Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI
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I have a friend who has a dental practice. They have no IT staff, and their environment is very basic. However, they DO want to upgrade their dying router. (which also is an access point) I was thinking an Edge Router Lite, and a Unifi AC-Lite. What is the best way to setup the AC-Lite? I usually setup the controller software somewhere locally and adopt the AP from it. Then shutdown and uninstall the controller software. But, for zero maintenance, would it be easier to use one of the Cloud controller keys to set this up? https://dl.ubnt.com/datasheets/unifi/UniFi_Cloud_Key_DS.pdf
I have not worked with the cloud controller keys before.
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For a small setup like this, where it very rarely needs to be maintained you're not on the wrong track. You could spend the money on the controller, but does your friend not have anything that can run a tiny VM that you can turn on and off as needed to update the AP and any settings they may need?
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I would use the Unifi Controller on a server you host and not use the Cloud Key. Maybe you can charge monthly for the maintenance of the AP and firmware upgrades (All Automated if you want).
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@dbeato said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
I would use the Unifi Controller on a server you host and not use the Cloud Key. Maybe you can charge monthly for the maintenance of the AP and firmware upgrades (All Automated if you want).
This.
This system needs to be maintained - that means installing updates monthly at least. I'm not sure if Unif APs have a way to autoupdate - and the same goes for the ER-L...If he truly wants hands off - I'd look at another solution where at minimum the hardware self updates - many home routers will do that - I'm guess most business class do not.
He is a dental office - he has HIPAA to contend with...
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@DustinB3403 The don't have anything actually, it's all cloud based there.
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@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@dbeato said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
I would use the Unifi Controller on a server you host and not use the Cloud Key. Maybe you can charge monthly for the maintenance of the AP and firmware upgrades (All Automated if you want).
This.
This system needs to be maintained - that means installing updates monthly at least. I'm not sure if Unif APs have a way to autoupdate - and the same goes for the ER-L...If he truly wants hands off - I'd look at another solution where at minimum the hardware self updates - many home routers will do that - I'm guess most business class do not.
He is a dental office - he has HIPAA to contend with...
Valid point. But he has 2 internet connections and 2 networks in this place. 1 is all of his dental practice stuff, which I assume is covered by HIPPA. This WIFI network is completely separate, and is only used for employees.
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@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@DustinB3403 The don't have anything actually, it's all cloud based there.
This is fully what I expected you to say - hell, if possible, the whole office could be on Chromebooks.. though sadly, they likely have some device requirement that doesn't work with Chromebooks, so they are forced to have Windows - like scanners and label printers, etc.
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@dbeato said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
I would use the Unifi Controller on a server you host and not use the Cloud Key. Maybe you can charge monthly for the maintenance of the AP and firmware upgrades (All Automated if you want).
I could do this, but don't really want to for this one.
I just want to help them out and upgrade their existing WIFI network, and then get out of dodge. -
@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@dbeato said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
I would use the Unifi Controller on a server you host and not use the Cloud Key. Maybe you can charge monthly for the maintenance of the AP and firmware upgrades (All Automated if you want).
This.
This system needs to be maintained - that means installing updates monthly at least. I'm not sure if Unif APs have a way to autoupdate - and the same goes for the ER-L...If he truly wants hands off - I'd look at another solution where at minimum the hardware self updates - many home routers will do that - I'm guess most business class do not.
He is a dental office - he has HIPAA to contend with...
Valid point. But he has 2 internet connections and 2 networks in this place. 1 is all of his dental practice stuff, which I assume is covered by HIPPA. This WIFI network is completely separate, and is only used for employees.
To what end? like a guest network? and He's sure there's no HIPAA stuff going on, on that network?
even so - why would you want to deploy a system that you know won't be maintained, if it's not maintained automatically, especially when you have the option to do just that - by installing a consumer router that auto updates.
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@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@DustinB3403 The don't have anything actually, it's all cloud based there.
This is fully what I expected you to say - hell, if possible, the whole office could be on Chromebooks.. though sadly, they likely have some device requirement that doesn't work with Chromebooks, so they are forced to have Windows - like scanners and label printers, etc.
Yep, and some ancient dental software.
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@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@dbeato said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
I would use the Unifi Controller on a server you host and not use the Cloud Key. Maybe you can charge monthly for the maintenance of the AP and firmware upgrades (All Automated if you want).
This.
This system needs to be maintained - that means installing updates monthly at least. I'm not sure if Unif APs have a way to autoupdate - and the same goes for the ER-L...If he truly wants hands off - I'd look at another solution where at minimum the hardware self updates - many home routers will do that - I'm guess most business class do not.
He is a dental office - he has HIPAA to contend with...
Valid point. But he has 2 internet connections and 2 networks in this place. 1 is all of his dental practice stuff, which I assume is covered by HIPPA. This WIFI network is completely separate, and is only used for employees.
To what end? like a guest network? and He's sure there's no HIPAA stuff going on, on that network?
even so - why would you want to deploy a system that you know won't be maintained, if it's not maintained automatically, especially when you have the option to do just that - by installing a consumer router that auto updates.
So you hit the nail on the head. Any recommendations for a "good" consumer router w/ WIFI? I know a lot of friends who have the Netgear Nighthawks and they seem to like them.
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@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
So you hit the nail on the head. Any recommendations for a "good" consumer router w/ WIFI? I know a lot of friends who have the Netgear Nighthawks and they seem to like them.
Why would you ever want a consumer router or one with built in wifi? Both things are generally bad. Can't think of when you'd choose to go either route in a business (or in a home, really.)
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@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
But, for zero maintenance, would it be easier to use one of the Cloud controller keys to set this up?
Nothing is zero maintenance, and definitely avoid the Cloud Key, that's just extra hardware where none is needed.
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@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
I was thinking an Edge Router Lite, and a Unifi AC-Lite.
Use USG and make it managed as all one unit.
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@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
If he truly wants hands off - I'd look at another solution where at minimum the hardware self updates - many home routers will do that - I'm guess most business class do not.
Unifi will do that. Basically no consumer equipment does.
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@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@DustinB3403 The don't have anything actually, it's all cloud based there.
This is fully what I expected you to say - hell, if possible, the whole office could be on Chromebooks.. though sadly, they likely have some device requirement that doesn't work with Chromebooks, so they are forced to have Windows - like scanners and label printers, etc.
Yep, and some ancient dental software.
once there is any dental software, then it's all HIPAA covered.
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@scottalanmiller said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@DustinB3403 The don't have anything actually, it's all cloud based there.
This is fully what I expected you to say - hell, if possible, the whole office could be on Chromebooks.. though sadly, they likely have some device requirement that doesn't work with Chromebooks, so they are forced to have Windows - like scanners and label printers, etc.
Yep, and some ancient dental software.
once there is any dental software, then it's all HIPAA covered.
I'm assuming that's on the other network mentioned above, not this one.
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@scottalanmiller said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
If he truly wants hands off - I'd look at another solution where at minimum the hardware self updates - many home routers will do that - I'm guess most business class do not.
Unifi will do that. Basically no consumer equipment does.
Unifi will auto update when new firmware is released?
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@scottalanmiller said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@Dashrender said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
If he truly wants hands off - I'd look at another solution where at minimum the hardware self updates - many home routers will do that - I'm guess most business class do not.
Unifi will do that. Basically no consumer equipment does.
Would you suggestion then be:
setup Vultr with $5/m VM, install Ubuntu/Debian, set to auto update daily
install Unifi controller
set unifi to update all devices daily?that could work.
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@scottalanmiller said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
@fuznutz04 said in Ubiquiti - Small office Router and WIFI:
But, for zero maintenance, would it be easier to use one of the Cloud controller keys to set this up?
Nothing is zero maintenance, and definitely avoid the Cloud Key, that's just extra hardware where none is needed.
Good to know. I've seen some providers use them, but I assumed it was to avoid the need of installing controller software. Why you'd want to avoid that, is unknown to me.
