I recently began rebuilding a home computing lab, and as a part of it, I needed to isolate the lab network from our home network. For this, I needed a router that met some pretty narrow criteria. First, it had to support a VPN to allow me to access the lab environment from outside the house securely. This was mainly so I could use the lab for demonstrations of techniques during presentations at conferences. Second, it needed to be small. My lab is in a tiny closet in the spare bedroom of my house, with no room for a full-sized rack. Third, as I was operating on a tight budget, it needed to be inexpensive. Lastly, I needed it fast. There was no time to wait 2-4 weeks for delivery.
After much searching and researching, I came across the TP-Link ER7206 on Amazon, which has next-day delivery. It’s nicely priced around $140 USD, too! I couldn’t say no.
Once the little box arrived, I immediately tore into it to get things up and running. Long story short, I’m impressed, so I thought I’d write up a review. I’ll touch on the features, performance, and overall value of this little powerhouse. Personally, I think it’s a great choice for an IT pro’s home lab.
Design and Build Quality
The TP-Link ER7206 boasts a sleek, modern design with a black matte finish. Its build quality is pretty good, with a sturdy metal casing that feels durable. Its compact size (8.9 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches) makes it easy to place on a desk or shelf, although it’s not rack-mountable.
Features and Specifications
Here are some of the standout features of the TP-Link ER7206:
- Multi-WAN Support: Supports up to 4 WAN connections, including three Ethernet ports and an SFP WAN port for fiber wiring.
- VPN Capabilities: It offers IPsec, L2TP, and PPTP VPN connections, up to 100 LAN to LAN IPsec connections, 50 OpenVPN, 50 L2TP, and 50 PPTP VPN connections. In other words, it has more than enough for a home lab.
- Standalone Configuration: If you have not bought all in on the Omada eco-system, configuring this guy as a standalone router/firewall is pretty straightforward with the documentation downloaded from TP-Link
- Omada SDN Integration: Works seamlessly with other Omada networking devices, providing centralized management and enhanced functionality.
- Load Balancing: This allows for load balancing and failover, ensuring continuous internet availability, provided you have multiple internet connections in your home lab(!).
- Security Features: Includes comprehensive security features like firewall, VPN, and intrusion detection.
Performance
In terms of performance, the TP-Link ER7206 excels at handling WAN connections and providing reliable internet access. During my testing, it handled tasks smoothly and delivered consistent results. However, I didn’t have an opportunity to test the load balancing feature, as switching between WAN connections is tricky with a single internet connection.
User Experience
Using the TP-Link ER7206 has been a mostly positive experience. The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, with fairly clear options for configuring WAN settings, VPN policies, and security features. The variety of VPN options can be tricky, but not overly so with careful reading of the documentation. One small gotcha I encountered was with the SSL-VPN client. It connects flawlessly, but if you are on a laptop and move networks or otherwise disconnect and reconnect your wi-fi, things get weird. The VPN client still SHOWS “connected,” but you are really not. You have to disconnect and reconnect, which it does quickly. That was the only flaw I found.
Value for Money
When it comes to value for money, the TP-Link ER7206 is an excellent value. Relatively inexpensive, it provides a range of features and performance that justify the cost. Compared to similar products on the market, the TP-Link ER7206 stands out.
Rating Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Pros:
- Multi-WAN support
- VPN capabilities
- Omada SDN integration
- Standalone browser-based configuration
- Comprehensive security features
Cons:
- Not rack-mountable
- Limited ventilation for heat management
- The native VPN client is a little finicky.
Conclusion
The TP-Link ER7206 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable WAN gateway. Its impressive performance, comprehensive features, and various VPNs make it a standout option. While there are a few areas for improvement, it delivers on its promises and offers good value for money.
If you want to purchase the TP-Link ER7206, I would greatly appreciate it if you used the affiliate links on this page. It doesn’t cost you extra, and it helps me out. Thank you so much for your attention and participation.
Feel free to comment below if you have any questions or have used the TP-Link ER7206 and want to share your experience.
