Need a small business wired router

[Scoobyd00]

I work for a very small company (16 desktops/couple laptops/ server) and the off the shelf routers just don't seem to be up to the task.
What would be s step up without going into a full cisco type system? We dont have a on staff IT department to program it. Most anything has to be an upgrade over the linksys stuff that keeps going out, but in its defense they were all home type units.

Long life and gigabit are the main things, we handle wifi through ubiquiti LR-AP's

 

[VirtualLarry]

Used Cisco gear + part-time on-call tech-support from a local company that speaks Cisco routers?

Edit: Or a mini-ITX x86 / x64 PC running a Linux router distro. But most of them, require a commercial license, if you are using them for business.

 

[kevnich2]

If you're already used to the unifi equipment, why not go with either a ubiquiti edgerouter or the unifi security gateway and a 24 port unifi switch? Management is very easy, even for non-IT folks and is very capable.

A secondary option - If someone is capable of this in your office, you could also try purchasing a pfsense box off Amazon for like $300. It comes pre-loaded and you just have to configure it once it comes in. It'd definitely handle an office with no issue and once it's configured, works very well.

 

[Scoobyd00]

Thanks for the input guys.

If you're already used to the unifi equipment, why not go with either a ubiquiti edgerouter or the unifi security gateway and a 24 port unifi switch? Management is very easy, even for non-IT folks and is very capable.

A secondary option - If someone is capable of this in your office, you could also try purchasing a pfsense box off Amazon for like $300. It comes pre-loaded and you just have to configure it once it comes in. It'd definitely handle an office with no issue and once it's configured, works very well.

I had looked at the smaller edge routers and it seems that many people complain about them dying after 1 year, and to be honest that is about what we get with the off the shelf ones. I am somewhat net savvy and have maintained our IT system for years with very few problems. So I dont mind setting up things like the ubiquiti stuff. But I really dont have the time to learn command line stuff, i need the web gui.

I will look closer at the edge routers. Thanks

 

[ch33zw1z]

Edge routers do have a gui.

Pfsense is gui also.

You can run pfsense on any old computer with a couple nic's installed

 

[kevnich2]

For simplicity, edgerouter lite or edgerouter 5 port poe. If you want some more advanced settings that are available via gui, go with pfsense. Edgerouter is very capable but advanced features are really only available with CLI. I've put several pfsense systems in and they're capable enough with openvpn, site to site vpn and easily handles gigabit internet.

 

[sdifox]

Pfsense or sophos on an old pc with two nics is probably the right answer for your situation. fairly easy to configure and plenty of online resource to rely on.

 

[Kremlar]

Doesn't get a lot of love from Cisco, but we've had great luck with the RV042G. This line was originally a Linksys product but Cisco kept it after they sold Linksys off. Doesn't have every single feature out there but it's solid for most small offices.