FortiGate FG-30G vs FG-40F: In-depth Comparison
Introduction
Selecting the correct Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is essential to finding the balance between performance, security, and your budget. These two co-located appliances provide a converged firewall, secure SD-WAN, and advanced threat protection, but are based on different hardware platforms and have been optimized for slightly different use cases. In this article, we’ll take a look at their features, benchmark numbers, typical use cases, and compare them to each other to see which one fits your needs the best.
Hardware & Performance Associates
| Specification | FG-30G | FG-40F |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Throughput (UDP 1518/512/64 byte) | 4/4/3.9 Gbps | 5/5/5 Gbps |
| IPsec VPN Throughput (512 byte) | 3.5 Gbps | 4.4 Gbps |
| IPS Throughput (Enterprise Mix) | 800 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
| NGFW Throughput (Enterprise Mix) | 570 Mbps | 800 Mbps |
| Threat Protection Throughput (Ent. Mix) | 500 Mbps | 600 Mbps |
| SSL VPN Throughput | Unassessed | 490 Mbps |
| SSL Inspection (IPS, avg. HTTPS) | 400 Mbps | 310 Mbps |
| Application Control (HTTP 64K) | 830 Mbps | 990 Mbps |
| Concurrent Sessions | 600,000 | 700,000 |
| New Sessions/sec | 30,000 | 35,000 |
| Interfaces | 4× GE RJ45 | 5× GE RJ45 |
| Form Factor | Desktop | Desktop |
| Skus | WiFi (FWF-30G) | WiFi, 3G/4G USB modem option |
Deep Dive: Significant Points of Difference
Underlying Hardware
- FG-30G is powered by Fortinet’s third generation SD-WAN ASIC, providing performance at decreased energy consumption and cost.
- FG-40F uses the new SOC4 SPU architecture for higher throughput and efficient handling of encrypted flows with the latest TLS1.3.
Throughput & Session Handling
- If your branch or small business commonly processes a high amount of traffic or has multiple site-to-site VPNs, the greater 25–30% IPS and NGFW Throughput provided by the FG-40F will offer enhanced user experience and inspection of threats.
- Because both models have the same session count and VPN tunnel limits, a higher new-session rate (35k vs 30k) on the FG-40F is beneficial in use cases with a lot of connection churn like VoIP and heavy IoT.
Secure Connection & Expantion
WiFi & WAN Options
- FG-30G’s WiFi model (FWF-30G) includes 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz dual-band radios for WLAN operation in both bands.
- FG-40F comes with the USB port for 3G/4G WAN connectivity that can be used as a backup Internet connect to have a resilient WAN service in addition to xDSL or cable modems.
Interfaces
The FG-40F delivers a complimentary GE port by default to support a more straightforward segmentation without an external switch.
SSL VPN & Inspection
- FG-40F is the only one with a UTM throughput rating (including NGFW/IPS and application control) and the only one supporting up to 200 concurrent SSL VPN users – essential for employee and on-the-move remote access requirements.
- SSL inspection in the FG-30G is faster at 400 Mbps compared to 310 Mbps on the FG-40F, making it a contender in raw HTTPS inspection at smaller scales if encrypted-traffic processing is your top priority.
Management and Security Fabric Integration
- FortiManager / FortiCloud: Centralized configuration and analytics
- FortiAnalyzer: Enhanced logging, reporting, and threat intelligence
- Security Fabric: Automated workflows, self-healing, and deep analytics across endpoints, apps, and cloud
When to Choose Which?
| Scenario | Recommended Model |
|---|---|
| Small branch or retailer site • Low throughput (< 500 Mbps) • Dual-band WiFi required • Budget/Low SSL VPN needs |
FG-30G |
| Medium to large office • Up to 1 Gbps throughput • Remote-access SSL VPN (200 users) • USB fallback WAN (3G/4G) |
FG-40F |
Conclusion
The FortiGate FG-40F provides top-rated network performance in addition to an excellent collection of features such as its firewall, robust SSL VPN, and WAN failover flexibility suited for environments requiring high throughput! But if you run a tiny office that doesn’t get much traffic, have a tight budget and you like dual-band WiFi then the FG-30G is a great, cost-effective selection. Get the best ROI and network security by aligning your choice with performance needs, connectivity requirements, and your total cost of ownership throughout your network’s life.