Maximizing Performance with the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber)

Hey everyone, Juan David here! As Flytec’s Lead Tech Support and a UniFi Certified Trainer, I’m always excited to share the latest and greatest from Ubiquiti. Today, we’re diving into a game-changer for small businesses and advanced home networks—the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber).

This compact yet powerful gateway brings enterprise-level networking performance to a desktop form factor, making it a fantastic alternative to the UDM-Pro while taking up minimal space and operating quietly. Let’s break down its features and why it’s worth considering for your network setup!

                                                  

Compact, Yet Packed with Power

The UCG-Fiber is designed for those who need high-speed connectivity without dedicating a full rack to their network infrastructure. Despite its small size, it boasts three 10Gbps ports, making it one of the most versatile gateways in the UniFi lineup.

Key Hardware Features:

• Full UniFi Application Suite Support – Manage Network, Protect, Access, Talk, and Connect all in one device.
• Advanced Routing Performance – Capable of 5Gbps speeds with IDS/IPS enabled.
• Multi-Gig WAN & LAN Ports:
• (1) 10G SFP+ WAN port
• (1) 10GbE RJ45 WAN port
• (1) 10G SFP+ LAN port
• (4) 2.5GbE RJ45 LAN ports, including (1) PoE+ port
• Expandable Storage: Supports an NVMe SSD slot for up to 2TB storage (for UniFi Protect and other applications).

For a desktop gateway, this level of performance is impressive. The fact that it supports multiple 10G connections makes it a solid choice for power users, small businesses, and even remote sites needing UniFi’s Site Magic capabilities.

Ideal for Small Businesses & Advanced Home Setups

If you're managing multiple UniFi devices and want to keep your network running smoothly, the UCG-Fiber is built for you.

• Manages up to 50+ UniFi devices and 500+ clients
• Supports 15x HD, or 8x 2K, or 5x 4K UniFi Protect cameras
• Stateful and Layer 7 firewall for advanced security
• Built-in support for VPN & SD-WAN (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec, Teleport VPN)

If security is a concern, this gateway offers 55,000+ IDS/IPS signatures with CyberSecure, ensuring your network remains protected from threats.

Setup & Flexibility

One of the things I love about the UCG-Fiber is how flexible its port configurations are.

• Port 7 (10G SFP+) can be set as either WAN or LAN—perfect if you need an ultra-fast NAS connection.
• Failover WAN options – If you want to add a secondary WAN for redundancy, you can assign Port 2 (2.5GbE) as a failover WAN.
• PoE+ capability on LAN Port 4 – Ideal for powering small devices directly from the gateway.
• Any of the 7 ports can be configured as either a primary or secondary WAN port, allowing for fully customizable WAN failover and multi-WAN setups.

UniFi Protect & Storage Options

A huge advantage of this gateway is its expandable storage feature, making it a viable UniFi Protect NVR solution for smaller deployments.

• Install an NVMe SSD (up to 2TB) for video storage.
• Purchase the optional UniFi M.2 tray ($19) for easy installation.
• Purchase with no storage (UCG-Fiber), 1TB (UCG-Fiber-1TB), or 2TB (UCG-Fiber-2TB).

This makes the UCG-Fiber a great option for those needing a compact yet powerful NVR, removing the need for a separate UniFi Protect device for small deployments.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Get the UCG-Fiber?

The UCG-Fiber is a perfect fit for:

• Tech-savvy home users need multi-gig speeds.
• Small to medium-sized businesses looking for enterprise features in a compact form.
• Users with multiple UniFi applications (Network, Protect, Access, etc.) but limited space.
• Remote sites needing Site Magic connectivity without installing a full rack.
• Those needing a UniFi Protect NVR with expandable storage.

For a desktop unit, three 10Gbps ports, 2.5GbE LAN, PoE+, failover WAN, and storage options make the UCG-Fiber a must-have for high-performance networking setups.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the UCG-Fiber:

1. What is the UniFi UCG-Fiber?

The UCG-Fiber is a desktop 10G Cloud Gateway with an integrated 4-port 2.5 GbE switch, selectable NVMe SSD storage (up to 2 TB), and support for the full UniFi application suite, including Network, Protect, Access, Talk, and Connect.

2. How many devices and clients can the UCG-Fiber manage?

The UCG-Fiber can manage 50+ UniFi devices and 500+ clients simultaneously.

3. What is the routing performance of the UCG-Fiber?

It provides 5 Gbps routing throughput with IDS/IPS enabled.

4. What are the WAN and LAN port configurations?

• WAN Ports: (1) 10G SFP+ and (1) 10 GbE RJ45.
• LAN Ports: (1) 10G SFP+ and (4) 2.5 GbE RJ45, including (1) PoE+ port.
• Any of the 7 ports can be configured as WAN, offering flexible failover and multi-WAN setups.

 5. Can the UCG-Fiber be used as an NVR?

Yes, it includes a selectable NVMe SSD slot for up to 2 TB storage, making it suitable for UniFi Protect deployments.

6. What security features does the UCG-Fiber offer?

It includes a stateful firewall, Layer 7 application-aware firewall, IDS/IPS with 55,000+ signatures with CyberSecure, content filtering, and ad blocking.

If you’re looking to upgrade your network with blazing-fast speeds, advanced security, and UniFi’s seamless ecosystem, the UCG-Fiber is an excellent choice. Have any questions? Reach out to Flytec Computers, we’ll help you find the right solution for your needs!