SPONSORED PIECE
If you are somewhat tech-savvy, the ASUS ExpertWiFi range is the ideal solution for those looking to expand their existing business to a new location or start a new business network (complete with VoIP phones, PoE sensors, and cameras should you wish) from the ground up, with the option for future scalability should you want to down the line.
The main benefit of this setup is that you won’t need to hire expensive technicians for the installation, nor will you need to hire electricians to upgrade an older building with all the latest electrical wiring and infrastructure; you can even use an existing server from one location to power the network and store the data for a completely separate office location – removing the need to buy a second server, or go through the duplication process and risk a sensitive data breach. This is all thanks to its PoE functionality and the magic of site-to-site VPN (more on this below).
Besides this, ASUS ExpertWifi products provide various security features that can provide easy internet access to clients and other visitors to your premises, whilst maintaining security for business data. Read below for all the info!
What is PoE (Power over Ethernet)?
As you may have deduced from the name, Power over Ethernet (PoE) refers to a setup where the power for each device in the network is drawn from the same ethernet cable that provides the web/LAN connection. Specifically, the power travels across some of the copper wires within the cables that aren’t being used for data transfer. The advantages of PoE networks are as follows:
- Reduced setup time & costs: You can set up a full network in a building without the need for extensive power outlets/sockets and cabling all around the office – ideal if you’re in an older premises and don’t want to go to the expense of having it refitted with new electrics by a paid professional.
- Easy expansion & scalability: As mentioned above, you can add various devices to your network at will, in a fairly modular fashion, from VoIP phones to security sensors, door locks, security cameras, and smart doorbells/intercoms – all controllable and powered from a central location. Additionally, you can scale your operation with ease within the same premises through the use of additional ethernet cables and PoE switches. Expansion to different premises is also possible (read below).
- Reliability through simplicity: Compared to a more standard network setup, a PoE network has fewer points of failure. Its power supply can also be derived from just one central location and protected by a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) in case of power cuts.
The different products you need in your ASUS ExpertWiFi PoE setup
To kick things off, you’ll need a primary router. For your HQ or main office setup, we recommend the ASUS ExpertWiFi EBG19P | VPN Wired Router | ASUS UK, which comes with one dedicated WAN port for your external internet connection (rated for a 1Gbps connection speed) and an additional two WAN/LAN ports (rated to the same speed), allowing you to have up to three internet connections coming into your network should you wish. You also get six more LAN-only ports (also all 1Gbps) to connect to other devices – it’s generally advisable to connect any NAS storage solutions or servers directly to the router using some of these. Some of the router’s inbuilt features improve the stability of the connection, such as Load Balancing and Failover Mode.
Building upon this, picking up some ASUS ExpertWiFi EBP15｜Business Network Solution PoE+ switches and connecting them to your main router’s LAN ports allows you to expand the web of the network to include a multitude of different devices. Such devices can include VoIP phones, PoE smart locks for the entrances, PoE digital signage, PoE security cameras, meeting room schedulers, and more, all connected by a single cable to the switch/router.
For the wireless connection, you can connect a Dual-band ASUS ExpertWiFi EBA63｜Business Network Solutions | ASUS UK PoE Access Point to either a switch or router, and you can chain these throughout your office to reach all the WiFi blindspots. Each of these Access Points provides up to 2,400 square feet of network coverage, and supports ‘up to 100 end-user devices each’, featuring the latest tech to reduce network congestion in a busy workplace environment. You can also use any other ASUS router with AiMesh-compatible technology (such as the ASUS RT-BE88U or ASUS RT-BE58U) and mix and match them, possibly saving you some money if you’ve already got one lying around.
Expanding your connection to a second location with the site-to-site VPN
One of the great things about this PoE system is that you can expand the web of your network to include other sites/branches of your business located in a different physical location. ‘But how?’ you ask – well it’s through the magic of VPN, specifically IPSec, Open VPN, PPTP, and WireGuard protocols, which let you create a secure, encrypted ‘tunnel’ across the broadband connection to the secondary site.
Depending on the size of your second office location, you may want to repeat the same equipment as above or go for a more small-scale approach. The ASUS ExpertWiFi EBG15 | VPN Router | ASUS UK is a nice option if you don’t need as many LAN ports, providing the same secured connection and anti-congestion tech. You can then add on to it all of the other devices discussed above at your leisure.
VLAN and Self-Defined Network: Security Through Segmentation
The VLAN and Self-Defined Network (SDN) features integrated into your ExpertWiFi components allow you to maintain a secure and organized network while using the same hardware. This ensures your business data remains protected even as multiple users connect to your network.
VLAN stands for Virtual Local Area Network and is just that: a sub-grouping among the devices that are joined together in a physical LAN network, made separate from the rest, isolated in their own virtual partition that the other devices on the physical network cannot access. This allows you to easily separate access to certain data areas.
Additionally, with SDN, you can set up as many as five separate SSIDs (Service Set IDentifiers) on your wireless network, which are basically five different network names. You could say set-up ‘The Tea Shop Guest’ for customers and ‘The Tea Shop Home’ for staff, with different permissions and bandwidth priorities, along with three more should you wish. You could also create a guest portal on one of these SSIDs to support digital marketing and promotional campaigns while reserving a dedicated WiFi network exclusively for employees.
Finally, each Ethernet port on the ASUS ExpertWiFi EBG19P | VPN Wired Router, ASUS ExpertWiFi EBG15 | VPN Router, and can be assigned to one or more VLAN IDs, offering a flexible and efficient way to segment both wired and wireless networks.
Easy setup with the ASUS ExpertWiFi smartphone app
The ASUS ExpertWiFi smartphone app is a versatile tool designed to simplify the installation and management of ASUS ExpertWiFi networking hardware. Available for both iOS and Android devices, the app allows users to set up and control their network with ease, making it ideal for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and tech-savvy individuals. It has a nice blend of user-friendly design and professional-grade functionality, and comes with the following functionality:
Streamlined network setup: The app guides users through a straightforward installation process. With features like QR code scanning for device configuration, it eliminates the need for complex technical steps, even when setting up wired routers or access points
Power over Ethernet (PoE) management: Users can monitor and adjust PoE-specific settings directly from the app, including prioritization of connected devices and management of power budgets.
AiMesh integration: The app supports the seamless addition of AiMesh nodes to extend the network. It automatically syncs configurations, creating a unified system
Device monitoring: The app provides real-time insights into connected devices, bandwidth usage, and traffic patterns, helping businesses optimize performance.
Customization options: Users can configure settings like VLANs and Adaptive QoS for enhanced network control.
VPN support: The app enables the use of VPNs, including WireGuard, and applies these settings to specific devices or users.
Remote access: Through Dynamic DNS, users can manage their network remotely by linking their hardware to ASUS or third-party accounts, enhancing convenience while maintaining privacy options.
Accessibility and compatibility: The app is multilingual, supports various ASUS ExpertWiFi devices, and requires minimal technical expertise to operate. It is optimized for modern operating systems like iOS 13.0+ and Android counterparts.
Where to buy the different parts of your ASUS ExpertWiFi setup
Now you’re fully aware of the myriad benefits of this PoE network to a small to medium-sized business in terms of cost-effectiveness, security, and scalability, where should you get yours from? Amazon sells many of the products within the range, though we’d recommend checking out the ASUS site for offers.
