Ubiquiti‘s Dream Machine and Dream Router take contrasting approaches to delivering high-performance networking and security for home and small business environments. But what are the key differences that impact real-world usage? Let‘s dive in…
Dream Router and Dream Machine – Purpose Overview
The Dream Machine combines a router, switch, enterprise-grade WiFi access point and security gateway together into one compact platform, managed through Ubiquiti‘s UniFi OS software with the Controller built-in. It aims to provide easy, unified management for network monitoring, access control and surveillance within a singlepane of glass.
The Dream Router utilizes Ubiquiti‘s Vyatta-based NetOS firmware focused primarily on professional-grade routing and SD-WAN functionality. Delivering robust tools for connecting infrastructure across locations like dynamic path selection, protocol support (BGP, OSPF etc) and traffic shaping. Managed through SSH CLI or web UI.
Both are high performance – multi-gigabit throughput fueled by quad-core ARM processing. But their capabilities differ substantially.
Hardware Benchmarks and Spec Comparison
While the industrial design and footprint appear almost identical, under the hood lie some significant hardware differences:
Processor
- Dream Machine: Qualcomm IPQ8071A @ 1.7GHz, 4 cores/8 threads
- Dream Router: MediaTek MT7621AT @ 1.35GHz, 2 cores/2 threads
In single and multi-threaded workloads, the Dream Machine‘s processor benchmarks roughly 40-80% faster depending on intensity. This gives it an edge handling computationally intensive tasks like deep packet inspection.
Memory
- Dream Machine: 2GB DDR4
- Dream Router: 2GB DDR4
Both utilize dual-channel, upgradeable RAM for buffering traffic and caching flow data.
Storage
- Dream Machine: 16GB onboard flash
- Dream Router: 128GB onboard + microSD card slot (512GB supported)
The Dream Router provides radically more built-in storage for hosting files, logs and recordings. Up to ~140x more with an SD card!
Power Consumption
- Dream Machine: 12VDC, 1.5A (max), ~18W typical
- Dream Router: 19VDC 3.0A (max), ~57W typical
More advanced routing functionality contributes to the Dream Router consuming over 3x more power under load. Worth considering operating costs.
Networking Interfaces
- WAN Port: 1GbE RJ-45
- LAN Ports: 4 x 1GbE RJ-45
- WiFi Radio: See below section
- USB 3.0 Port: 1x (Type A)
- Console Port: 1x RJ-45
Nearly identical physical connectivity. But differing firmware capabilities influence how traffic gets handled.
Software, Routing and SD-WAN Capabilities
The networking software powering these devices varies widely given divergent operating principles.
Dream Machine Wireless Performance
The Dream Machine uses Qualcomm‘s IPQ8071 SoC which integrates a 802.11ac Wave 2 WiFi chipset supporting MU-MIMO and speeds up to 1733Mbps on 5GHz using 80MHz channels. 2.4GHz tops out around 600Mbps with 40MHz channels. Works well for typical smart homes.
Dream Router Wireless Capabilities
Major upgrade here – the quad-core MediaTek MT7621AT SoC comes packaged with MediaTek‘s MT7915 WiFi 6 wireless chipset pushed to 8 streams (4×4:4) enabling blazing fast wireless bandwidth – up to 4804Mbps on the 5GHz band! More efficient 1024-QAM modulation means faster speeds at shorter ranges compared to standard 256-QAM 802.11ac. Modern WiFi 6 client devices take better advantage to maximize performance.
Integrated Security and Threat Prevention
Network security is handled very differently between the platforms:
Dream Machine
UniFi OS has various built-in security measures including:
- Intrusion Prevention via IPS and IDS monitoring all traffic
- Malware / antivirus scanning leveraging industry standard signatures
- Web filtering of risky domains plus custom black/white lists
- DPI for deep analysis of application flows
- Layer 7 firewall rules by port, protocol, IP, subnet
- Zero trust access policies dictated by RADIUS, LDAP etc
Protections can be defined on a per-device group basis, with categories for corporate devices, guests, IOT etc. UniFi aims to provide enterprise-level security without requiring advanced networking expertise.
Dream Router
Vyatta NetOS was built for routing, so integrated threat management capabilities are less developed:
- Firewall functionality via zones, address groups and schedules
- Port forwarding rules and 1:1 NAT mapping
- Basic stateful packet inspection
- Quality of Service traffic shaping
Security ultimately depends more on integrating dedicated network security appliances. The native policy constructs focus on routing data quickly while avoiding disruption. Fine for trusted environments.
For businesses handling sensitive data or concerned about malware, the Dream Machine delivers vastly more security protections out of the box.
Centralized Management and Scalability
Key differences in capabilities here as well stem from divergent operating principles:
Dream Machine
With the UniFi Controller software built-in, the Dream Machine delivers unified management of UniFi access points, switches, gateways, cameras and more. Cloud key functionality replaces standalone hardware controller predecessors. Storage-hungry video surveillance is handled directly on device.
Auto-adoption of devices into sites streamlines IT management. And simple wizards guide even novice administrators through configuring networks, wireless SSIDs, security policies and performing firmware updates across infrastructure.
Dream Router
Lacking UniFi integration capabilities, the Dream Router focuses instead on flexible network fabrics allowing administrators to build out infrastructure specific to environment needs. Custom site-to-site VPN tunneling, VLAN configuration and advanced routing protocols provide professional grade capabilities – accessible through SSH, API or intuitive web UI.
For multisite management, external UniFi Network Controllers can complement deployments granting single pane of glass visibility. But local storage for surveillance data will require standalone network video recorders (NVRs). And site segmentation is managed more granularly.
Both solutions can scale to support 10s of locations and 100s of total devices. But philosophies differ substantially.
Broadband Optimization: Queue Management
Bufferbloat and congestion frequently disrupt home broadband performance. Both platforms tackle this:
Dream Machine
Smart Queue Management leverages stochastic fair queueing algorithms similar to FQ-CoDel using queue delay as the main feedback signal. Traffic getting buffered is proactively managed keeping latency reasonable. ~20-30mbps overhead leaves room minimizing buffering.
Dream Router
Similar dynamic queues implemented, but more flexibility configuring QoS policies around marking traffic priorities based on DSCP flags, subnet, protocol etc. Then queuing disciplines divide up bandwidth accordingly. Helpful getting VoIP or video calls priority.
Advanced users will appreciate ability tofine tune traffic shaping with the Dream Router. But for typical cable/DSL connections, the Dream Machine delivers great optimization out of the box.
Bottom Line Performance Recommendations
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The Dream Machine makes easy work of delivering robust, enterprise-grade WiFi connectivity with built-in security and thoughtful traffic management for unifying home or small business networks.
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Network engineers needing advanced routing, multi-WAN support and low-latency performance will benefit from the Dream Router’s expansive Vyatta firmware capabilities – excellent for flexible site-to-site infrastructure deployments.
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With plentiful flash storage, PCIe expandability, a blazing fast WiFi 6 radio and lower cost – the Dream Router presents tremendous long-term value supporting Ubiquiti’s ecosystem growth across software platforms.
Hopefully this comprehensive technical comparison helps showcase how the Dream Machine and Dream Router excel in different networking scenarios. Feel free to reach out with any additional questions!
