Web server performance behind Smart Hub 2

[Kimberlin]

@jpstmuk 

When we moved into our new build almost 5 years ago, we didn’t even bother with the landline from the start as we were already connected up to FTTP. Like I say, with WiFi calling enabled on our phones, there’s no need for it anyway. Solid, reliable VoiP through the iPhones.

My advice stands though if you’re able, just buy a decent WiFi 6 or 7 router, tri-band which is even better, and reap the benefits. I personally use a tri-band ‘gaming’ router, it’s absolutely ultra reliable, never ever drops a connection and spits out excellent WiFi throughout the whole house.

[jpstmuk]

Are either of the Dratek 2927 or 2865 series any good as possible replacements?

[Kimberlin]

@jpstmuk 

I honestly couldn’t tell you, you would have to do any relevant research. You don’t necessarily require a specific business accredited router. Just look at the likes of Asus, Cisco, Netgear and others. There’s bound to be something that will suit your set up.

Best of luck 👍

[licquorice]

You can always port your number to a third party VoIP provider if you wish to keep a landline.

[jpstmuk · Accepted solution]

An update, and hopefully an end to this issue.

This week I bought a refurbished Draytek Vigor 2927ax. Box was a little banged up, but the router itself is new (including a satisfying peel of the front panel plastic...) 

It's now plugged in behind the BT Smart Hub2 and all of the physical LAN connections have been moved from the BT router to the Draytek:

Internet -> BT SH2 (+ digital voice) -> Draytek -> Home LAN + Wifi

It needed a little bit of tweaking with the BT router config (give it a different network segment and addresses so that the Draytek is still offering the same range to the rest of my home network) and I've set a static address on the WAN port of the Draytek, which, of course is the only device now plugged into the SH switch ports. Wifi network has also been disabled on the SH (or at least, the ssid renamed and brought up on the Draytek).

Port forwards (80/443) on the SH are now set to the IP of the Draytek device and in turn the Draytek forwards them on to the web server sitting on my home LAN, just as the SH did previously.

Firewall on the SH is now disabled, and, as expected, performance of my website is back up to instant loading from all external hosts. A bonus is that I've now got .ax rather than .ac wifi too.

I think this is conclusive proof that the BT SH2 firewall is not up to the task of serving content or dealing with more than a trivial amount of incoming state table entries in its firewall.

Ultimately, if we decide we can live without digital voice, we'll bin the BT router and switch the Draytek config from a static WAN route to PPPoE. For now everything is back to working as it should.