Router vs Gateway
Router vs Gateway
I used to be familiar with it, but it's been a while. I've used 3D printed adapters for my network modem and router, even though now I have a faster internet connection, I still encounter bottlenecks on my end. My Netgear modem had its foot removed so I could mount it rack-style. Although the model number was visible, I'm not sure of the exact details anymore. I'm considering replacing both my modem and router (likely a Linksys ES6900). My main goal is to keep everything rack-mountable, avoid 3D printing everything, and stay within budget. I'm thinking about the Ubiquiti UniFi modem, but it only lists a gateway, not a router that's rack-mountable, which is what I can find. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Because the devices people purchase in stores are labeled routers, they are actually gateways. None of these gadgets can route between multiple subnets. They also lack the capability to execute routing protocols, which is what defines a true router. In a home network, very few devices use more than one subnet. The main role of a router is to share a single public IP with all lan devices on one subnet. It functions as a gateway to the internet and primarily performs NAT. Some models offer additional features such as firewalls or VPNs, but these still don’t qualify as routers since they can’t route traffic between subnets. Generally, if you required a genuine router, you’d already be aware of this limitation. All authentic routers can also serve as gateways because they support NAT.
UniFi modem in mind, This one?
https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/uci
Yep, it's just a Docsis 3.1 cable modem, not a router, in a rack mount style.
It has a 2.5Gbe ethernet port but no idea how fast it can go on the cable WAN side.
You need a (home) router or firewall to pair with it.
Maybe Dream Machine Pro?
https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/udm-pro
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If you have old modem model, it's spec definitely can be found on the net.
However only found Linksys EA6900 router on the net, no ES6900 though.
You did mention bottleneck, what was it? And what is your current cable subscription download/upload speed?
I couldn't recall the company's name until recently. If you need a real router and can't afford branded ones, Mikrotik offers a decent selection. These models are pricier than consumer devices and many users lack Wi-Fi capabilities. They come in various rack-mount options. Tiny switch-like devices can be easily installed by placing an empty tray in a rack and securing the unit with double-sided tape.
I believe the challenge with mounting a router in a rack lies in the wireless signal interference. The antennas will face numerous metal obstacles that block the connection.
You can find more details on their product page: https://mikrotik.com/products/group/ethernet-routers.
It has been a while since I reviewed their router OS thoroughly. They support advanced routing protocols like OSPF and BGP, which makes it unlikely anyone would choose Cisco over them without such capabilities.
SOHO gateways are not routers because they cannot route traffic between subnets, but this is not the main reason—they actually do route traffic, just without dynamic protocols. Your desktop functions similarly since it lacks dynamic routing protocols and uses a static routing table managed by its configuration. What we’re doing with home gateways involves setting up a one-to-many NAPT translation between subnets while using token SPI during the process.
If the device is compatible, you can install DDWRT or OpenWRT and enable support for RIP, OSPF, and BGP through the Quagga suite of daemons.
Quagga Software Routing Suite
Main website for the Quagga routing software. Offers CVS access, snapshots, binary builds, and a Bugzilla bug reporting system. Quagga is derived from GNU Zebra.
www.nongnu.org
Linux-based systems can be configured to act as functional network routers handling various routing tasks.