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Router recommendations...

Hi all...

I'm looking for a low power (but fast) SBC to use for a #router.

It needs to be able to handle ~500Mbits. On REAL Gigabit (or SFP!) ports. Of which it must have at least two.

None of that USB-ethernet crap either.

RiscV or ARM, and the ability to take a PCIe WiFi card would be nice. (WiFi isn't a requirement but wouldn't hurt).

Answers on a postcard. Pls boost.

#router

Kacey reshared this.

Ian Molton
Ian Molton  
@Joelle
@Joelle
Joelle
Joelle  
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I am running VyOS on a VM on my main VM machine, so not sure that fits what you are looking for. But I do like VyOS.
Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  
https://www.cnx-software.com/2023/07/04/risc-v-router-dual-gbe-dual-usb-2-0-can-bus-rs485/
Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  
Weird though that I saw someone share it somewhere unconnected to here literally five minutes after reading this post.
david
david  
What would someone need something like this for? I’m curious!
Ian Molton
Ian Molton  

I distrust commercial routers.

I've been running openWRT on BT home hub 5a hardware, but kaceys connection is about 4.5 times faster than the poor hh5a can actually handle, and mine is around it's limits.

It's be happy to use another openwrt device, but I think I'd prefer to just run Debian on some small SBC instead.

Panda | 판다
Panda | 판다  
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@david I had to check what you likely meant by SBC as my immediate reading is Simon Baron-Cohen… and I distrust him more than commercial routers.
@david
Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  
At least if he was required to run up and down Ian's house delivering data packets he'd have less time for problematic autism research.
Kacey
Kacey  
SBC is also my ex’s initials 😬
Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  
I have some TP-link gizmo. I'm trying to avoid bothering to spend any money until I can get gigabit fibre, though I guess that actually doesn't make much odds since the modem would be separate anyway.
Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  

It looks like where SBCs come unstuck is on the multiple Ethernet port front (unless you go down the USB-Ethernet route like I have with my server).

What about something like a mini-ITX board?

Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  

I just noticed that you put RISC-V/ARM as a hard, not soft requirement, but I'd already found this:

https://www.mini-itx.com/~JBC420

mini-itx.com: Jetway JBC420R Fanless J3455 Dual LAN Pico-ITX PC Mini PC

www.mini-itx.com
Ian Molton
Ian Molton  

Ideal, performance wise.

Far too expensive.

Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  
That's why I use my old laptops, since it means I get a new server 'free' when I upgrade my laptop and it's more powerful than an SBC. But in terms of robustness/stability etc it's really only good enough for my non-critical stuff.
Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  
Server is now an i5 7300HQ with 16GB RAM, It does at least mean I can finally transcode 4K down to 1080p in real-time.
Ian Molton
Ian Molton  

I don't want this machine doing anything but routing and VPN stuff.

Maybe house monitoring too.

Kacey
Kacey  
We need three, right?
Ian Molton
Ian Molton  
I'm wondering if it should be combined with the live display I want to make...
Kacey
Kacey  
Next thing you’ll be wanting your server status display at my house too 😝
Alastair Cooper
Alastair Cooper  
My server statuses (top one is VPS, bottom one at home):
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