PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Palo Alto Networks PA-5450
Palo Alto Networks PA-5450
★ 3.2 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 15 Gbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 3.5 Gbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 2 Gbps
  • Max Sessions: 4 million
  • New Sessions/sec: 200,000
  • Interfaces: 48 x 1GbE + 4 x 10GbE
  • Form Factor: 2U rack-mount

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: High-performance firewall suitable for mid-market enterprises and regional data centers; supports advanced threat prevention and security subscriptions; built-in redundancy and HA capabilities for business continuity; modular expansion with flexible interface configurations; strong CLI and REST API for automation
  • ✘ Cons: High capital expense with mandatory security subscription costs adding 20-30% annually; complex management learning curve requiring Palo Alto certification; significant power consumption (approximately 1500W) and cooling requirements; security subscriptions required for threat prevention (not included in base license); feature set may be over-provisioned for smaller networks
  • Est. Price: $35,000 - $55,000

Compare Against

Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)
Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Device Type: UniFi Network Appliance / Gateway
  • Processor: Quad-core ARM (MediaTek MT7986)
  • RAM: 2 GB DDR4
  • Storage: 32 GB eMMC + 1 TB HDD (for protect/video)
  • Network Interfaces: 1u00d7 WAN (2.5G), 3u00d7 LAN (GbE), 1u00d7 Console (USB)
  • Routing Throughput: 3.5 Gbps
  • Switching Capacity: 5 Gbps fabric
  • Max Concurrent Connections: 100,000+
  • VPN Support: IPsec, WireGuard, L2TP
  • Security Features: Built-in IPS/IDS, DPI, threat management
  • Form Factor: Compact Desktop (1U appliance)
  • Power Consumption: 35W typical
  • PoE Output: 1u00d7 802.3af (for optional AP)
  • Management: UniFi OS + Cloud integration
  • Redundancy: Dual WAN capable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: All-in-one network appliance with built-in UniFi OS, video storage, and robust security; Excellent value for SMBs combining routing, switching, and threat protection; Includes 1TB HDD for UniFi Protect video surveillance; Silent fanless design or passive cooling; Seamless integration with UniFi ecosystem; Low power consumption (~35W)
  • ✘ Cons: Limited to 2.5G WAN uplink (not enterprise-grade 10G); Overkill for very small networks (branch offices with <50 users); Less granular control than dedicated enterprise firewalls (Cisco ASA, Fortinet FortiGate); Storage not user-upgradeable; Noise from HDD if used heavily for video recording; Requires UniFi Cloud account for optimal features
  • Est. Price: $299 - $349

Popular Comparisons

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