Why buy switches when one can get switch/firewall combo?
- Thread starter uberguru
- Start date
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Am not talking about home users...and what do you think of something like this? http://meraki.cisco.com/products/appliances/mx400 or http://meraki.cisco.com/products/appliances/mx600
Was thinking he'd want a Sonicwall or Fortinet or similar. If you only need 1-16 internal ports that can work OK. Can also get an el cheapo hub and run an IPMI network all off a 100mbps port on the UTM appliance.
But what UTM features is he using and what type of pps does he need from the firewall? Speed depends on firewall service level there.
Because the MSRP on the MX400 that I just found is $16K. Then add $8K for the yearly licence. That's a hell of a lot of money to pay for the 'benefit' of convergence!
Perhaps but that is still the answer. Almost always two segregated devices will do a better job of their tasks and be considerably cheaper.
Agreed. But still have to give some weight to what is in the box is IP (intellectually property) and has to have SOME value. That said, nowhere near the price they ask. I'm studying for my CCNA and am just boggled by what Cisco folks will put up with 
Well most of these things are about 60% gross margin. So good business like enterprise storage. That usually doesn't factor in IP costs. I'd say prices are high, but usually its because they expect to give big discounts to friendly buyers.
Also would say with HP and Dell in the lower-end switch business, most of the 1U and smaller FF switches are way more affordable than they used to be on a relatvie basis.
It's one of the most interesting things on the software defined networking side to me at least.
Also would say with HP and Dell in the lower-end switch business, most of the 1U and smaller FF switches are way more affordable than they used to be on a relatvie basis.
It's one of the most interesting things on the software defined networking side to me at least.
How many ports? Do you want VPN access and etc? Firewall?
When I was building the STH colocation I bought a Fortinet FortiGate 60C which I ended up not using. Fairly cool device though since it is a UTM device, has built-in functionality for Active-Active operation (if you have 2), will act as a router and has a few switch ports in the rear. I do agree though that all of those boxes should really have more ports on them.