Looking for recommendations for centrally managed mobile routers with VPN support
Posted by P_R_woker@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 10 comments
We use cradlepoint's and with their somewhat newish move to requiring a subscription to configure the device you own, in addition to their cost - we're looking at alternatives.
We have FortiGate firewalls and I tried their FortiExtender and that product is not great.
Someone recommended we try Inseego's Wavemaker FX4200 - which I did and purchased their Inseego Connect Advanced license (required for IPSec VPN configuration) and it's been a terrible experience - their connect GUI is littered with random bugs, no troubleshooting tools & support doesn't exist? Still trying to figure this one out.
Our current list of requirements:
- 5G Cellular
- Less expensive than Cradlepoint (hardware/subscription)
- Centrally managed
- Supports VPNs
We were looking at Ubiquiti - their Dream router 5g max would be cool but there's no central management. Looks like their other gateways + 5g modem are though. Never used their gateways before (only their APs & switches)
autogyrophilia@reddit
I would go with Mikrotik. Not cloud managed, but that's why VPNs exist.
ADynes@reddit
We were in the same position as you, cradle Point going from yeah you can configure everything locally to yeah you can configure 10% of the thing unless you pay us every year.
Might look into Tosibox.
DesktopGarage@reddit
I'm curious why FortiExtender didn't work out for you? We currently use cradlepoint's in our patrol vehicles, but I have heard really good things about peplinks.
Also, it may be worth checking out Sierra Wireless.
Confusias1@reddit
Why not one of Ubiquiti's mobile routers?
P_R_woker@reddit (OP)
It looks like their UMR line can't be adopted in to an existing unifi network server but act standalone - I thought that was the case for all of their routers but looks like their standard UXG line might work when paired with a Ubiquiti 5G modem.
Confusias1@reddit
What if you utilize Unifi Fabrics?
rejectionhotlin3@reddit
Peplink or Mikrotik.
Jeff-J777@reddit
I would say Ubiquiti or possibly look at Meraki.
Civil_Inspection579@reddit
Honestly it sounds like you’re discovering that “enterprise managed networking” often becomes more about licensing ecosystems and support quality than the hardware itself. If the management platform is buggy or support is unresponsive, the operational overhead starts outweighing the actual router capabilities pretty quickly.
ntrlsur@reddit
Check out pepwave. They might have something that will tickle your fancy.