Edgerouter X vs. Edgerouter lite – Which version will work for you?

The edgerouter X and Edgerouter Lite have been performing rather well in the routing software market but which one is the best for you?

With different version of a product, the common questions are which one is better? What is the difference between the two? Should I switch from the one I am using to a different version? Both versions of ubiquiti’s Edgerouter have good functionality and specs. They are also similar in that they have 5 Ethernet ports each and are both wall mounted devices. They have the same core operating requirements which are a temperature which is between -10 and 45 degrees Celsius with an operating humidity of 10% to 90% non- condensing. They also have quite a number of differences aside from the price, giving them different strong holds which make their uses a little differed

What are the differences between edgerouter x and Edgerouter lite?

Edgerouter X vs. Edgerouter lite- How do they compare?

Storage

ER-Lite has a storage of 2 GB which is on a board flash disk while ER-X has a core memory of 256 MB. This is directly linked to the router capabilities and the number of devices that a specific router can support implying that the ER-lite can support a far wider network, significantly more than double the maximum capacity for an ER-x

• Pricing

ER-Lite is more expensive than the ER-X. This is primarily because it can support a larger number of devices hence a wider information network. This difference really boils down the personal needs and requirements, if you have a large information network, t would make more sense to get the ER-lite, while if you have a smaller network, then the ER-x will suit all your needs.

Power over internet (PoE)

Edgerouter X has PoE while the ER-Lite does not. PoE is becoming a popular feature for Ethernet cables in router networks. This is because it eliminates the need for AC/DC power supplies and outlets because it alternates the power between the cables in the Ethernet by itself. It also gives great deliver of data and power, all over one Ethernet cable.

Edgerouter X vs Edgerouter lite- A comparison review

Edgerouter X

This version of the Ubiquiti Edgerouter has 5 ports with an inbuilt switching capacity between them, which is extremely convenient and makes switching between ports very easy. It has 5 ports with an inbuilt switching capacity between them and can be powered using a PoE. It is also cheaper than the ER-Lite, but supports a limited number of devices. Its devices are (110*75*22) mm with a weight of 175 grams which is fairly light for a home router.

Pros

• It is lighter and smaller in size
• It is affordable for a small home network
• Has a Power over Ethernet feature

Cons

• It supports a limited number of devices

Edgerouter lite

This version of the Edgerouter devices has 3 ports together with hardware offloading and DPI. Despite having a slower CPU, the ER-Lite is faster at the tasks it can offload o the hardware, which are all the essential tasks that would require speed. It comes with a SSH Key based authentication, which is a great added layer of security. Its dimensions are (200*90*30) mm with a weight of 345 grams which is very light for a router of its capabilities.

Pros

• It is very sleek light, given its large capabilities
• It is rather affordable for a large information network

Cons

• It is expensive compared to the ER-Lite

Conclusion

The Ubiquiti Edge routers have been efficient trend setters in the router software and hardware circles and not for no reason. Their firmware is slick and conveniently built and their software is efficient and reliable. Ubiquiti also offers good product support

Verdict – So, which is betterEdgerouter X or Edgerouter lite?

Both routers offer an impressive performance-price ratio. This leads me to the conclusion that Edgerouter lite is a great enterprise router while edgerouter X is best suited for a small home office

FAQs

What is an edgerouter?

An edgerouter is a specified router that is usually located at the boundary of a given network to enable devices in the internal network, and the network as a whole to connect to selected external networks. They are usually placed at two common demarcation points which are the internet and the Wide area network (WAN)

How does Power over Ethernet (PoE) work?

The data flowing through the network uses a given set of wires, while the power uses a different set of wires all within the same network cable. The system works in a way that the power is injected into the Ethernet Cable using an injector, which is a separate power source or using an external network switch that includes in-built PoE.