While we can certainly agree to disagree, I decided to play this out for 5 years and see what it looked like, it may cast a slightly different light on the comparison for anyone considering doing something similar.
A number of Chinese providers offer low power hardware that is marketed for this sort of job, relative to untangles own hardware it’s not that different, security/warranty/support aside. You’ll blow north of £300 on them quite easily for something reasonably modern with AES-NI and enough grunt to do the job, multiple intel NIC’s and a reasonable amount of RAM/storage. Let’s assume 25w load running a reasonable set of services, for me 25w/hr is roughly £30/yr inc VAT (renewable sources). I would suggest if you are willing to throw £300 on hardware up front, you’re more likely to try and get the full UTM experience and that’s another $50 or £41.80/yr for the home licence, and $25/£20.90 for AV based on what went through my account yesterday for something else. 5yr TCO looks like this:
Hardware + Power + Free licence £450 (£90/yr Av.)
Above + Home licence £659 (£131.80/yr Av.)
Above + AV £763.50 (£152.70/yr Av.)
A USG is going to run you £100, power will be roughly half of the PC and zero ongoing licence cost. 5yr TCO is £175 (£35/yr Av.)
You could skew the numbers by buying used hardware for untangle, but the usual trade off is power usage increases. You can also claim residual value in the hardware, I have low power residual hardware form 5 yrs ago, it’s not really worth selling at this stage.
No dispute that Untangle has vastly more functionality and capabilities than a USG, it’s a fully fledged L7 UTM with L2/3 stuff bolted on, running on x64 hardware, it’s more like comparing an electric scooter to a Tesla. We all know what we’d like to own, but if your commute is 3 miles through narrow congested streets in rush hour traffic, one makes more sense. The USG does however offer coherent management of other Unifi based products and fits the op’s stated needs (op - still wait for the refresh).
I get why you personally don’t get along with Ubiquiti kit, but this isn’t your ‘spec me a router’ thread, so what specifically that op has posted suggests that they want or would see a significant advantage in spending a minimum of £275 extra over 5 years and potentially up to £588.50? I must have missed something surely?
). It does however solve the OP issue of wanting a USG with better performance.
