MikroTik Cloud Switch as router?

[Richard Shaw]

I'm looking for some upgrades to my home network as my venerable Netgear FVS318G router is getting unreliable after a recent storm. No power surge that I know of but hasn't been the same since.

I've also got a old 16-port 10/100 switch that I'd like to replace with gigabit so I'm looking at one of these to replace both for ~$170:

http://amzn.com/B00I4QJSIM

I was looking at the Ubiquiti USG Security gateway ($110) but I would still need to upgrade the switch separately (~$160). I've got one of their access points and it works quite well, 406 days uptime until a firmware update.

I've got the Unifi Controller software working quite nice on my Fedora desktop.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Richard

[Robinson Mitchell]

Richard:

If it's what you're already using and you have the controller software it's a nice solution.

At my home and office I am using the Untangle NG Security gateway, running on a PC platform (Lite [free] version).  It has a category based blacklisting web filter so you can block, for example, porn, gambling, violence sites, also does malware filtering and a lot of other features.  I use the firewall as a disciplinary tool for the kids.  I give all the home devices reserved DHCP leases, and if the kids don't do their chores I can cut off their Internet access.  I had a small Micro-ATX based system with dual NICs already which gives me a small appliance-sized box for the home router, then internally I have a gigabit switch and two access points in the house.  Untangle has a very easy to use interface as well, no special software required.  And it runs on a Debian core OS.  I had the box already so I spent nothing on the router/security gateway, then a total of about $300 on a gigabit switch, patch panel, access points, and two battery backups for all the network components.

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[Richard Shaw]

On Mon, Aug 3, 2015 at 11:37 AM, Robinson Mitchell <robinson...@gmail.com> wrote:

Richard:

If it's what you're already using and you have the controller software it's a nice solution.

At my home and office I am using the Untangle NG Security gateway, running on a PC platform (Lite [free] version).  It has a category based blacklisting web filter so you can block, for example, porn, gambling, violence sites, also does malware filtering and a lot of other features.  I use the firewall as a disciplinary tool for the kids.  I give all the home devices reserved DHCP leases, and if the kids don't do their chores I can cut off their Internet access.  I had a small Micro-ATX based system with dual NICs already which gives me a small appliance-sized box for the home router, then internally I have a gigabit switch and two access points in the house.  Untangle has a very easy to use interface as well, no special software required.  And it runs on a Debian core OS.  I had the box already so I spent nothing on the router/security gateway, then a total of about $300 on a gigabit switch, patch panel, access points, and two battery backups for all the network components.

I'm happy with the Ubiquity AP and software but don't want to spend $110 on a new router/firewall and $160 on an unmanaged 16-port switch when I can get both in one and 24-port at that for $170, but it's a different platform, Mikrotik. Reading up on it it's really just a computer inside the case running linux w/ 2.6.x kernel. 

The nice thing about getting it is I would simplify my setup and reduce total device count by one. I don't want to tie up a full computer plus heat/energy use for a router if a smaller device will work fine. I don't have a A/C vent in my data closet :)

Thanks,

Richard