EdgeRouter POE configuration and other routers you guys can recommend?

[Synomenon]

I'm looking at using a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter POE in a new home. The EdgeRouter POE will have these connected to its ports:

0) Cox Cable Modem
1) Netgear GS105E 5-port Gigabit Switch
2) Netgear GS108E 8-port Gigabit Switch
3) AP #1
4) AP #2

I have all this hardware laying around already. All I would need to buy is the EdgeRouter POE.

The GS105E will be at the other end of the house (connected to an ethernet jack that's run all the way back to the EdgeRouter). The GS108E will be in an OnQ Structured Wiring Panel along with the EdgeRouter POE and Cox Cable Modem.

The GS105E will have various things connected to it (PCs, Smart TVs, Game Consoles). The GS108E will be connected to the ethernet ports in the rest of the rooms of the house (each room has at least one ethernet port).

The two access points for now are D-Link DIR-868Ls. I would have used one of these as the main router, but they do not fit in that wiring panel so I will use them as access points (one on the first floor and the other on the 3rd floor).

Will I need some special configuration file to get the EdgeRouter POE configured or can everything be setup through the EdgeOS UI?

Later on, I'm considering replacing the D-Link DIR-868Ls with UniFi access points just for the zero-handoff roaming capability.


If the EdgeRouter is overkill, can anyone recommend another wired / wireless router that's:
- thin and can be wall mounted like the EdgeRouter
- at least four gigabit LAN ports
- it doesn't have to be a wired only router as long as it has good wired performance and will work well with multiple access points connected to it

I really only need two POE ports so if there is another router you'd recommend I would use this POE injector:
http://www.l-com.com/power-over-eth...or-midspan-w-integral-power-supply-48vdc-335w

 

[Lifted]

Are you sure those dlinks can be powered via POE? Since they are routers i thought that was odd, so i took a quick peek at dlinks site and it says DC but no mention of POE. I didn't read much else though as I'm on my phone.

No experience with ubiquiti routers other than knowing they just entered the router market. Do you know if their routers have a web GUI or other centralized app for management? They are not really in the consumer market.

 

[Synomenon]

I know my D-Link routers aren't POE capable. I will be replacing them with Ubiquiti UniFi APs later on which do use Ubiquiti's proprietary POE.

Haven't used an EdgeRouter yet, that's part of the reason I posted the OP.

 

[Synomenon]

Turns out these D-Link routers I have (DIR-868L) are pretty good:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/rankers/router/result/1184-dlink-dir868l

I may just use one of these as the main router instead of shelling out for the EdgeRouter POE since I already have two of them. Then all I need to buy are the two UAPs.

I wish the new AC UAP was based on a 2nd gen. AC chipset though.

 

[cmetz]

Synomenon, unless there's some really compelling feature in the EdgeRouter you absolutely have to have, I'd recommend against it. From what I've read, it's got a lot of general sharp edges (bugs, missing/not quite ready features), requires a lot of expertise/learning to configure, and the hardware failure rate sounds high. All of these are things that will likely get better in time.

 

[Synomenon]

For now I'll try to find a way to use one of these DIR-868L's as the main router. As I linked to above, turns out it's a pretty good router. Just have to find a way to fit it in that structured wiring panel since all the ethernet connections in the house run back into it.

I'll still use UniFi APs. Good thing they come with PoE injectors.

 

[Lifted]

Just have to find a way to fit it in that structured wiring panel since all the ethernet connections in the house run back into it.

Well if that's your only concern then you're in luck. Any old switch can be at the panel. The router can be anywhere, easiest would be near the cable modem, but that's not necessary as long as they are both near a jack running to the panel.

 

[Synomenon]

How would everything be wired? Don't the modem, router and switch need to be in that panel since every ethernet port in the house is wired back to that panel?

 

[Synomenon]

Oh I see. There would need to be two ethernet ports in the room I would want to move the router to.

Cable modem in wiring panel -> ethernet port 1 in the desired room

ethernet port 1 in desired room -> router WAN port

router LAN port to ethernet port 2 in desired room

ethernet port 2 back to wiring panel to the switch


then the rest of the ports in the house would connect to the switch in the wiring panel.