Firewalla Gold - UniFi Beginner Question
I am purchasing a Firewalla Gold, and will be using it in router mode. Deciding how to handle Wifi has been a tough call because I want to use segregated VLANs per SSID to ensure proper isolation of guest/iot/admin etc. I realize that this narrows the AP playing field as my current router (orbi AX3000) will not support this. While dropping the cash on the FWG I'm going to jump to WiFi 6. I've read and re-read extensively about the AP question in this setup and I was *just* about to pull the trigger on a Netgear WAX620 2-pack (upstairs and downstairs), then almost got the Orbi Pro 6 for the segregated VLAN and set & forget simplicity (I dont even mind the Insight fees), then turned my thoughts back to UniFi, which I've never personally deployed or used. I have, I believe anyway, enough networking knowledge to deploy just about anything. And the UniFi Bros are real vocal about their love.
That said I've never used Ubiquiti equipment before and thought this switch to the FWG at home would be a great opportunity to also pick up skills with UniFi.
From reading it seems that I could either shell to the FWG and install UniFi controller, but I have a fully loaded Synology DS920+ (20GB Ram & Read/Write NVME Cache), so I was thinking I'd probably just use the Synology as the UniFi controller.
Can someone with UniFi experience confirm that this would be sufficient?
Since I have the synology do I just order the two UniFi APs? And the controller installed on the synology could adopt and manage them? Would I also want to get a UniFi switch?
At home we have a standard ton of smart devices and kids using wifi, I got turned on to the FWG as I wanted better protection and parental controls granular enough to block youtube on a downstairs TV during certain hours etc. I enjoy networking and learning new things, I figured if the networking stuff was going to be my new project I could learn UniFi too.
So:
1.Can anyone confirm all I need is some APs and the controller can live on the synology? (Switch I assume is nice but not required?).
a. What is the best equipment to order to get the UniFi "experience"? I looked at dream machine but it seemed like it might be redundant if the FWG is routing and I can drop a controller onto either the NAS or the FWG. If I got UniFi APs and a UniFi switch and had the controller on the NAS would it be basically the same experience as a dream machine?
2. Anyone running FWG in a setup similar to what I'm describing want to advise me against UniFi?
I'm perfectly happy to get an Orbi Pro 6, pop it in AP mode for the VLAN SSID segregation and call it a day, but I'd also like to pick up some new skills hence the UniFi question.
In the end I just want FWG with stable / reliable super fast wifi, if (configuration and deployment difficult levels aside) UniFi is a bad call for this I'd like to know before I'm neck deep.
Thanks.
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UniFi switch that supports POE, and get as many UniFi AP as you need for your installation, I have 3. You will need a controller, but that can be built onto anything, even onto the Gold in docker. I purchased a cloud key2, as I have a camera so it has the built in software and HD for that. For me I wouldn’t spend the money on a combined router/Wi-Fi for then downgrade it to just an AP.
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I'm not opposed to a UniFi switch, but on a BASIC level would the APs/UniFi work without the UniFi switch? I'm headed into this with the understanding that i'll probably eventually swap out most everything for UniFi, but to get started the switch is mandatory or no? I have a PoE switch already it is just not UniFi. As I'm imagining it I'd only get UniFi info on the AP's and wireless activity, once switch is added UniFI will have more info for me? Or do the APs not work unless they're plugged into a UniFi switch?
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Man it took me a while to make a decision. A LONG while. But I pulled the trigger on the FWG a couple weeks ago, finally installed it this weekend.
I ultimately decided on a Netgear managed switch with two WAX630E access points (despite that theyre HUGE), one is upstairs and one is downstairs. The FWG install was super easy. The Netgear install went great but I was having some trouble getting the results I was expecting.
Turned out I was doing some counterintuitive setup errors, too much transmit power etc. Finally let the netgear optimization do its thing on its own and the results were OUTSTANDING. I'm getting my full gigabit over WiFi. Not thrilled about $9 a year to manage the APs with insight but, overall, can't complain.
I'll do the UniFi at the office during the next overhaul. But I am SUPER pleased with the WAX630Es. Just unbelievable performance, supports VLAN per SSID and everything else I wanted.
I endorse.
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Also FWIW I used MOCA 2.5 gigabit adapters to hardwire the second AP and that went super smooth also, worked perfectly, if you are considering this I also endorse Moca 2.5. With the 630Es I have 6e wifi, and 2.5Gbps ethernet ports on all the APs with 2.5Gbps MOCA and switch.
Havent done link Agg with switch yet to FWG, not sure what if any benefit I would get out of it, but thats next on my tinker list.
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