Choosing a Rackmount Router
Choosing a Rackmount Router
I checked out some options on eBay for a budget Cisco router. I had a few in mind but needed more details. One was a 2801 Integrated Services Router with flash storage and an ADSL module, another a 2811 Rackmount with 100Mbps Ethernet. I’m currently using BT ISP and BTHUB 5, which isn’t great, so I was thinking about moving the WAN port to a Cisco router that could handle firewall and DHCP functions at home. I’ve read a bit but found limited info on DHC and firewall setups for these models.
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These aren't the top-tier command line enterprise solutions anymore—they're getting outdated and struggle with heavy traffic loads. What kind of traffic are you dealing with? I'd suggest picking up a TP-Link Archer and handling it yourself. Do you have any existing hardware you could use? Some MikroTik models are budget-friendly if you opt for rack mounting, but they need a bit of network expertise to set up.
For a simpler and faster setup, consider an Edgerouter 4 paired with the rack mount kit. If you prefer the UniFi approach, the USG Pro-4 is an option. Avoid Cisco routers if you're unfamiliar with networking. For playing with pfense, Netgate Gear is available but comes at a higher cost.