What is your GO TO router for a small business environment?

[thecomputerguy]

Obviously I know that all applications are different but I'm talking about a business with maybe 5-15 users, the router needs to be semi easy to configure (hopefully web interface), opening ports should be relatively easy, VPN is also a plus.

I know there are so many options but a majority of my clients fall into this category.

I've used the Ubiquiti USG, and I like it ... the interface is sleek, but I've had issues with AP's failing to adopt especially after a firmware upgrade, and I'm not a huge fan of requiring controller to operate it.

I looked into the EdgeRouter line and while they look promising, they also look a little daunting. Lot's of functionality that I probably don't need, and setup isn't actually "easy" per se, but there is a web interface.

I've used a couple of Cisco Routers in the past and I can't exactly recall how I felt about them. I remember them being reliable, web interface, fairly easy to configure.

So as stated above I know there isn't a one-size fits all solution here but say you walk into a business and you see the whole business running off a $50 Linksys from BestBuy, and they are having internet issues. The client is willing to spend money so you don't want to run but you want to get them on a good baseline of hardware starting with their networking. They currently don't need any VPN, or Port Forwarding done but may need to do so in the future. There may be plans in the future to add some AP's specifically Unify AP's, but maybe not.

What do you point to?

 

[JoelM]

For that kind of setup I go with this.

https://www.untangle.com/shop/z4-appliance/

I do it without the annual subscription as it's overkill. It has VPN capability built in with OpenVPN if I want it.
I have several of these setup. Easy to manage but business class.

 

[Mick]

Draytek. Don't seem very popular/established your side of the pond, though.

 

[Moltuae]

Draytek. Don't seem very popular/established your side of the pond, though.

+1 for DrayTek.

They have some good offerings for larger businesses too. I just finished installing and configuring 2 of their new Vigor 3910 models recently. I looked at other makes but nothing else came close to the performance and features of the 3910 for the money. As far as I could tell, none of the Ubiquiti offerings properly supported routing of multiple public IPs, which made them a non-starter for me.

 

[SAFCasper]

Draytek. Don't seem very popular/established your side of the pond, though.

Another +1 for Draytek.

Rock solid stability and receive regular firmware updates for several years after release. Very much a "set and forget" router - Not been rebooted in over a year? it doesn't care.

Only time I consider an alternative is when looking for more protection features. IPS/IDS, web filtering, https inspection etc. This is where you need something like Untangle, Sophos, Fortinet etc. Or to some extent Unifi Security Gateway.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

For most of our clients, Untangle.

For those that don't need full firewall features, where basic NAT routers will be fine, since we've been a big Ubiquiti shop since...pretty much the beginning of Ubiquiti, the USG for smaller setups. Early on the USG wasn't very mature, so we did a lot of EdgeRouter installs. One of my colleagues still does a lot of Edge....EdgeRouter and EdgeSwitches, for his clients, since you can really get granular with features. But Unifi has matured a lot specific to the USG in recent years so I use them a lot more. Unifi makes it so nice to have single pane of glass control of the entire network.

 

[Mick]

Another +1 for Draytek.

Rock solid stability and receive regular firmware updates for several years after release. Very much a "set and forget" router - Not been rebooted in over a year? it doesn't care.

Only time I consider an alternative is when looking for more protection features. IPS/IDS, web filtering, https inspection etc. This is where you need something like Untangle, Sophos, Fortinet etc. Or to some extent Unifi Security Gateway.

The last Draytek I saw had web filtering built-in. Can't recall the precise model off-hand. One other thing I like about Drayteks is that you never need to pick them up and turn them over to figure out what you're working with - instantly recognisable from 25 yards away

 

[thecomputerguy]

Hmmm ... looks like I probably just end up going with the USG again ... most of my clients use Ubiquiti APs anyways.

Draytek looks fine but the support here in the US doesn't look too appealing. Amazon US doesn't really even stock Draytek like they do Ubiquiti.

 

[Sky-Knight]

You shouldn't be buying from Amazon, especially for Ubiquiti. We're businesses, get a channel vendor.

Unifi Elite is stupidly cheap, and you can't get it via Amazon.

 

[Fred Claus]

I'm still learning this part of the business but my experience is a cheap 50.00 router isn't going to work in a business environment with 5-15 employees. I'm looking at getting them hooked up with either a TP-Link or Netgear router upwards of $200.00 or more.

I'm curious though now that I've read other people's posts to learn more about Drytek and Untangle. I've never heard of them.

 

[JoelM]

@Sky-Knight
Can you recommend a vendor that will work for a small IT company?

 

[timeshifter]

I use Ingram-Micro, the problem is that I have to type up my orders on an IBM Selectric typewriter and use carbon paper for two copies, then put the order in the mail before 5:00.

 

[Sky-Knight]

@JoelM, I use Streakwave for all my Ubiquiti stuff. They have a solid relationship with Tycon Power Systems, which is something to keep in mind and carefully explore. Those people have some seriously crazy and niche electrical products to power all these toys... If you need special PoE injector... they've got it. They've also got self contained solar charged battery enabled housings that can provide permanent, renewable, and offgrid power to small devices... such as exterior WAPs.

So you get to play in the game like you're a big company when you need to. You get a price that's better than Amazon, and you get pre and post sales support. They've been great.

Ingram? Bah! Those guys can die in a fire. I call them up for volume Windows licensing, nothing more.

 

[SAFCasper]

The last Draytek I saw had web filtering built-in. Can't recall the precise model off-hand. One other thing I like about Drayteks is that you never need to pick them up and turn them over to figure out what you're working with - instantly recognisable from 25 yards away

You can purchase an add-on licence to enable web-filtering in any model. Forgot that was a thing.

It's actually Cyren Web Security Engine whitelabled as Draytek's own service - https://www.cyren.com/products/web-security-engine

And yes, the design is very... distinctive. You known it's a "business grade" router because it's too ugly for any home user to buy.

 

[marley1]

Managed Clients - Meraki MX67
Managed - Unifi USG Pro or USG or N
PF Sense

Unmanaged - Netgate PF Sense been good

 

[marley1]

You shouldn't be buying from Amazon, especially for Ubiquiti. We're businesses, get a channel vendor.

Unifi Elite is stupidly cheap, and you can't get it via Amazon.

Can't say I agree with this. I have account with almost every distribution, everyone is more annoying than the next. I barely use any more and just Amazon/BH for all Unifi stuff these days. One click ordering off phone vs shitty portals and dealing with a sales rep for small orders.

Big distribution for Unifi gear is barely any savings when you factor shipping.

Unifi Elite is not worth it. Keep units in stock in any failure. Self host the controller.

 

[phaZed]

Can't say I agree with this.

Ya, I don't really see the prices being better or much better than Amazon... and when I can get stuff from Amazon in 1-2 days... it just doesn't make sense.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Elite isn't worth it for WAPs, it's very much worth it for switches, especially if you're doing a POE setup.

 

[PNW-ITGUY]

I use as much Ubiquiti stuff as I can. I love the edgerouters. Never played with the USG much, maybe I should. I think i'll buy one now to play with it.

 

[Markverhyden]

I used to do exclusively Edgemax stuff. But Unifi has matured a lot so I'm completely onboard with them. Other than an occasional wanky adoption they're so easy. I can either set them up in my office and ship, boom they're online, or they get stuff and I can remote in. Just did one for a dental office customer up on MA. First pass at adoption of the USG3 failed so a pinhole reset and all was good. The AP showed up as expected. But these don't have the full edge device experience like Untangle and similar devices.