Router (networking) suggestions - SNMP/Mac

JohnR · « **on:** 27 Oct 2016, 08:29 am »

I'd like to get a router that allows me to effectively monitor network traffic (using, I assume, SNMP). It would replace an Airport Extreme, which Apple has crippled. I guess I'd be looking for a combo of the router and software that will run on a Mac and/or iOS or Android.

Wireless is required, 802.11AC would be nice but not required.

Any suggestions?

rif · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 12:06 pm »

I use a combo of ubiquiti devives - an erx-sfp for the router and a unifi ac-lr for the wifi. Couldn't be happier. If you'd like the unifi software to report on the router, i think you need to get the unifi router instead of the erx-sfp.

They have a helpful community - many have asked the same question as you.

https://community.ubnt.com

JohnR · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 01:16 pm »

Yikes

I'll investigate... thank you

JRace · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 01:28 pm »

What is it you want to monitor?

JohnR · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 01:30 pm »

Quote from: JRace on 27 Oct 2016, 01:28 pm

What is it you want to monitor?

Pretty simple (I hope?), just realtime traffic to various devices.

avta · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 02:03 pm »

why not use a software monitor such as LanScan?

JohnR · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 02:08 pm »

Quote from: avta on 27 Oct 2016, 02:03 pm

why not use a software monitor such as LanScan?

Hi, because the current Airport Extreme has (as I understand it) disabled SNMP, which (as I understand it) is needed to monitor network traffic.

Also, this LanScan - http://www.lanscan.com/ - is a Windows program. This one - https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/lanscan/id472226235?mt=12 - seems to be scanning only, not monitoring?

avta · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 02:19 pm »

You might check this site and see if any of their programs have what you want. https://debookee.com

lowtech · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 04:01 pm »

SNMP?

Your router already knows about network traffic and which device the traffic is from/for.

Most routers have built-in traffic reports but the quality and detail will vary widely by model and manufacture.

JohnR · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 04:05 pm »

Sure Mike, but it's not much use to me if the router knows and I don't...??

JRace · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Oct 2016, 06:51 pm »

https://www.wireshark.org/download.html

That should do way more than what you need, cannot see why it wont work with your router

skunark · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 Oct 2016, 02:07 am »

Synology Router? https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/RT1900ac

I will consider it over the next wireless generation and depending on the cost of online backups, it will also probably replace the synology NAS i have as I'm mostly after a VPN.

As for Apply crippling the Airport Extreme.. what feature did they remove? It's practically been the same for the last few generations or at least for me it has.

Odal3 · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 Oct 2016, 02:48 am »

I flashed DD-WRT on recent Netgear NightHawk model (R7500v2) so I could get some more features. The stock Netgear firmware is horrible.

DD-WRT has bandwidth monitoring but will only show real-time for the different channels (LAN (eth1),WAN (eth0, Wireless (ath0), Wireless (ath1), etc.

I never had a need to monitor specific devices so I never looked into it before. Perhaps you can find some leads over here: http://www.techhive.com/article/3072638/home-networking/how-to-measure-monitor-and-manage-your-broadband-consumption.html It looks like there is an add-on that can be installed for DD-WRT.

I really like the features of DD-WRT since it gives a lots and lots of control of your network + nice features. There are probably better router out there than the one I have. I recommend to look for ones that support flashing open source firmware. My experience is that it takes a while for firmware to be stable for the software coming from the manufactures. Open source options also take a while to be available for new models. So either way, latest router models may not always be the best options and models that have been out for a little while with a lot of positive user-reviews is imo the way to go.

Also see here for reviews, etc. : http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless

JohnR · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Oct 2016, 03:53 am »

Quote from: skunark on 28 Oct 2016, 02:07 am

Synoloy Router? https://www.synology.com/en-us/products/RT1900ac

OK!! That looks like the ticket

Will read a bit more and probably go get one next week.

Quote

As for Apply crippling the Airport Extreme.. what feature did they remove? It's practically been the same for the last few generations or at least for me it has.

Apparently they removed SNMP support - see e.g. http://support.peakhourapp.com:8090/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1278063 - "As of the this writing, Apple have removed all support for SNMP in their latest hardware, making them impossible to monitor (with any software)."

With earlier generations, you could get some basic monitoring over SNMP. Perhaps I confused the question by mentioning it.

I've tried debookee and wireshark but not made a lot of progress there...

skunark · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Oct 2016, 01:47 am »

Make sure you buy it from a place with a reasonable return policy. It seems the price has dropped $80 and there's been complaints of buggy software and poor range, but those have been few compared to the many positive reviews. I already have an AC router, so only the next generation wireless router would be on my radar. But i like the idea it's not apple, netgear, linksys, dlink... for some reason..

rif · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Oct 2016, 02:25 am »

Just some food for thought- one of the reasons i went with non-netgear, dlink, etc is that the ubiquiti router and wireless are 2 completely separate devices. One device is a router/switch/poe device located in my garage out of sight. The other device is the wireless AP, which is mounted on the ceiling in the middle of my house, where it does the most good. Everyone thinks its a smoke alarm.

No ugly wires or antennas in site. And its enterprise level equipment.

vortrex · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Oct 2016, 01:35 pm »

Install Cacti. It's open source software used to graph data received from SNMP capable devices. The industry standard for providers/enterprise networks.

skunark · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Feb 2017, 11:10 pm »

John

Which router did you end up with? I had one of my two wifi routers die over the weekend so i'm after one that might have strong reach. Other thought is to check out the new home mesh routers.

Jim

bixby · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Feb 2017, 12:00 am »

Quote from: skunark on 7 Feb 2017, 11:10 pm

John

Which router did you end up with? I had one of my two wifi routers die over the weekend so i'm after one that might have strong reach. Other thought is to check out the new home mesh routers.

Jim

FWIW, I replaced my flat Airport Extreme 5th gen with an Asus RT-N56U after scouring small net builders site. With my gigabit fiber modem it delivers over 800 mb down and 900 mb up from a wired connection and all my wifi issues with both kids on the network went away. Great penetration with multilevel 2 story 1500 sq foot house.

JohnR · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Feb 2017, 02:33 am »

Quote from: skunark on 7 Feb 2017, 11:10 pm

Which router did you end up with? I had one of my two wifi routers die over the weekend so i'm after one that might have strong reach. Other thought is to check out the new home mesh routers.

Hi Jim, our line connection was upgraded to VDSL, which meant new line hardware, 10x speed jump and unlimited bandwidth, but also a higher monthly. With all that, another router felt an unnecessary expense. I notice though that Synology have a new one, RT2600ac.