the UniFi Dream Machine Pro....the nerdiest home router

NetworkChuck
10 Mar 202010:08

TLDRThe UniFi Dream Machine Pro is reviewed as the ultimate router for small to medium businesses and tech-savvy home users. Despite an initial boot-up hiccup, the setup was smooth, offering features like threat management with intrusion detection, and UniFi Protect for surveillance—all integrated into one device. The Dream Machine Pro, lacking an in-built access point, is praised for its performance, security, and advanced features like 10 Gig SFP ports, making it a worthy investment at $379.

Takeaways

  • 📦 The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is a high-end router designed for small to medium businesses and tech enthusiasts for home use.
  • 🛠️ It includes advanced features like a built-in firewall, intrusion prevention, and detection systems for network security.
  • 🔄 The setup process is user-friendly and can be done quickly using a smartphone, with the option to transfer settings from an existing UniFi network.
  • 🚨 The router has a threat management feature that inspects traffic for potential attacks, although there was a discrepancy in the expected throughput.
  • 💻 For privacy concerns, the video recommends using Nord Locker to encrypt and secure files before uploading them to cloud services.
  • 🔒 UniFi Protect, a surveillance software, is another feature of the Dream Machine Pro, requiring a separate hard drive for storage.
  • 🔌 The Pro version has more ports and capabilities than the standard Dream Machine, including 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 2 10G SFP+ ports.
  • 🏢 It is rack-mountable and designed with business use in mind, lacking a built-in access point but offering more advanced features.
  • 💰 Priced at $379, the Dream Machine Pro offers a range of features that justify its cost, especially for those needing high throughput and security.
  • 👨‍💻 Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, branch offices, and tech-savvy home users who require advanced networking capabilities.
  • 🔄 The router's performance has been reliable in the reviewer's experience, with effective threat detection and no significant issues reported.

Q & A

  • What is the UniFi Dream Machine Pro?

    -The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is a high-performance router designed for small to medium-sized businesses and tech-savvy home users, offering advanced features such as threat management and integrated surveillance software.

  • What was the initial issue the reviewer faced with the UniFi Dream Machine Pro?

    -The reviewer initially faced a 'boot failed' error during the first power-up, but resolved it by performing a factory reset, after which the device booted fine.

  • How does the UniFi Dream Machine Pro differ from its predecessor, the Dream Machine?

    -The UniFi Dream Machine Pro includes advanced features like threat and management with intrusion prevention and detection systems, a built-in switch with more ports, and support for UniFi Protect surveillance software, which the Dream Machine lacks.

  • What is the purpose of the UniFi Protect surveillance software mentioned in the script?

    -UniFi Protect is a surveillance software that allows users to monitor and secure their premises with cameras. It is an optional feature that requires a separate hard drive for storage.

  • How does the UniFi Dream Machine Pro handle network security?

    -The UniFi Dream Machine Pro handles network security through its threat management feature, which includes a firewall, intrusion prevention, and detection systems to monitor and protect against malicious traffic.

  • What is the maximum throughput of inspected traffic that the UniFi Dream Machine Pro is capable of?

    -The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is theoretically capable of handling 3.5 gigabits per second of inspected traffic, although the reviewer noticed a discrepancy in the settings indicating a maximum of one gigabit per second.

  • How does the UniFi Dream Machine Pro compare to other routers in terms of price and features?

    -The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is priced at $379 and offers a comprehensive set of features that surpass those of typical consumer routers, making it a good value for businesses and tech enthusiasts.

  • What is the main advantage of using NordLocker as mentioned in the script?

    -NordLocker is a service that allows users to encrypt their files, ensuring that sensitive data is protected and cannot be accessed or viewed by unauthorized parties, such as cloud storage providers.

  • What is the one feature that the UniFi Dream Machine Pro lacks compared to the standard Dream Machine?

    -The UniFi Dream Machine Pro lacks a built-in access point, which means users need to have separate wireless devices for Wi-Fi coverage in their homes or businesses.

  • What additional features does the UniFi Dream Machine Pro have for business use?

    -The UniFi Dream Machine Pro includes features like 10 Gig SFP+ ports, VLAN support, and rack-mountability, making it more suitable for business environments compared to the standard Dream Machine.

  • What is the reviewer's final verdict on the UniFi Dream Machine Pro?

    -The reviewer gives the UniFi Dream Machine Pro a positive review, stating that it has earned their 'seal of approval' due to its performance, security features, and value for the price.

Outlines

00:00

📦 Unboxing the Unified Dream Machine Pro Router

In this segment, the video script introduces the Unified Dream Machine Pro, a high-end router designed for small to medium-sized businesses and tech enthusiasts. The narrator unboxes the device, expressing excitement about its potential capabilities. They note the absence of a hard drive and the need to purchase one separately to utilize the router's integrated surveillance software, Unified Protect. After a minor setback with a boot failure, the narrator successfully resets the device and finds the setup process to be user-friendly, similar to its predecessor, the Dream Machine. They also highlight the convenience of transferring the network configuration from their existing Unified Network to the new Pro model, achieving a seamless plug-and-play experience.

05:01

🛡️ Advanced Security Features of the Dream Machine Pro

This paragraph delves into the advanced security features of the Dream Machine Pro, emphasizing its threat management capabilities, including firewalls, intrusion prevention, and detection systems. The narrator discusses the potential performance impact of these features on other devices and commends the Dream Machine Pro for maintaining high throughput despite the intensive traffic analysis. They mention a discrepancy in the expected throughput of 3.5 gigabits per second versus the current 1 gigabit per second, which they attribute to a possible software bug. The script also explores the privacy concerns related to cloud storage services and introduces Nord Locker as a solution for encrypting and securing files. The narrator demonstrates how to use Nord Locker to encrypt a file and share it securely, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access the content. The paragraph concludes with a discussion of additional features of the Dream Machine Pro, such as its built-in switch, SFP ports, and the lack of a built-in access point, positioning it as a powerful and versatile device for businesses and tech-savvy home users.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡UniFi Dream Machine Pro

The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is a high-performance networking device designed for small to medium-sized businesses and tech enthusiasts. It is positioned as a top-tier home router that promises advanced features and robust performance. In the video, the presenter is excited to set up this router in his home network to test its capabilities and see if it lives up to the hype.

💡Surveillance Software

Surveillance software, as mentioned in the script, refers to applications that monitor and record activities for security purposes. The UniFi Dream Machine Pro includes UniFi Protect, a built-in surveillance software that allows users to integrate security cameras into their network for enhanced home or business security.

💡Threat Management

Threat management is a crucial aspect of network security that involves detecting, preventing, and responding to potential security threats. The UniFi Dream Machine Pro features advanced threat management capabilities, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and intrusion detection systems, which help protect the network from malicious attacks.

💡Throughput

Throughput in the context of networking refers to the amount of data that can be transferred over a network in a given amount of time. The script mentions a discrepancy between the advertised maximum throughput of 3.5 gigabits per second for the UniFi Dream Machine Pro and the actual setting that initially showed a maximum of one gigabit per second, which the presenter found confusing.

💡Encryption

Encryption is the process of converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. In the video, the presenter discusses the importance of encrypting files to protect privacy and prevent data from being accessed by third parties, such as cloud storage providers. Nord Locker is highlighted as a tool for encrypting files, ensuring they remain secure even when uploaded to the cloud.

💡Nord Locker

Nord Locker is a service mentioned in the video that provides end-to-end encryption for files stored in the cloud. It allows users to encrypt their data before uploading it to cloud services like Dropbox or Google Drive, ensuring that only those with granted access can decrypt and view the files.

💡UniFi Protect

UniFi Protect is a feature of the UniFi Dream Machine Pro that enables private, secure surveillance. It requires the purchase of compatible cameras and a hard drive for storage. The presenter had to acquire a hard drive to utilize this feature, emphasizing the device's comprehensive security capabilities.

💡Rack-Mounted

Rack-mounted refers to the design of a device that allows it to be installed in a rack for better organization and space efficiency. The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is described as rack-mounted, indicating its suitability for business environments where space and organization are important.

💡10 Gig SFP+ Ports

10 Gig SFP+ ports are high-speed network interfaces that support data transfer rates of up to 10 gigabits per second. The UniFi Dream Machine Pro features these ports, which are essential for businesses requiring high-speed data transfer capabilities and are one of the distinguishing features of the Pro model compared to the standard Dream Machine.

💡Built-in Access Point

A built-in access point refers to a device's capability to wirelessly connect devices to a network. The standard UniFi Dream Machine includes a built-in access point, but the Pro version does not, as mentioned in the script. This means users of the Pro model must have separate wireless devices for Wi-Fi connectivity.

💡Touch Screen Display

The touch screen display on the UniFi Dream Machine Pro is an interactive interface that allows users to control and monitor the device. While the presenter admits they are unlikely to use it, they appreciate its presence, highlighting the device's advanced and user-friendly features.

Highlights

Unboxing the UniFi Dream Machine Pro, a high-end router for small to medium businesses and tech enthusiasts.

Initial setup includes a surprise absence of a hard drive, which is needed for UniFi Protect surveillance software.

The Dream Machine Pro's surveillance software is a unique feature for a router, offering built-in security.

Encountering a boot failure on the first power-up, which was resolved by a factory reset.

Ease of setup with a smartphone, earning the router high praise for user-friendliness.

The ability to import existing network configurations for a seamless transition.

Dream Machine Pro's threat management feature, including firewall, intrusion prevention, and detection systems.

Concerns about the advertised 3.5 Gbps throughput being limited to 1 Gbps in the beta feature.

The router's performance in detecting and protecting against simulated network threats.

Sponsorship by Nord Locker, offering an encryption solution to protect user data from cloud service providers.

UniFi Protect feature, enabling private surveillance with the need for separate camera purchases.

The Dream Machine Pro's built-in switch with eight ports, compared to the four on the standard Dream Machine.

The inclusion of 10G SFP ports, making the Pro model more business-oriented.

The Dream Machine Pro's lack of a built-in access point, requiring separate wireless devices.

The device's touchscreen display, an appreciated but not essential feature for the reviewer.

Performance evaluation of the router in a home network, with no significant issues reported.

Target audience identified as small to medium-sized businesses and tech-savvy home users.

The Dream Machine Pro's competitive price point and value for its extensive feature set.

The reviewer's enthusiasm for the router's threat management capabilities and overall approval.