Another Router Recommendation Thread

[ricerc1]

Hi Guys,

I'm the network admin for a car dealership. We have around 30 wired clients and 20 wireless clients (50 together). Currently using a D-Link DIR-857 for just routing. DHCP, file services, inventory management handled by a Windows Server 2008 box. Various 10/100 switches. Wireless is handled by Amped Wireless products (terrible products and after-sales support). Note: DIR-857 has Wifi disabled.

I'm sure I've hit the limit (or close to it) of the 857, looking to upgrade to a small business router with Site-to-Site VPN support. Cisco has recommended their RV042, RV082 and RV01 products (I was originally looking at the RV180), but when looking at the processor and ram specs, my current 857 is superior.

I've read the threads in here and it looks like SonicWall is the recommendation. Does this still stand? My budget would be about $500 (negotiable).

James

 

[microchip]

You may also want to look into the Ubiquiti EdgeRouter PoE routers and compared them with the SonicWall ones.

 

[thiggins]

If you are going to consider the Cisco RV's, look at the Linksys LRT214/224. Essentially the same hardware as the new RV042, but better firmware.

ZyXEL also has some decent business routers. http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/lanwan-reviews/32283-zyxel-zywall-110-vpn-firewall-reviewed

 

[adawa]

Hello, ricerc1. I recommend looking at the newer Cisco RV routers, such as the Cisco RV320 and RV325. Let me know if you need local Cisco support or have other concerns. Kind regards.

 

[stevech]

Hi Guys,

I'm the network admin for a car dealership. We have around 30 wired clients and 20 wireless clients (50 together). Currently using a D-Link DIR-857 for just routing. DHCP, file services, inventory management handled by a Windows Server 2008 box. Various 10/100 switches. Wireless is handled by Amped Wireless products (terrible products and after-sales support). Note: DIR-857 has Wifi disabled.

I'm sure I've hit the limit (or close to it) of the 857, looking to upgrade to a small business router with Site-to-Site VPN support. Cisco has recommended their RV042, RV082 and RV01 products (I was originally looking at the RV180), but when looking at the processor and ram specs, my current 857 is superior.

I've read the threads in here and it looks like SonicWall is the recommendation. Does this still stand? My budget would be about $500 (negotiable).

James

Yikes. This kind of system needs SOHO/SMB products and that is not D-LINK or other consumer brands, nor marketing phonems like Amped.

 

[alanmoon]

I've replaced an old Cisco 800 series with a fortinet 60C. Its a firewall and a router. It has a subscription service to keep the firewall/filters up to date. A must have for the church and school it supports. It supports about 20 phones, 30 wired computers, and I've seen my Wifi users over a 100. I use the VPN on it as well. I don't have it set up as a point to point though. The Fortiwifi-60D-BDL sells for around $785 on New Egg and Corporate Armor. It comes with a year of support. I thought about picking up one for home. If I did I would buy it off of ebay. I have seen them on ebay for $150 - 350. Corporate Armor sells the subscription services for around $280 (hardware replacement, AV subscription, Firewall filtering subscription). I have had Corporate Amor look up a serial number before to make sure it could be put back on contract. I've been using mine for over a year and still like it.

 

[Trip]

Hi James - I run a small-scale IT shop serving SMB clients with similar needs to your setup. So here goes...

First off, you're probably wise to step up to business-class routing gear, and your budget is pretty realistic. As for Cisco or Linksys, unlike their IOS products (800 series and above) I think you'll find their "SMB" stuff to be somewhat second-rate and lagging behind when compared to the likes of all-in-one security appliances from SonicWall, Fortinet, Watchguard, etc. ZyXel's USGs are a great value as well (I've deployed multiple USG20s and 50s with great succes). Ubiquiti's EdgeRouter series and MikroTik's stuff are amazing bang for the buck, albeit a bit bare-bones on the documentation/support end. Also the Peplink Balance models are solid for load-balanced and failover WAN, plus they're a bit more novice-friendly and their support is excellent.

For wifi, I usually wire in dedicated APs such as Ubiquiti UniFi for managed/mesh or EnGenius ECBs for stand-alone APs. There are some powerful all-in-ones, like MikroTik's models with 1000mW radios -- see the RB2011UiAS-2HnD-IN for example -- the only caveat there being MikroTik's somewhat limited support and documentation. One positive point for going with an all-in-one appliance (router/firewall/AP) is having a single point of contact for support.

As you shop the list above, you'll need to mind max WAN/LAN throughput figures with firewall/AV/etc. functionality factored in, number and type of VPN tunnels offered, and of course price -- all of the above should put you right around your budget.

Let us know what you selected and how it's going -- best of luck.