Selecting a good router for fibre.

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Selecting a good router for fibre.

trunkles

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#142579 17-Mar-2014 20:52

Hi folks.
Sometime in the next few days, Telecom will be wiring me up to fibre. YAY! The sad bit is the router they've sent me, an HG630b, and that doesn't seem to be able to do what I need. Behind my current router, a Linksys WAG160N, there's a server running apache, mail servers, minecraft, an XMPP server and a variety of other things. Getting that lot to work with the Huawei is, I fear, not going to happen.

So, can you suggest a device of similar quality to the Linksys that will provide me with the functionality I need to go with Telecom fibre.

Thanks.

Simon.

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3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1007731 17-Mar-2014 22:14

Since you are running lots of servers ect. Im assuming that you have lots of networking knowledge. If so then get a commercial grade router.

Myself, Im actually getting Fibre installed tomorrow. Chorus network, Snap as my RSP. Going on 100/50. I have bought 1 of these.

http://nicegear.co.nz/routers/ubiquiti-edgerouter-lite/

Also have a look at the Mikrotik and Draytek ranges of routers.

Since the Ubiquiti router has 3 physical interfaces (And many more by using VLANs) it suits me perfectly. Since 1 of the flatmates has his own ADSL connection, I will be configuring the router so both his network and mine can talk to eachover for file sharing and playing LAN games. Yet any internet access on his network will go through his internet connection, And my network through my connection.

This means you can have a network with your servers on it. And a separate one for your computers. With firewall rules controlling what data goes between each one.

I already have a seperate WiFi AP therefore don't need inbuilt WiFi. (Also the cupboard where my network gear is located is no good for a WiFi AP)

Have a look at the routers on http://www.gowifi.co.nz/ as well.

Will reply back tomorrow with How I get on with using the Edge Router Lite for fibre.

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1007733 17-Mar-2014 22:24

Hi,

Go with a FritzBox! or a Draytek.
How much you looking to spend?

nitrotech

1285 posts

Uber Geek

#1007737 17-Mar-2014 22:38

If you're looking for something easy to configure but good quality then go for this

https://www.snappernet.co.nz/product/dv2130n

Mikrotik is great but can take a bit of configuring

myfullflavour

896 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Full Flavour

#1007738 17-Mar-2014 22:39

trunkles: Hi folks.
Sometime in the next few days, Telecom will be wiring me up to fibre. YAY! The sad bit is the router they've sent me, an HG630b, and that doesn't seem to be able to do what I need. Behind my current router, a Linksys WAG160N, there's a server running apache, mail servers, minecraft, an XMPP server and a variety of other things. Getting that lot to work with the Huawei is, I fear, not going to happen.

So, can you suggest a device of similar quality to the Linksys that will provide me with the functionality I need to go with Telecom fibre.

Thanks.

Simon.

I'm not familiar with that exact router but we're using a different model in the HG / "Home Gateway" series from Huawei.

Found we can bend it a lot more than our previous CPE of choice (Innbox V50-U).

What are you trying to do specifically that is a no go?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1007778 18-Mar-2014 05:52

The Huawei is a vastly superior unit to a WAN160.

In terms of recommendations a Mikrotik is the best bang for your buck - but you'll need to learn RouterOS to use it effectively which means it's totally unsuitable for your average home user.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1008023 18-Mar-2014 12:29

Grab a Mikrotik. The $100 RB750GL would do the job just fine and will give lots and lots of flexibility.

cr250bromo

222 posts

Master Geek

#1008084 18-Mar-2014 13:41

Another +1 for MikroTik, been using an RB2011 initially on Orcon UFB for about 18 months, now changed to Snap UFB - no problems at all. Very reasonably priced for what it can do, but like Steve said you need to have some technical knowledge to setup.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Ragnor

8222 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1009107 19-Mar-2014 16:30

Asus RT-N66U or Asus RT-AC66U flashed with Tomato Shibby (or Toastman or RAF) firmware.

Sideface

9359 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1009108 19-Mar-2014 16:32

Asus RT-N66U

Sideface

myfullflavour

896 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Full Flavour

#1009115 19-Mar-2014 16:40

Looks like the OP was here for a one-time visit.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1009502 20-Mar-2014 01:05

Managed to get the Edge router lite working. Needed to do some command line editing. (To add Vlan tagging to PPPoE tunnel) So definitely not suited to beginners. Although it's was easy after I got instructions on how to do it. Im otherwise happy. It's CPU usage is less than 50% (and often less than 30%) even while maxing out my 100/50 fibre connection.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1010086 20-Mar-2014 19:27

Aredwood: Managed to get the Edge router lite working. Needed to do some command line editing. (To add Vlan tagging to PPPoE tunnel) So definitely not suited to beginners. Although it's was easy after I got instructions on how to do it. Im otherwise happy. It's CPU usage is less than 50% (and often less than 30%) even while maxing out my 100/50 fibre connection.

I've used a few of these now too. Good little unit but the GUI is a bit lacking whereas on a Mikrotik you can do everything on the GUI/Winbox. Like you found, a standard PPPoE client has to be configured via command line.
The latest firmware does include a wizard which will set up a PPPoE client for WAN but again, won't put it in on VLAN interface.
All in all it's a good little unit for sub $200 but it is no where near knocking Mikrotik off the top quite yet.

trunkles

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1013372 26-Mar-2014 19:13

Thanks for all the advice.

I shall look carefully at the microtik router.

Somebody asked what the problem with the Huawei was. When I tried to open incoming ports I found it wouldn't let me open 25; as in "Error, you can't do that. Not exactly helpful for outgoing mail. I didn't bother to investigate further but I bet thee are other little gems in there.

As for "Can I deal with the OS in the router?", I think I first typed things like 'grep' and 'ls' in 1983 and a few years after that I had a Sun 3/260 of my own so yes, I can probably cope. However, I now where to come if I can't!

Simon.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1013417 26-Mar-2014 21:08

A port forward for port 25 isn't needed for outgoing mail.

trunkles

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1013428 26-Mar-2014 21:21

It is if the sender is elsewhere. As in if you had an email account on my server and wished to send mail, you'd need to connect to <myIP>:25 for SMTP to work. See what I mean?

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