Will this Ubiquiti setup work out?

[shawn3090]

I run the network for my father's small business. I remade it DIY in 2015 with a Netgear R7000, some TP-Link switches and PoE switches, and around 20 IP cameras. I was going to go the Ubiquiti route back then, but I did not feel comfortable with Enterprise equipment.

Anyway, everything was running smoothly until a couple of months ago when the Nighthawk started crapping out a couple times per week. The network handles all of the credit card transactions, so I need 100% uptime. I am looking to replace the router with the following equipment:

Ubiquiti Edgerouter X (5 port)
UniFi Cloud Key
UniFi UAP-AC-Pro (plugged into one of my TP-Link PoE+ switches)

I have read enough on the forums and watched enough video to understand how to use these products effectively, and I am comfortable installing all of it now. My only concern is that I am missing something important. Will this setup fully replace all of the functionality of a standard consumer wireless router?

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[MichaelCG]

You have router and WiFi covered. You don't have any redundancy covered so doubtful you will see anywhere near 100% uptime....but it will more than likely be a big improvement over the consumer gear you have been using. What is the WiFi client density and coverage requirements?

I don't know that much about the Ubiquiti routers, but lots of comments around the difference in the EdgeRouters vs the USG on which is easier to manage vs raw performance that you may want to research more. I know the USG will integrate into the management interface of the CloudKey...if that is important to you.

 

[shawn3090]

After some more reading I decided to go with USG since it is the same physical hardware as ERL, but easier to manage with UniFi. Also to save some cash I will host the cloud controller on a Windows Server box I use for File History.

I need to cover quite a large area, and my current R7000 reaches to just barely where I need it. However, since it is a combo router/switch/AP I have to keep it at the edge of the store where the small office space is. With a dedicated AP I can place it in a much more central location.

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[MichaelCG]

If coverage/density is a concern, skimp on the AP, go for two UAP-AC-LITE instead of a single UAP-AC-PRO. More small APs will generally serve you better than a a single large AP. You only need the PRO if you are concerned about weather resistance, the additional Ethernet port, standard PoE support, or 3x3 5GHz radio.

Just be aware that the UAP-AC-LITE is probably NOT compatible with the PoE from your switches and you will need to use the included Ubiquity PoE injector. At least I don't think they are...I don't keep up on the change to the LITE much and not sure if they have implemented standard PoE on those yet like they have on the LR.

As for running the controller on Windows....well...it will work, just exactly simple. I ran mine on Windows for about 2 weeks before moving to a Ubuntu VM. My biggest challenges were getting it to run smoothly as a service as well as needing to run on non-default ports due to conflicts with other software already running on my Windows Server.