UniFi Hardware Update and Cloud Gateway Fiber Review

Recent Hardware Releases by UniFi

• Notable increase in UniFi hardware releases towards the end of 2024.
  • Launch of network-attached storage products.
  • New surveillance products, both AI and non-AI.
  • Expansion into Wi-Fi 7 Series in February 2025.

UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber

• New Gateway device focused on wired connections.
• Priced at roughly 240 GBP.
• Offers high bandwidth capabilities.
  • Scale up to NVMe SSD storage.
  • Four 2.5 GB Ethernet ports (one with Poe).
  • Three 10GbE connections (two fiber, one copper).
• Supports over 50 UniFi devices and 500 clients.
• Compatible with UniFi's surveillance platform Protect.
  • Supports up to 15 HD cameras, 8 2K cameras, or 5 4K cameras.

Design and Purpose

• Similar design to traditional UniFi devices.
• External PSU to support the 30W Poe Port.
• Different target audiences for the three recent releases (Router, Express, Cloud Gateway).
  • Router: Home/SMB management of wired/wireless traffic.
  • Express: Affordable, scalable gateway.
  • Cloud Gateway: High-performance, wired connections.
• Lacks Wi-Fi capabilities; focused on wired connections.

Wired Connections and Ports

• Four 2.5 GB Ethernet ports; avoids standard gigabit.
• Only one Poe port; seen as a benefit rather than a limitation.
• Possibility of adding switches and cameras via Poe.
• Wi-Fi 7 access points can be connected via Poe.
• Three 10 GB Ethernet ports for WAN and LAN connections.
  • Flexibility with copper and SFP options.
• 9.3 GB internal switching capacity.

Storage and CPU

• M.2 NVMe slot for expanding storage (optional extra).
  • No baseline storage; limited to one drive without RAID failover.
• ARM-based CPU (A73, quad-core, 2.2GHz) with 3GB DDR4 memory.
• Efficient but more power-consuming compared to predecessors.

Software and Management

• User-friendly interface similar to other UniFi devices.
• Manage VLANs, ports, and real-time traffic analysis.
• VPN support with Teleport and third-party options.
• Advanced security settings, including intrusion prevention.

Criticisms

• Lack of RAID options for M.2 storage is a concern.
• M.2 SSD tray not included; must be purchased separately.
• Limited WAN configuration options on the 2.5 GB ports.

Conclusion

• High-performance option for businesses needing robust network management.
• Ideal for those looking to scale up Wi-Fi capabilities around a wired infrastructure.
• Not the perfect replacement for a traditional router but excellent for specific use cases.
• Future-proof with scalable options.