depends on your definition of "router", and where it sits.
@Maxwell - I'm really not even sure why you're on this forum given that most of your posts have been pretty much aimed at bashing the platform. It's unfortunate that you feel that way, but it also speaks to the fact that you don't really understand the rationale and best practices for the recommendations (OpenWrt and more generally).
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Having worked with numerous virtual network devices through VMware, OpenStack and similar hypervisors, I can categorically say that putting a router on your hypervisor is a bad idea. Yes, I have put routers on hypervisors for testing or short-term workarounds, but it always creates issues with circular dependencies in the overall solution and routing belongs on a hardware platform especially if you are talking about network edge devices.
Simpler to maintain, simpler to troubleshoot performance issues and more secure. Hypervisor privilege escalation can occur. VMware NSX is a fairly awful system to build and maintain because of this, and it's always installed behind real hardware based edge routers.
Enterprise - I have designed and built enterprise solutions and saying that "a single router going down for a day doesn't matter" does NOT imply that such a situation would be a recommended design pattern. It would be a hack, to be avoided.
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Your argument boils down to the hypervisors you worked on being of low quality, which holds vacuously. In principle, there is nothing wrong with hypervisors, but indeed many publicly available popular ones are awful.
Go for the most simple solution that meets the requirements.
If uptime is important, get two identical boxes so you can try things before going live.
For example, get a pair of OptiPlex 7010 Small Form with Intel 13 or 14 gen, which does not need any PCIe raiser card since they include
- 1x Half-height Gen4 PCIe x16 slot
- 1x Half-height Gen3 PCIe x4 slot
And a pair of second hand 1gb network cards (same model). Watch out for fakes https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/comparison-intel-i350-t4-genuine-vs-fake.6917/
used quad gigabit and dual 10 gbit BCM NICs are also cheap on eBay.
Indeed, if you are working at a hyperscaler then you can make it work, but of course the OP is taking about publicly available software.
gathered info so far, wifi is not the main factor, but routing purpose mainly and vpn, will do my proposal, which include a; this+owrt + sec onion in vm, b; a mikrotik router + sec onion in vm and c; opnsesnse box, submitting this friday will update you if its selected.
thank you all for your help.
This WiFi adapter is unsupported and must be replaced.
45 is not a small team.
You may consider an edge router for your company, that is enterprise level.
Sure.
We are using Mikrotik routers for this purpose ...
I had an idea that there is an x86_64 image. I'm very new to this so please bear with me. I'm assuming I can put the x86_64 image onto a USB stick, boot from it, and then install it? Basically, I'll have the same OpenWRT that I'm using on my GL.iNet routers, but for x86?
I also have this mini PC on the way: https://www.amazon.ca/FIREBAT-4800MHz-Smaller-Computer-Business/dp/B0DSC6S6P9/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=AHM4E09ZMYMS&sprefix=firebat%2Caps%2C252&sr=8-3
It has dual Realtek GbE ports though. I'm assuming the x86_64 image will be fully compatible and that I won't have to hunt down the drivers? If this performs better than a BPI-R4, then I wouldn't mind using the N100 PC and continuing to learn and understand OpenWRT.
I guess given what I said, should I use my mini PC or go with a BPI-R4 (LAN-based and no WiFi) as an OpenWRT router?
Thank you!
Look for N150 too.
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To be clear, it is not exactly as described, but yes, you can both:
- flash the x86_64 image to USB drive to boot and run from the stick; and
- flash the x86_64 image to e.g. an internal drive
Your inquiry seems to imply OpenWrt as operating with a Live USB installation package. It doesn't.
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Nada, not selected!!,
they set fo a supplier who proposed OMADA and NEBULA and finally opt for NEBULA from the supplier!