UDM Not Great, Pfsense Rock Solid. SFF Ideas?

dmbminaret on 28/02/2021 - 10:27

So I got a Unifi Dream Machine on an ebay sale for $389 for home. It's nice and all but I'm finding it's just not great. Have to reboot it every now and again, had a little bit of trouble with some devices dropping off network and not reconnecting. Issues not totally important, just not as great as I thought it would be. Also range not awesome. I thought it had a LR built in, but seems more like a Lite. Weak signal in bedroom at other end of normal sized house. Thing is good, not awesome.

I set up a pfsense box on an old dell blade server at work with four unifi LR access points in sheds throughout a factory. The thing is bulletproof. I haven't touched any of it in 12 months. Not even a courtesy reboot.

Thinking of offloading the UDM and using a pfsense box at home. Ideas for low power, semi stylish, small form boxes to look at? Obviously needs room for two NICs. Maybe something like this:
https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/desktops-and-all-in-ones/thinkc…

Cheers.

Internet

Comments

  • holdenmg on 28/02/2021 - 10:27

    IDK

  • stibbzy on 28/02/2021 - 10:50
    +2

    Maybe it’s a client issue? My UDM has been rock solid. Clients never disconnect and it’s uptime is in the multiple months now… more than I could say for the Asus RT-AC68U it replaced.

  • JimmyF on 28/02/2021 - 11:13
    +1

    Thinking of offloading the UDM and using a pfsense box at home

    ok. Thanks for letting us know.

    • dmbminaret on 28/02/2021 - 12:28

      Wanna buy it?

      • JimmyF on 28/02/2021 - 13:55

        Sounds faulty, so $50?

        • dmbminaret on 28/02/2021 - 16:38

          Do you think it is faulty?

          I don't. Just not that great.

          • JimmyF on 28/02/2021 - 17:10
            +1

            @dmbminaret: Either way $50 is my offer. As its either faulty or not that great….. You're not selling me on it!

          • Chandler on 01/03/2021 - 13:50

            @dmbminaret: I'll give you $55

  • j33prong on 28/02/2021 - 12:53
    +2

    You can run pfsense on a single NIC if you have a managed switch.

    https://www.joe0.com/2019/11/16/converting-single-nic-mini-p…

    I've had something like this running for years without issue. This opens up your hardware options immensely, but I'd recommend:

    CPU with AES-NI support
    Intel NIC

    • dmbminaret on 28/02/2021 - 13:32

      You can run pfsense on a single NIC if you have a managed switch.

      Thats cool.

  • NatDan on 28/02/2021 - 12:54
    +1

    Can we assume that the dropped devices are all on wi-fi? You’ve indicated that the coverage appears poor, so the easy option would be to connect an additional AP to the UDM.
    You’ve compared a system with 4 quality APs in a factory with a device with a built-in AP, which is not exactly equal. By adding an additional AP, you are hopefully providing a higher strength signal to your devices.
    I started off with 2 Unifi APs to give better coverage in a large house, then upgraded to Unifi switches as changes were made to the home network. The USG ties in nicely with the Unifi Controller, but I’ve always gone back to a dedicated hardware firewall. My personal preference is OPNsense after having used pfSense for a while.

  • dmbminaret on 28/02/2021 - 13:31
    +1

    Can we assume that the dropped devices are all on wi-fi?

    Yep. Google TV, Android TV, Tuya lights.
    Yes, granted I'm not using much of that stuff at work this is something to take into consideration I guess too.

    You’ve compared a system with 4 quality APs in a factory with a device with a built-in AP, which is not exactly equal.

    Wasn't necessarily comparing the apple for apples, just mentioning the experience of both sites. I do have a second AP to plug in but need to get the cable dropped in the roof.

    Thanks for your thoughts.

    • Twix on 28/02/2021 - 20:11

      For the time being connect the AP by mesh uplink.

      • dmbminaret on 28/02/2021 - 20:23

        I did but it was horrible.

  • theray on 28/02/2021 - 19:28
    +2

    NetGate SG-1100 running pfsense, works well.

    https://www.etsau.com/shop/product/sg-1100-sg-1100-pfsense-s…

  • Twix on 28/02/2021 - 19:33
    1. Is Unifi firmware 1.8.6 installed?
    2. The UDM has a NanoHD.
    3. Where is the UDM installed? At the front, middle or back end of the house?
    4. Install another Unifi AP.
    • dmbminaret on 28/02/2021 - 20:34
      +1

      Is Unifi firmware 1.8.6 installed?

      Yes.

      The UDM has a NanoHD.

      Okay

      Where is the UDM installed? At the front, middle or back end of the house?

      Front. Bedroom at the back. I don't expect it to be perfect, I bought another AP for this reason to extend out to the pool adjacent to bedroom.

      Install another Unifi AP.

      Will do. Just need the sparkie to drop the cable down the wall cavity. I'm not agile enough to get over that side of the ceiling.

      Don't get me wrong, it's good. I guess I'm just feeling I've had more uptime and hassle free experience with pfsense. Obviously not the general consensus.

      • Twix on 28/02/2021 - 20:42
        +1

        Hopefully new firmware and another wired Unifi AP fixes the restarts and dropout problems. If you're still not happy go to pfsense with Unifi APs.

      • NatDan on 28/02/2021 - 21:28

        Just for testing purposes, you may be able to run a network cable across the room(s), passage way, etc to see if the 2nd AP is a viable solution? It does sound as though a 2nd AP will probably be required, which ever option you go with.

        FYI, I picked up a used Compaq SFF PC from Gumtree that has been my firewall for sometime now. It's not the smallest or most power efficient PC, but it does the job well.

        • dmbminaret on 28/02/2021 - 21:58
          +1

          Yea, I'll definitely run the second AP.

          The very minimal random connection issues are not related to range. For example, new android TV, connects up fine on install. Works for a week no dramas, then won't connect to wifi network. Do everything, even reset TV. Still won't connect. Create a second network in control centre and boom, works on that separate network. Weird shit.

      • Chandler on 01/03/2021 - 13:53

        Will do. Just need the sparkie to drop the cable down the wall cavity. I'm not agile enough to get over that side of the ceiling.

        If you're going to the expense of a sparkie, make sure they're properly licensed for structured cabling.

  • scotty on 01/03/2021 - 13:11
    +1

    QOTOM sells those x86 based appliances boxes with 2 or 4 NIC onboard, many are passively cooled. Many sellers on Aliexpress. However they are nowhere near "semi stylish".

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