Recommend me my next Unifi gear - Gateway or Switch?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Recommend me my next Unifi gear - Gateway or Switch?

timbosan

2159 posts

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#247833 25-Feb-2019 19:32

Hey all, so I have been running a Unifi A/P for a few years now, been generally happy with it, but have become more so with some recent placement changes and the addition of a second A/P giving fast WiFi all around the house (and garden, driveway, neighbors house, etc.)

Apart from tweaks like transmit power (which require some more understand on my part) I am now deciding what to upgrade next. Current network is:

Gigagbit UFB
Untangle router (custom PC, quad core AMD, 8GB RAM, dual Intel GB Nic's)
3COM Managed GB switch

I also have the 2 Unifi A/P's and 3 Dahua cameras, various wired and wireless devices.

So, options are:

1) Get a Unifi Gateway (pro?) and move the Untangle to be in Bridge mode (so it still does ad-blocking, email scanning, etc. i.e. lots of things the Unifi doesn't)
2) Get a Unifi switch and fix all the powerbricks I have on the 5 potential PoE devices

Any options as to what to go for first? I am leaning towards a switch (the US-16-150W) as it will solve a problem (power bricks and Poe Injectors). Then get the gateway to 'complete' the network and get that nice 'single pane of glass' view.

Any opinions on the switch? Is it noisy? This is a home environment. Anything I should be aware of integrating the switch? PoE issues or settings? FYI my controller is currently local (running on a Mac, something else I need to change, but later).

Jase2985

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#2187065 25-Feb-2019 19:44

why do you need the gateway at all? can you not just run the server on the untangle box to get that nice view of everything?

chevrolux

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#2187066 25-Feb-2019 19:45

If it was me, I would just get a PoE switch to tidy up the injectors.

Thing with the Unifi switches is you are paying managed switch pricing, because that's what you get. Do you need management on your switch in a home LAN?

I really like the little 8-port unifi switch for CCTV installs because I can power my 802.3af cameras and 24V ubiquiti wireless gear from the same device. But outside of that, I dont use unifi switches and go for edge switch instead which has more 'normal' VLAN management... or I just get a Mikrotik CRS 24 port for $100 less than unifi 24 port and win massively with switchOS/routerOS.

If you like tinkering, stick with untangle. USG/Unifi is all about simplicity. But if you really want all the pretty stats in the unifi controller then it's obviously your only option.

timbosan

2159 posts

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#2187075 25-Feb-2019 20:07

chevrolux: If it was me, I would just get a PoE switch to tidy up the injectors.

Thing with the Unifi switches is you are paying managed switch pricing, because that's what you get. Do you need management on your switch in a home LAN?

I really like the little 8-port unifi switch for CCTV installs because I can power my 802.3af cameras and 24V ubiquiti wireless gear from the same device. But outside of that, I dont use unifi switches and go for edge switch instead which has more 'normal' VLAN management... or I just get a Mikrotik CRS 24 port for $100 less than unifi 24 port and win massively with switchOS/routerOS.

If you like tinkering, stick with untangle. USG/Unifi is all about simplicity. But if you really want all the pretty stats in the unifi controller then it's obviously your only option.

I am already running a 1U managed switch, and have been experimenting with VLAN's to isolate IoT gear to their own non-internet connected network segment. I am taking some inspiration from here

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/07/enterprise-wi-fi-at-home-part-two-reflecting-on-almost-three-years-with-pro-gear/5/

so quite happy with that level of switch, and yes, do enjoy to tinkering and learning. And yes the clean up of injectors is sounding more like the best approach. Plus I can always sell my 3com switch to recoup some of the costs if needed.

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#2187077 25-Feb-2019 20:10

Jase2985:

why do you need the gateway at all? can you not just run the server on the untangle box to get that nice view of everything?

Sorry not sure what you mean by " run the server on the untangle box"; do you mean the Unifi Controller? I guess so, there are Linux packages available but it's not something I have looked into.

The gateway gives me a few things:

1) Easier remote troubleshooting. If something happens like a powercut and someone has to restart servers, its not easy to explain how to do this with a headless server
2) Nice to have in the single view of everything in the Unifi controller software
3) Shiny new piece of kit to stare at

But that's about all I can come up with.

engedib

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2187108 25-Feb-2019 21:29

Don't get the 16 port PoE Unifi switch unless it will be in a temperature controlled environment.

Have a couple of them at client sites, but it is constantly hitting 70 degrees without the fan kicking in. The manual fan control options were removed in the 4.0 firmwares as well. Also there are a lot of issues with this model, check the Unifi forums.

Instead of that get a 24 port PoE switch, it is just a bit more expensive and I have not seen these fan control / overheating issues with it.

Don't waste money on the USG in this setup, the Pro version even don't make any sense here. I manage a few larger deployments with the standard small USG, gigabit connection, 300+ clients at peak times, it can handle it easily.

Where are you running the controller? I would get a Cloud Key V2 next :)

MCSE+M/S, MCITP

insane

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#2187118 25-Feb-2019 22:25

Can't speak for the switch, but the USG gateway has worked really well for me, and the management software is updated frequently.

I used to use pfsense, monowall, smoothwall, IPcop etc for my gateway, but I guess I grew up and just wanted something simple so I can spend less time managing my internet and more time doing what I enjoy.

ANglEAUT

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#2187119 25-Feb-2019 22:28

timbosan:

2) Nice to have in the single view of everything in the Unifi controller software

Umm, yeah; get the switch.

You can't edit these catogories in any way and they previously were very inaccurate. Have not checked lately, but seems better fromquick peeks.

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richms

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#2187169 26-Feb-2019 07:37

I have the small square unifi gateway on a gig connection and find that things are more responsive with a huawai ex spark than it is on the USG. Less of a hit when torrenting with the huawai. Im not sure how much better the big pro one would be and im not upgrading routers right now with 10 gig possibly being a thing real soon now and needing to do it again.

I would get the switch since its not that much more than other POE managed switches and it gets a somewhat useful topology view and puts all the wired clients in nicely with what port they're on etc. Still a long way to go in their controller to make it where it should be for handling vlans etc with topology not showing that and it being a bit of a PITA to set them up having to make groups for every config that you need.

Richard rich.ms

waikariboy

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#2187189 26-Feb-2019 08:39

im all unifi hardware, 2 switchs, 2 AP and USG3p. I would go for the switch ATM and clean up the POE injectors you have. im 50/50 on the USG3p, ive have one replacement and a couple of hard reboots but over all its worked well for me. im looking at the pro version but not for sometime.

Balm its gone!

timbosan

2159 posts

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#2187343 26-Feb-2019 10:46

Thanks for all the feedback! I will go for the switch first, it does solve a few issues for me, more so than the gateway would / could.

@engedib I think there is video by Crosstalk Solutions on youtube about replacing the fan on the Unifi switches, I will see if is the 16 port as the 24 port is quite a bit more expensive.

@richms - interesting feedback on performance, I assumed from the research I had done that the USG would be OK on Gigabit. I have zero performance issues with my Untangle server, especially since upgrading it. I see Ubiquity do a 10GB gateway but its like $3500!

Now to find the best place to buy, probably just stick with PBTech since they seem the best priced in NZ

Yoban

447 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2187366 26-Feb-2019 11:09

Thanks for the thread as I am looking to embark on a similar journey as my draytek/netgear setup is tiring.

Here is the youtube clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7ALeXoBGh0

timbosan

2159 posts

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#2187441 26-Feb-2019 11:58

Wow, the 16 port Unifi switch has SO MANY reported issues with over-heating!

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/UniFi-Routing-Switching/UniFi-Switch-16-POE-150W-Overheat/td-p/2227548/page/21

So either I get the 8-150w, which is too small to replace my existing 16 port switch completely and isn't rack-mountable, or step up the 24-250 for an extra $300-odd.

Bugger. Anyone with a 16-150w switch that DOESN'T have overheating issues? From the thread it seems it isn't even just one areas, like just USA (120V) switches, it's all of them.