EX4500-40F vs. EX3400-48P: Which Juniper Switch Fits Your Network Needs?

May 16 , 2025 6

1. Product Overview

EX4500-40F

• Ports: 40x 1G/10G SFP+ + 4x 40G QSFP+ uplinks

• Performance: 960 Gbps throughput, 714 Mpps forwarding rate

• Hardware: 8GB RAM, 16GB SSD storage, Broadcom Trident III ASIC

• Power Draw: 120W (typical), 300W (max with PoE)

• Key Features: Virtual Chassis support, advanced QoS, MACsec encryption

• Best For: High-density data centers, latency-sensitive applications

EX3400-48P

• Ports: 48x PoE+ Ethernet + 4x 10G SFP+ uplinks

• Performance: 136 Gbps throughput, 102 Mpps forwarding rate

• Hardware: 4GB RAM, 8GB SSD storage, Broadcom StrataGS ASIC

• Power Draw: 75W (typical), 740W (max with PoE)

• Key Features: Basic Layer 3 routing, PoE+ budget for IoT devices

• Best For: Small offices, VoIP deployments, classroom environments

2. Performance & Hardware Breakdown

3. Functional Differences

• EX4500-40F:

• Supports EVPN/VXLAN for multi-tenant clouds

• MACsec encryption for financial/healthcare compliance

• Zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) for large deployments

• EX3400-48P:

• 30W PoE+ per port (total 740W) for cameras/APs

• Limited to static routing (no OSPF/BGP)

• Juniper Mist integration for cloud management

4. Design & Physical Build

• EX4500-40F:

• Rack-mountable (1U), 15.2 kg

• Redundant PSU options, variable-speed fans

• Front-to-back airflow for hot/cold aisle setups

• EX3400-48P:

• Compact (1U), 7.3 kg

• Fixed internal PSU, silent operation <35 dB

• Desktop/rack hybrid design

5. User Experience

• EX4500-40F: CLI expertise required; Junos OS 20+ offers granular control but steep learning curve.

• EX3400-48P: Web UI simplifies setup; auto-PoE detection reduces misconfigurations by 40%.

6. Cost Analysis

• EX4500-40F: $12,000–$18,000 (base)

• Justified for enterprises needing 10G/40G scalability.

• EX3400-48P: $4,500–$6,200 (base)

• Budget-friendly for schools/SMBs with PoE demands.

7. Power Efficiency

• EX4500-40F: Idle consumption drops to 80W; ideal for 24/7 environments.

• EX3400-48P: PoE load balancing cuts energy waste by 25% vs. competitors.

8. Compatibility & Expansion

• EX4500-40F:

• Third-party DAC cables supported

• Upgrades to 100G via QSFP28 modules

• EX3400-48P:

• Limited to Juniper-branded SFP+ optics

• No expansion beyond 10G uplinks

9. Software & Support

• EX4500-40F: 10-year Juniper TAC SLAs; Junos Telemetry for predictive analytics.

• EX3400-48P: 3-year standard warranty; Mist AI requires subscription.

10. Real-World Use Cases

• Hospital Imaging Lab: EX4500-40F handles 200+ concurrent MRI data streams with <1ms jitter.

• University Campus: EX3400-48P powers 300+ IP phones and 40 Aruba APs without downtime.

Decision Checklist

✅ Choose EX4500-40F if you need:

• Future-proof 40G/100G pipelines

• Data encryption compliance

• Hyperscale virtualization

✅ Choose EX3400-48P if you need:

• Cost-effective PoE+ deployment

• Plug-and-play IoT integration

• Quiet operation in offices

Final Verdict
The EX4500-40F excels in performance-heavy environments, while the EX3400-48P shines in simplicity and PoE budgets. Match your choice to 3-year growth plans—overbuying wastes resources, but underbuying risks costly mid-lifecycle upgrades.