Spec me a Network Device

Si. · 15 Dec 2017 at 05:29

I'm looking to upgrade my home network with something a little more modern. (Currently running a Cisco 867 Router/ADSL modem).

Ideally looking for an ADSL/Wifi/8-16 port managed switch in 1 device.. I know that won't be an easy find. I like the Unifi stuff, but they don't have something to meet my needs.. Can anyone recommend something else? I'm really also looking for the cloud management features to give me some insights into traffic (Like the unifi/Meraki does).

Thanks.

BigT · 16 Dec 2017 at 08:27

What’s driving the desire to have it all in one? The built in 8-16 port managed switch is the thing that is going to stop you finding anything. Mikrotik might do something but I don’t know their product range that well.

Si. · 16 Dec 2017 at 08:39

Just trying to keep power usage down.

Saying that, the open mesh switches and AP look food. But they don’t do an ADSL Modem.

Caged · 16 Dec 2017 at 16:26

An all-in-one box doesn't exist

Si. · 16 Dec 2017 at 21:12

that's a shame..

Which router/AP/switch combination would people recommend?

andy_mk3 · 16 Dec 2017 at 21:32

I run a HP N54L running PFsense and a Ubiquiti AC-Pro AP. I only have basic switches currently, but there's tons of switches out there to meet your needs.

WJA96 · 17 Dec 2017 at 10:53

The catchily named Mikrotik RB2011UiAS-2HnD-IN fits a lot of your brief but it’s compromised in a lot of ways.

https://mikrotik.com/product/RB2011UiAS-2HnD-IN

It has 10 RJ45 ports but only 5 are Gigabit Ethernet, the rest are 10/100 ports. So if you need all the

It has WiFi but only 802.bgn.

It’s under £100 so you get a lot for your money because the router is very fast and feature rich. It also has an SFP port for an 11th RJ45 if you fit a copper module in there and it has PoE on one of its ports. And that would be Gigabit Ethernet.

You could fit a Unifi AP-AC-Lite or AP-AC-LR or Mikrotik SXT AC Access Point on the PoE port to get over the issue with the WiFi only being 2.4GHz on the Mikrotik itself.

I do think you’re going to struggle to get exactly what you want though.

BigT · 17 Dec 2017 at 11:00

Si. said:
that's a shame..

Which router/AP/switch combination would people recommend?

If you want insights into traffic then a pfSense based solution with ntopng enabled is hard to beat I think. An official netgate implementation is the easiest or homebrew with one of the 4 Ethernet port mini PCs widely available from the likes of Amazon (just make sure the CPU supports AES-NI).

Then add UniFi Access points as required and an 8 or 16 port managed switch of your choosing from the likes of Netgear or TP-Link. WAN connection from your provider’s modem and you have a very sophisticated solution providing analysis, policy routing, multiple SSIDs, VLANS and a whole lot more. It’s just not all in one.

Si. · 17 Dec 2017 at 23:24

I ended up just going to an all-in-one solution and got a Netgear Nighthawk. Doesn't do everything I want, but it's better than what I had.