC Address Table Size: 32,000 entries
Packet Buffer Size: 2 MB
Form Factor: 1U rack-mountable, 442 x 325 x 44 mm, 5.1 kg without brackets
Management: UniFi Network 8.0.24+
Operating Temperature: -5 to 40u00b0C (23 to 104u00b0F)
Certifications: CE, FCC, IC (one listing states NDAA compliant)

✔ Pros: Layer 3 switching in a 24-port 1U chassis; 8x 2.5GbE PoE++ ports for multi-gig wireless and workstation uplinks; 400W total PoE budget with up to 60W per port; 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks; 112 Gbps switching capacity and 56 Gbps non-blocking throughput; managed centrally through UniFi Network; list price of $799 USD from Ubiquiti's US store is competitive for L3 PoE++ hardware
✘ Cons: 400W total PoE budget is limited if many high-power PoE++ devices are connected at once; No physical stacking documented, so scaling beyond one unit needs separate management; Port breakdown is described inconsistently across retailer listings, so the official Ubiquiti datasheet should be checked; Reseller prices vary widely (about $799 to $951 USD, plus higher regional prices); Independent hands-on reviews with measured performance were not found; Requires UniFi Network 8.0.24 or later for management
Est. Price: $799 - $951

PACKETPERF