Cisco emits new branch box Switchzilla has expanded its range of SME edge boxes, adding the all-in-one ISR 4221 to its flagship range of branch networking systems. Offering throughput between 35 Mbps and 75 Mbps on two WAN ports, the box pushes software-defined WAN (SD WAN) into the branch office, with an APIC Enterprise Module (APIC-EM) controller, …
Not being funny but you really aren't selling this thing to me very well.
I can buy a ~£200 APU fanless thingie with a quad core Intel Atom CPU + 2 GB RAM, a 30GB mSATA and three Intel GB NICs in it. With pfSense preinstalled.
You get CA management, IPSEC and OpenVPN and even NAT (shock, horror). You also get multi external link support that is unparalleled, anywhere. You also get more other networking stuff than I could possibly mention here, out of the box.
How much is this "between 35 Mbps and 75 Mbps on two WAN ports"?
This 4221 is a small branch office box with lackluster features. The throughput is rather poor and you need an extra license to unlock the somewhat less poor 75Mbps raw throughput. Should you enable IPS and other UTM features the throughput probably suffers. Probably fine for DSL connections.
This device probably costs something like ¤1000 (without any extras) and is justified for only those who already have a Cisco framework and who want easier management and reporting for the device. Upon a failure the branch office may be far away and having no IT personnel to heal that DIY atom box, whereas Cisco sells same day hardware services to take care of that.
I'm all for cost savings but you need to factor downtime and labor costs into these things as well.
Rack & connect the new gear? If you buy the premium support they'll even copy config if needs be...
Unusually cheaper to have next day coverage, build a design that can survive for 24 hours with a box failure and have a support contract with a local tech firm to handle remote hands.
The throughput listed is guaranteed regardless of the features enabled. That's why they are so 'underspecc'd' in the data sheets - they build so much fat into the numbers.
Personally I hate the way they now market the ISR4ks based on restricted performance. It makes sense that they can guarantee the speeds regardless of the features enabled, but it really sucks hard that now you have a box that is actually capable of much faster speeds with no features enabled, that sits idle under max rated throughput because it is now crippled by a license.
"but it really sucks hard that now you have a box that is actually capable of much faster speeds with no features enabled, that sits idle under max rated throughput because it is now crippled by a license."
Host/user count licensing is better? I'd rather go slow than not at all.
That's the thing about the ISR G3s (The 42xx/43xx boxen), the licenses look really expensive until you realize they're only moderately spendy because the limits are for throughput WITH ALL FEATURES ACTIVE.
The cool thing about these is the integration with APIC-EM - No console cables required.
We looked at others in the family and we will stick with our now obsolete routers until we replace them with something from a different vendor. Since our ISPs no longer insist we use Cisco, there isn't any reason to pay their premium. Since there new routers need a license code to work at the faster speeds, they have a very limited useful life compared to things like the 2600 and 2800s that are still used in our lab.
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