What is the difference between a Netscreen 5GT and a 5XT? From the descriptions on the Juniper website they seem almost identical.
- posted
18 years ago
NS 5XT versus 5GT
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- posted
18 years ago
The XT is ASIC-based, just like all the other NetScreens that we've known and loved over the years. It's a rock solid unit. As of ScreenOS version 5 it can do Deep Inspection but takes a significant hit on performance to do it. Great option for simple VPN connectivity with dial modem backup for example.
The GT is a CPU-based unit. It has more memory and CPU horsepower, but runs the code in software rather than in hardware. This allows it do to Antivirus as well as DI. In my opinion they aren't as stable a unit and have more issues with their firmware (programming) but they are a powerful unit for the price.
That's why our company which was once a very large NetScreen reseller, has moved over to Fortigate, which does "Deep Inspection" (actually content reassembly and scanning) and AV in ASIC, not in software, and we're now a very large Fortigate reseller.. This allows them speed, stability, and scalablity in their lineup. (NetScreens larger than the GT other than the ISG line can't to AV and are terrible at DI because of the performance hit of trying to do these operations in CPU on a box designed to be ASIC)
In general a FortiGate will do everything a NetScreen will do, plus a lot more, for the same or less money.
-Russ.