Edgerouter Lite Vs Unifi Security Gateway
The Edgerouter and the Unifi Security Gateway are routing devices and are part of Unifi’s advanced technology. The units have thus been developed to help in enhancing performance while offering comprehensive security in the relevant network.
When installing a network in your office or business, there are important aspects that will see to the success of the network. One which is the functionality of the networking devices, more so the router or the gateway and while these devices perform a single function in your network, investing in a less reliable one will have a negative impact on the whole networking system and consequently lead to problems with productivity.
The Edgerouter Lite and the Unifi Security Gateway are both solid networking units equipped with advanced features and offer high functionality. Given their effectiveness, it is very easy to get confused about which of the networking devices to invest in and that is why we have provided you with a comprehensive excerpt on the differences between the Edgerouter and the Unifi Security Gateway thus help you in choosing as regards your needs.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Edgerouter and Unifi Security Gateway
Model |
Edgerouter Lite |
Unifi Security Gateway |
Layer 3 fowarding performance |
Packet 64bytes,-1,000,000pps |
Packet size 64bytes-2.400,000pps |
Item Weight |
2.00 pounds |
6.55 pounds |
Edgerouter Lite vs Unifi Security Gateway-How do they compare?
Network Security
The Edgerouter Lite tends to relinquish all the security and management powers to the user. To which end users are urged to secure their networks, by coming up with firewall policies, and here they will have to organize the rules that they wish to apply. They are also free to apply the policies to the groups that have been filtered by the IP address, among other parameters.
Lastly, under the Edgerouters security, we have the Nat rules and here the Edgerouter will alternate packet addressing based on the customized source and destination NAT rules. Unifi security gateway, on the other hand, offers users some of the most reliable security features, the first one being the incorporated powerful firewall performance, where users are provided with advanced firewall policies to help protect their network and data.
The unit has also been equipped with a VLAN support, and here your Unifi security gateway device can create network segments for security purposes and for traffic management.
And for users who share sensitive data over the internet, the Unifi security gateway can be a good addition to your network because it has been equipped with a convenient VLAN support where you will be able to enjoy a site to site VPN that secures private data communications that are transmitted over the internet.
Network management
When it comes to network management, the Edgerouter still hands over most management options to the users of the device, and here you will be able to access and customize a lot of the different features. You will thus be able to utilize the monitoring tools that will allow you to track your network activity and the devices that have been connected using tools like packet capture, discover ping, and log monitor.
And with the provided DHCP server, users have been given the liberty to set up multiple DHCP servers and assign IP ranges on the different subnets and the different interfaces. The above also enables them to easily control dynamic and static IP addressing for the network devices. Customization options extend to the user accounts where you have the liberty to manage how devices access the Edgedrouter Lite using a unique operator and administrator account.
The above-provided network management options on the Edgerouter, offers users a centralized control to enhance the performance and the reliability of their network. Moving over to the Unifi Security Gateway, you are presented with the Unifi controller, which is a software with a refreshed user interface and support.
For the Security Gateway, customization options are limited but users will still be able to access and tweak some of its features, the application has also been simplified for ease of use, for example, you will notice that the significant network details have been logically arranged. Users can also, utilize the Unifi controller in provisioning thousands of Unifi APs, and they can also manage their system traffic map out networks and provision additional Unifi devices.
The Unifi security gateway has been equipped with a network overview feature that will provide you with information on the health of your network, a feature that is accessed via the new dashboard. With the above option, users are thus able to make adjustments accordingly, and they will also be able to access the detailed analytics of their network and monitor large user groups and consequently expedite troubleshooting.
Other important features are such as the advanced search and sorting options, which makes it easy for the users to manage their networks.
Better yet is that since the Unifi controller runs in the cloud, the unit has the capabilities of managing multiple sites. To which end, each of the sites would be logically separated, complete with its configuration, statistics, maps, administrator, and guest portal.
Lastly, your Unifi security gateway controller can manage flexible configurations of the large deployments. From the above, the management of the two units is different because the Edgerouter gives users the liberty to set their security policies and protocols while the Unifi Security Gateway has everything set for the user but with a few customization options.
Edgerouter Lite vs Unifi Security Gateway- A comparison Overview
Edgerouter Lite- Overview
Ubiquiti EdgeMax EdgeRouter Lite ERLite-3 512MB
- (3) Gigabit routing ports
- Compact, durable metal casing
The Ubiquiti EdgeRouter lite ERlite-3, has been equipped with all the essential features discussed above, such as the DHCP firewall policies, and the NAT rules. There is also the network administration feature, complete with the monitoring tools to allow the monitoring of the network activities and devices. Also provided is an intuitive user interface that users can access either through a network port or a web browser.
Ubiquiti Networks Networks Edgerouter Lite 3-Port
- 1 million packets per second for 64-byte packets.
- (3) Gigabit routing ports
The Edgerouter Lite 3 is a rather compact unit but with high functionality features, for example, the unit can transfer up to 1 million packets within a second for the 64byte packets and has been equipped with up to 3 Gigabit routing ports. Upon setup, the unit operates in a whisper-silent manner given that it is fanless and has been constructed with a durable metal casing.
The Unifi Edgerouter has been equipped with some advanced features via its sophisticated operating system, for example, there is the comprehensive IPv6 support, the quality of service feature that helps to ensure that the mission-critical applications are equipped with the necessary resources for their operation. The feature also contributes to cost reduction by efficiently using the internet resource.
What we like
- The unit has been equipped with an intuitive user interface
- Allows users to manage their networks
- Gives users the liberty of securing their networks
- Traffic flow can be direct via the interface or through routing
What we don’t like
- Routers not good at load balancing
- Not convenient for the long term thus only stable for a couple of months
Unifi Security Gateway Overview
Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway
- 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports, CLI management for advanced users
- 1 million packets per second for 64-byte packets
The Unifi Security Gateway 3 Gigabit Ethernet port is a small networking device for users whose networking needs are not as complex. The unit, therefore, offers offsite management and monitoring complete with a whisper-silent operation. The integrated Unifi controller software has been configured to conduct provisioning, device discovery, and management of the unit via a single centralized interface.
While utilizing the three-port Unifi Security Gateway, users will benefit from the powerful firewall performance that comes with advanced firewall policies that work to protect your network and its data.
USG Unifi Security Gateway with UC-CK Unifi Cloud Key and US-8-150W
- Ubiquiti Networks USG Unifi Security Gateway with UC-CK Unifi Cloud Key and US-8-150W UniFi Switch 8 Port...
- Ubiquiti Unifi Security Gateway USG (QTY 1) : The UniFi Security Gateway extends the UniFi Enterprise...
The Unifi Security Gateway has been configured to extend the Unifi enterprise system to offer users a cost-effective and reliable routing, inclusive of advanced security for the user’s networks. Also, the Eight Gigabit RJ45 ports have been configured to offer a variety of power output options, that users can take advantage of to enhance connectivity and performance.
And for the security of the network and traffic management, the Unifi Security Gateway can create virtual network segments.
Conclusion
The Edgerouter Lite only offers users the resources they can use to come up with a functional networking device in their internet network. Users will, therefore, manage their traffic, secure their network, and engage the intuitive user interface. For the Unifi Security Gateway, most of the features have been customized and all they have to do is plug and play while tweaking a few of the features to suit their networking requirements.
Verdict: Which is better, the Edgerouter Lite or the Unifi Security Gateway?
Even though the Edgerouter Lite gives users the liberty to tweak the devices to suit their needs, it hasn’t incorporated many advanced features, like the Unifi Security Gateway, thus making the latter a better option.
FAQ’s
How do I set up a cloud key on my Unifi Security Gateway?
The cloud key can be powered using the Unifi PoE switch, so what you will do is to simply connect the USB cable directly from the Unifi cloud key to the USB power source.
What is an Edgerouter?
Edge routers are a type of highly functional routers and are usually used at a network boundary to allow the internal network to have a connection with the external networks.
