Selecting the Type of Gateway

Gateway Deployment Options

Mapped offers hardware, virtual and cloud-based gateway deployments. All options deliver the same Mapped features and functionality, so you can choose the setup that best fits your team's infrastructure and expertise.

Hardware Gateway

The hardware gateway is a physical device that gets plugged directly into the network, requiring no additional servers, no additional software. The device gets shipped to the site, and then housed in the appropriate server room / server rack.

Best for teams that prefer no additional software and lack virtualization expertise or infrastructure. Read more about hardware gateway installation.

Virtual Machine (VM) Gateway

Virtualization platforms enable the creation and management of multiple virtual instances of a physical computer system. We currently support a VM based deployment, and support VMWare, Hyper-V, and Nutanix.

Best for teams with existing virtualization infrastructure, networking support to deploy and manage VM images. Read more about virtual gateway installation.

How to choose the right option

Choose Virtual Machine (VM) Gateway if:

• Your network has a Virtual Machine platform available, such as VMWare or Hyper-V
• Your team has internal IT/networking support to help deploy an image utilizing the VM

Choose Hardware Gateway if:

• A VM platform isn't available, or your IT team is unfamiliar with the platform
• Your prefer a physical, plug-and-play solution without any additional software or platforms

Still unsure?

All options operate the same way to detect devices, extract the data and send it on its way, so we're happy to help you figure out which method works best for you and your team. If you need help deciding, please don't hesitate to contact support.

If you've decided, check out the Gateway Installation Precheck.