UniFi Dream Machine Pro Preview
Originally Posted: January 4th, 2020
UniFi Dream Machine Pro Preview
Update: The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is now available. Read my full UniFi Dream Machine Pro review here.
The Dream Machine Pro is the big brother of the UniFi Dream Machine and is their replacement for the USG Pro. It is the most powerful security gateway you can get in the UniFi line, featuring a built in UniFi controller, NVR and a managed 8 port switch.
It’s a 1U rackmount unit with support for 10 Gbps WAN or LAN connections over the two SFP+ ports. It also supports 1 Gbps WAN over Ethernet. It supports dual WAN with automatic failover and support for the Unifi LTE, allowing you to have redundant internet connections with the potential for a cellular backup. The 8 gigabit Ethernet ports in the built in switch don’t provide POE, so you’ll need a power injector or a POE switch to connect access points or other POE powered devices.
It features a much more powerful CPU than the older USG Pro, allowing for higher throughput, and better IPS/IDS with deep packet inspection performance. Ubiquiti claims it will support up to 3.5 Gbps with IDS/IPS turned on. Keep in mind it also includes a built in Unifi controller and NVR, which can be used to control your Unifi network and setup a small security camera system and record the footage on the included 3.5” hard drive bay.
It is a pretty neat piece of equipment, and along with the UDM, it shows that Ubiquiti is trying to make more integrated devices, for better or worse. If you already have a cloud key, separate NVR or switches, it’s kind of a bummer you will be forced to pay the other features the UDM Pro integrates whether you need it or not. If you’re looking at a new deployment, the integrated features may come in handy and save you some space and money. It’s a trade off, and it’s up to you if this is the product for you.
From Ubiquiti:
The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is a powerful unified enterprise network appliance. It integrates software – the UniFi Network Controller and UniFi Protect video surveillance – with all-in-one hardware featuring a high-performance security gateway with a built-in switch and hard drive bay.
All-in-one 1U rack appliance for small to medium sized businesses
8-port Gigabit Switch with 1 Gbps RJ45 and 10G SFP+ LAN
Dual WAN ports for redundancy and load balancing
Combines new UniFi OS with 8-port switch and security gateway
Bluetooth connectivity for easy setup via UniFi app
Scalable UniFi Network Controller with advanced management capabilities
UniFi Protect video surveillance NVR with 3.5" (or 2.5") HD” HDD support
Enterprise-class IPS/IDS, DPI, and radio AI capabilities
1 x 1.3" Touchscreen display for quick status information
Powered by fast 1.7 GHz quad-core processor
This is part of the new generation of devices Ubiquiti is working on, including their 2nd generation switches and Unifi LTE. Unfortunately there is no signs of new wireless access points. There have been a lot of reports of the software and hardware still being buggy and having issues. Check their forums or their subreddit for more up to date information on the development of the software. The UDM-Pro is now available on their general access store now.
