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  • Jean-Sébastien Guayskylark13@mastodon.gamedev.place
    Sep 30, 2025, 2:11 AM

    Hey @homelab folks! I might be looking for a router, and to separate my network infrastructure from my NAS (I had all eggs in the same basket) but still try and keep the maintenance burden low, I'd like to be able to run pi-hole, unbound, nginx and wireguard (at least that's what I use at the moment) on the router. I also don't have infinitely deep pockets :)

    What do people suggest? I've seen some bananaPi stuff on AliExpress, but I think I could also run OpenWRT on a regular consumer router?

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Replies

  • SlightlyCyberpunkadmin@mastodon.slightlycyberpunk.com
    Sep 30, 2025, 4:42 AM

    @skylark13 @homelab If you want to go big and future-proof, try to find an old office PC at a thrift store and slap an extra NIC or two in it. That's what I did for my firewall box which runs pfSense (although I'm not entirely sure pfSense has all the apps you're looking for so you might want a different OS) I paid $25 for the PC, about $100 for an extra 4 ethernet ports (which was very excessive...get a one port NIC and a cheap switch, probably under $50) and $20 for a wifi card. Costs a bit more than a generic router but not bad (probably similar to a Pi once you account for cards and cables), and way cheaper than the pfSense appliance box I had been using previously...and also WAY better performance and significantly more durable/repairable.

    Alternatively, I've had good experiences with a TP-Link N750 running OpenWRT. But I doubt that's gonna have the power to run a ton of additional services -- although to be fair I've never really tried. It's an older model now though so check their compatiblity list for something newer if you go that route.

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  • Jean-Sébastien Guayskylark13@mastodon.gamedev.place
    Sep 30, 2025, 11:17 AM

    @admin @homelab Thanks for the suggestions! I think an old office PC would use more power and take up more space than I'd like, but maybe a mini PC or NUC could do.

    Though I'd like the router to also be my Wifi AP with good range for my home, and that I'm not sure I can do well enough DIY to outperform a dedicated router+AP from a manufacturer who knows what they're doing...

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  • SlightlyCyberpunkadmin@mastodon.slightlycyberpunk.com
    Sep 30, 2025, 12:03 PM

    @skylark13 @homelab Well, before I set up the PC I had been using one of these:
    shop.netgate.com/products/2100

    Unfortunately after about three years the SSD died, and it's all soldered to one board so there's nothing you can really do but throw it all out. I did calculate the difference in power and what that would cost, and for me it would have taken about five years for the power savings of that box to make it cheaper than the PC overall. So depends on your local electricity prices, but for me trying to save power would have been a waste of money lol

    But yes wifi is a potential issue. An old laptop wifi card in the PC worked fine in a two bedroom apartment, but when I needed to have it in the basement of a three bedroom house I did have to add a dedicated AP.

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  • DJ-Bauerdbauer@social.caserio.de
    Sep 30, 2025, 5:40 AM

    @skylark13
    The N100 mini PCs on AliExpress are prefect for that.
    You can get solid specs and 2.5G for very little money and they have amazing Opensense or even Pfsense support.
    I haven't looked into wether they support OpenWRT, but knowing the project, they support a potato if it has an Ethernet port.
    @homelab

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  • Jean-Sébastien Guayskylark13@mastodon.gamedev.place
    Sep 30, 2025, 11:15 AM

    @dbauer @homelab That's a good idea, I like those mini PCs for lots of applications in the home (heck I'm even using an N150 ITX board in my NAS).

    The only thing that I wonder about is I'd like the router to also be my Wifi AP with good range for my home, and that I'm not sure I can do well enough DIY to outperform a dedicated router+AP from a manufacturer who knows what they're doing...

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