Rackmount adsl router solution / query

Carbon Copied · 22 Mar 2016 at 17:32

I have a feeling this will probably be more of a comparison of apples to oranges (and also a heavy dose of ignorance on my part despite searching the forum); but is there any disadvantages to running a consumer adsl router as opposed to a small business internet router on a home network?

I ask because I'm in the process of consolidating my systems and home rack and am wondering if it's worth the investment of something along the lines of a Cisco 887VA (which I assume on reading specs can just plug direct to the phone socket and not need a separate modem) to replace the current TP-Link N600 adsl router.

Obviously I can put the N600 on a 1u shelf and it'll just work and do it's thing (all connected devices on the LAN being managed by the 24 port smart switch prior; side note: I don't have plans on upgrading to things like BT infinity, however number of devices requiring internet access could be up to 4-6 at any one time with room for expansion), but if the gains of getting something beefier like a Cisco solution outweigh this then would consider looking into that as a more long term solution.

End of the day I'd rather ask than buy kit I don't really need based on my own uneducated assumptions.

Jamauk · 22 Mar 2016 at 17:43

If you've got no plans of upgrading to Infinity, and only have around 4-6 devices I wouldn't personally look at upgrading the router, if it works leave it.

I'm running an Asus RT-N16 flashed with the tomato firmware and that works fine downloading at 7.6MB/Sec and is supporting around 30-40 devices. I'm using the standard Openreach (unlocked) Huawei modem as it allows me to have that closer to the master socket, and then I've put the router on a rack mounted shelf in a cabinet. I'll probably only looking at upgrading if internet speeds increase and the router begins to struggle.

Carbon Copied · 22 Mar 2016 at 17:53

Much appreciated response; cheap and cheerful rack shelf sounds like the way to go.

Caged · 22 Mar 2016 at 20:34

Unless you're building up a Cisco lab or get the stuff for free by 'borrowing' it from work then there's no real need to have a Cisco router on your home network.

That's not to say they are no good - they are definitely good, but they are also pricey. I have replaced many DrayTek devices that required regular reboots with the 867VAE model and it fixed all the problems, but replacing them with not-broken DrayTek's would have worked fine as well.

If you have to have something that isn't consumery and is a single-box solution then by all means go for it. Otherwise you will get the same sort of ability to fiddle out of an Ubiquiti router paired with a Vigor 120 modem.

I would say if you don't know what advantages you are going to gain from a Cisco router then you also don't know how to configure one, and will be spending money and receiving a lot of frustration in return. The TP Link you have should be more than adequate, and you haven't really indicated that it's causing problems.