Can anyone recommend a suitable router?

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timbo1604

102 posts

Master Geek

#133716 31-Oct-2013 17:00

Connecting our Backpackers hostel to UFB next week, I've been recommended to use a router that supports pppoe and qos. I'd also like to use a proxy VPN through it too, do the routers come with a built in proxy server?

Anyone have any recommendations?

Zeon

3916 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#924930 31-Oct-2013 17:36

So the proxy VPN is just for you right? I would try and route all traffic from your visitors through to a VPN provider - would kill the performance gain you would get from UFB. Probably a mikrotik is what would be recommended here and UniFi access points. How big is your backpackers?

Speedtest 2019-10-14

timbo1604

102 posts

Master Geek

#924944 31-Oct-2013 17:55

I already use a VPN on my laptop so the proxy/vpn would be through the router for the guests security (public networks are beginning to get a bad name amongst travellers for lack of security). We only sleep around 35 guests at full capacity and would imagine there would be less than 20 devices connected at any one time if we were full.

Unfortunately I'm not extremely clued up with this kind of technology so I don't know what a Mikrotek is.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#924952 31-Oct-2013 18:16

I really don't see the point in proxy an entire UFB connection through a VPN simply for "security" reasons. The security concerns surrounding public wifi is on the LAN side of the connection - bad or no isolation between guests for example.
You really want to have a separate VLAN for the guest network and then you could use a product like Unifi that isolates guests at layer 2 and 3. That means there is no way a guest can screw with another if they had an unsecured shared folder for example.

Public Wifi is not something to that should just be installed by Joe Bloggs. If you aren't to certain about things I would recommend a platform like Zenbu and then just installing extra access points as required to increase coverage. Tomizone is another but I don't think they are as flexible as Zenbu in terms of user installation. Would pay to check though.

timbo1604

102 posts

Master Geek

#924986 31-Oct-2013 18:50

Zenbu may be the way to go. I've emailed them some questions. Cheers!

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#925065 31-Oct-2013 20:03

It's not a bad system. If you want a relatively simple 'plug and play' solution it is a good idea. It does lack a little in terms of customization for the end user but that's what you get with a managed system.
The other option would be consult your local IT firm and see what they can offer. If you want some specific features a purpose built solution might be best.

Where are you located in the country?

D1NZ

194 posts

Master Geek

#925161 31-Oct-2013 21:46

ever looked into a router OS called pfSense?
It can do everything you want and more, things like captive portal (cafe uses to issues out ticket to access internet.)
Traffic Shaper, even guest wifi zone and so on.
Things pfSense can do are endless and it can scale all the way up to enterprise level.