[ale] Network hardware/software recommendations

[Ken Cochran via Ale]

Hi ALE,

Turns out my question may be not so off-topic, since so much
networking stuff these days has Linux-based software innards.

So, what's "good" these days?

"Good" meaning, solid, reliable, flexible, etc., dare-I-say
"carrier grade" (probably a bs-term).

Examples, the likes of Cisco, Juniper, umm, Ubiquiti, others?

Stuff like routers, switches & WAPs, configurable by GUI
and/or CLI, worth learning & developing proficiency for
job/opportunity advancement.

I keep hearing nice things about Ubiquiti for example.

Or, the likes of (for example) Smoothwall & Something To Run It On...

Ideas/opinions?

Thanks, -Ken
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[Simba via Ale]

Depends on your purpose.

For home networking I like Netgear. For your gateway router I recommend
installing Advanced Tomato, so investigate hardware that is compatible.

For an office it's an entirely different game. Small 4-8 port Netgear
switches are fine at the desk level but you need industrial grade
equipment in the server room. All the brands you named are fine (Cisco,
Juniper, Ubiquiti).

GUIs are worthless. If you're wiring up an office forget about GUIs. If
you need a GUI you're under-qualified to wire up an office network.


Simba Lion - https://tailpuff.net
https://keybase.io/simbalion

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Post by Ken Cochran via Ale
Hi ALE,
Turns out my question may be not so off-topic, since so much
networking stuff these days has Linux-based software innards.
So, what's "good" these days?
"Good" meaning, solid, reliable, flexible, etc., dare-I-say
"carrier grade" (probably a bs-term).
Examples, the likes of Cisco, Juniper, umm, Ubiquiti, others?
Stuff like routers, switches & WAPs, configurable by GUI
and/or CLI, worth learning & developing proficiency for
job/opportunity advancement.
I keep hearing nice things about Ubiquiti for example.
Or, the likes of (for example) Smoothwall & Something To Run It On...
Ideas/opinions?
Thanks, -Ken
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http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo

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[Ken Cochran via Ale]

Ok, guess I should get more specific...

Looking for Good Stuff for commercial/business/SOHO.

I like the idea of separating the router, switch & radio/AP,
like how the Bigs do it.

I also like (actually prefer) CLI config, but GUI ok as option,
just not GUI-only..

So this leads me to the following (could use some input/commentary):

- Juniper is Big Stuff for backbone, not SOHO.

- Cisco, good but CLI only for higher end eqpt & looks like
their Good Stuff is expensive & more for enterprise(?)

- Ubiquiti looks interesting; I hear good about them, separate
functions per above, CLI config throughout product line(?),
nice step up from the Stuff We Get In Stores?

- Option of custom-building & "rolling my own" router-distro
a la Smoothwall, pfSense, whatever. Looks like good bit of
research/due diligence getting proper hw for that.

So I guess my q is what have folks here done & liked? Or not...

Thanks again, -Ken

Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2018 18:32:26 -0400
Subject: Re: [ale] Network hardware/software recommendations
Depends on your purpose.
For home networking I like Netgear. For your gateway router I recommend
installing Advanced Tomato, so investigate hardware that is compatible.
For an office it's an entirely different game. Small 4-8 port Netgear
switches are fine at the desk level but you need industrial grade
equipment in the server room. All the brands you named are fine (Cisco,
Juniper, Ubiquiti).
GUIs are worthless. If you're wiring up an office forget about GUIs. If
you need a GUI you're under-qualified to wire up an office network.
Simba Lion - https://tailpuff.net
https://keybase.io/simbalion
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Post by Ken Cochran via Ale
Hi ALE,
Turns out my question may be not so off-topic, since so much
networking stuff these days has Linux-based software innards.
So, what's "good" these days?
"Good" meaning, solid, reliable, flexible, etc., dare-I-say
"carrier grade" (probably a bs-term).
Examples, the likes of Cisco, Juniper, umm, Ubiquiti, others?
Stuff like routers, switches & WAPs, configurable by GUI
and/or CLI, worth learning & developing proficiency for
job/opportunity advancement.
I keep hearing nice things about Ubiquiti for example.
Or, the likes of (for example) Smoothwall & Something To Run It On...
Ideas/opinions?
Thanks, -Ken
_______________________________________________
Ale mailing list
https://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo

_______________________________________________
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[DJ-Pfulio via Ale]

Have you looked in the ALE email archives?
Every few months a similar question is asked and options provided.
If you build your own, my only advice is to use Intel NICs.

Post by Ken Cochran via Ale
Ok, guess I should get more specific...
Looking for Good Stuff for commercial/business/SOHO.
I like the idea of separating the router, switch & radio/AP,
like how the Bigs do it.
I also like (actually prefer) CLI config, but GUI ok as option,
just not GUI-only..
- Juniper is Big Stuff for backbone, not SOHO.
- Cisco, good but CLI only for higher end eqpt & looks like
their Good Stuff is expensive & more for enterprise(?)
- Ubiquiti looks interesting; I hear good about them, separate
functions per above, CLI config throughout product line(?),
nice step up from the Stuff We Get In Stores?
- Option of custom-building & "rolling my own" router-distro
a la Smoothwall, pfSense, whatever. Looks like good bit of
research/due diligence getting proper hw for that.
So I guess my q is what have folks here done & liked? Or not...
Thanks again, -Ken

Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2018 18:32:26 -0400
Subject: Re: [ale] Network hardware/software recommendations
Depends on your purpose.
For home networking I like Netgear. For your gateway router I recommend
installing Advanced Tomato, so investigate hardware that is compatible.
For an office it's an entirely different game. Small 4-8 port Netgear
switches are fine at the desk level but you need industrial grade
equipment in the server room. All the brands you named are fine (Cisco,
Juniper, Ubiquiti).
GUIs are worthless. If you're wiring up an office forget about GUIs. If
you need a GUI you're under-qualified to wire up an office network.
Simba Lion - https://tailpuff.net
https://keybase.io/simbalion
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Post by Ken Cochran via Ale
Hi ALE,
Turns out my question may be not so off-topic, since so much
networking stuff these days has Linux-based software innards.
So, what's "good" these days?
"Good" meaning, solid, reliable, flexible, etc., dare-I-say
"carrier grade" (probably a bs-term).
Examples, the likes of Cisco, Juniper, umm, Ubiquiti, others?
Stuff like routers, switches & WAPs, configurable by GUI
and/or CLI, worth learning & developing proficiency for
job/opportunity advancement.
I keep hearing nice things about Ubiquiti for example.
Or, the likes of (for example) Smoothwall & Something To Run It On...
Ideas/opinions?
Thanks, -Ken
_______________________________________________
Ale mailing list
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See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo

_______________________________________________
Ale mailing list
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See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
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_______________________________________________
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--
Got Linux? Used on smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, media
centers, and servers by kids, Moms, Dads, grandparents and IT
professionals.
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[Ken Cochran via Ale]

I have (1st thing) & that's sorta the "basis" of my q but I
must be doing it wrong b/c I'm not finding those msg-threads. :/
Wondered if any "updates" too.
Originally I figured kinda OT but in learning so much of this
stuff is Linux-based these days, it might just be relevant here.
Agreed on Intel NICs, used to be Digital but I think Intel got
that IP/tech when DEC sold out, & I'd guess they've improved
it since. -k

Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2018 13:39:10 -0400
Subject: Re: [ale] Network hardware/software recommendations
Have you looked in the ALE email archives?
Every few months a similar question is asked and options provided.
If you build your own, my only advice is to use Intel NICs.

Post by Ken Cochran via Ale
Ok, guess I should get more specific...
Looking for Good Stuff for commercial/business/SOHO.
I like the idea of separating the router, switch & radio/AP,
like how the Bigs do it.
I also like (actually prefer) CLI config, but GUI ok as option,
just not GUI-only..
- Juniper is Big Stuff for backbone, not SOHO.
- Cisco, good but CLI only for higher end eqpt & looks like
their Good Stuff is expensive & more for enterprise(?)
- Ubiquiti looks interesting; I hear good about them, separate
functions per above, CLI config throughout product line(?),
nice step up from the Stuff We Get In Stores?
- Option of custom-building & "rolling my own" router-distro
a la Smoothwall, pfSense, whatever. Looks like good bit of
research/due diligence getting proper hw for that.
So I guess my q is what have folks here done & liked? Or not...
Thanks again, -Ken

Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2018 18:32:26 -0400
Subject: Re: [ale] Network hardware/software recommendations
Depends on your purpose.
For home networking I like Netgear. For your gateway router I recommend
installing Advanced Tomato, so investigate hardware that is compatible.
For an office it's an entirely different game. Small 4-8 port Netgear
switches are fine at the desk level but you need industrial grade
equipment in the server room. All the brands you named are fine (Cisco,
Juniper, Ubiquiti).
GUIs are worthless. If you're wiring up an office forget about GUIs. If
you need a GUI you're under-qualified to wire up an office network.
Simba Lion - https://tailpuff.net
https://keybase.io/simbalion
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Post by Ken Cochran via Ale
Hi ALE,
Turns out my question may be not so off-topic, since so much
networking stuff these days has Linux-based software innards.
So, what's "good" these days?
"Good" meaning, solid, reliable, flexible, etc., dare-I-say
"carrier grade" (probably a bs-term).
Examples, the likes of Cisco, Juniper, umm, Ubiquiti, others?
Stuff like routers, switches & WAPs, configurable by GUI
and/or CLI, worth learning & developing proficiency for
job/opportunity advancement.
I keep hearing nice things about Ubiquiti for example.
Or, the likes of (for example) Smoothwall & Something To Run It On...
Ideas/opinions?
Thanks, -Ken

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Ale mailing list
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