🛡️ FortiGate 1000F vs Cisco Firepower 3130 vs Palo Alto PA-3260
AI-powered analysis across 17 matched specifications
Performance Overview
Scores based on quantifiable specification values (1-10 scale)
Detailed Specifications
| Specification | FortiGate FG-1000F Fortinet | Cisco Firepower 3130 Cisco | Palo Alto PA-3260 Palo Alto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Metrics | |||
| Firewall Throughput | 198 Gbps | 35 Gbps (FTD) / 65 Gbps (ASA) | 7.5 Gbps |
| IPS/Threat Prevention Throughput | 19 Gbps (IPS) / 13 Gbps (Threat Protection) | 45 Gbps (NGIPS) / 18 Gbps (TLS Inspection) | 4 Gbps (Threat Prevention) |
| Concurrent Sessions | 7,500,000 | 24,000,000 | 2,200,000 |
| New Sessions Per Second | 650,000 | 400,000 | 84,000 |
| IPSec VPN Throughput | 55 Gbps | 14 Gbps (FTD) | 4.4 Gbps |
| Networking | |||
| Network Ports | 8 × 10GE BASE-T RJ45 / 16 × 10GE SFP+ / GE SFP / 8 × 25GE SFP28 / 2 × 100GE QSFP28 | 24 × 1G RJ45 / 4 × 10G SFP+ / 2 × 40G QSFP+ | 12 × GE RJ45 / 8 × 10G SFP/SFP+ / 4 × 40G QSFP+ |
| Storage | |||
| Storage | -- | 480 GB SSD | 240 GB SSD (dual, RAID1) |
| Expansion / PCIe | |||
| Expansion Slots | -- | 1 × NIM slot | -- |
| Power | |||
| Power Supply | Dual redundant hot-swap | Dual hot-swap AC (100–240V) | 650W AC (2, redundant) |
| Max Power Consumption | 408W | 600W | -- |
| Physical / Environmental | |||
| Form Factor | 2U rack-mount | 1U rack-mount | 2U rackmount (17.34" W × 20.53" D × 3.5" H) |
| Weight | -- | 13 kg (28.7 lb) | -- |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C | -- | -- |
| Cooling | -- | Redundant fan trays | -- |
| Software & OS Compatibility | |||
| Operating System / Software | SD-WAN, ZTNA, full SSL inspection | FTD / ASA | PAN-OS 11.x |
| High Availability Support | -- | -- | Active/Passive, Active/Active |
| Status | -- | -- | End-of-Sale (active support) |
Expert Analysis
These three next-generation firewalls represent distinct performance tiers and architectural approaches suited to different enterprise environments. The FortiGate FG-1000F delivers exceptional raw throughput capabilities, with 198 Gbps firewall performance and 55 Gbps IPSec VPN throughput, making it ideal for high-bandwidth data centre deployments or service provider edge applications where 100GE connectivity is required. Its 650,000 new sessions per second and comprehensive 10GE/25GE/100GE port configuration provide future-proof scalability for demanding environments.
The Cisco Firepower 3130 offers a compelling balance with superior session scalability (24 million concurrent sessions) and strong threat inspection capabilities (45 Gbps NGIPS throughput), packaged in a 1U form factor. Its dual-mode operation (FTD/ASA) provides deployment flexibility, while the 24 × 1G ports make it particularly suitable for campus or branch office deployments requiring numerous copper connections. The Palo Alto PA-3260, while at the lower end of the performance spectrum with 7.5 Gbps firewall throughput, provides robust threat prevention features and the mature PAN-OS platform, though its end-of-sale status suggests consideration for existing Palo Alto environments rather than new deployments.
Value propositions differ significantly: the FortiGate excels in maximum throughput and modern high-speed connectivity; the Cisco offers exceptional session density and deployment flexibility in a compact form factor; while the Palo Alto provides reliable threat prevention in established environments. Organisations should prioritise the FortiGate for bandwidth-intensive applications, the Cisco for session-heavy environments with mixed connectivity needs, and the Palo Alto for maintaining consistency in existing deployments where its 4 Gbps threat prevention throughput meets requirements.
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