Please recommend router

Hardware Questions and Recommendations
1

I need a router that supports 2.5 Gbps internet(WAN/LAN).
I need at least four 2.5 Gbps LAN ports.
It would also be nice to have a USB port.

I found GL.iNet Flint3. Would that be a good option?
Or can you recommend another router?

2

No official OpenWrt support, so no.

Maybe what you need is a 2.5Gb/s switch to connect your gaming machines together? :grin:

3

I use a couple of Flint2s with a 2.5GB switch between them, so all the traffic that goes to a 2.5GB device can have a 2.5GB connection. The older devices just hook up through the other 1GB ports. Works well. I wouldn’t recommend the Flint3; it seems like a step backwards from the Flint2 in many ways.

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4

IEI PUZZLE-M901 or M902 but does not seem to be very easy to find / buy. Much better of buying something with 2x 2.5 GB ports and add a switch.

5

Hi I wanted this and it does not exist. Buy a router and switch. my suggestion is

  • Radxa e52C - RK3582, 2-8GB RAM, microSD/EMMC storage, 2x 2.5 GbE, lovely metal case $60
  • Ubiquiti USW-Flex-2.5G-5: 5 port 2.5 GbE switch $50
  • Raspberry pi4 with ubiquiti Unifi software (second hand ebay) $50

Solid 2.5GbE network with loads of visibility via Unifi on what is happening on your network. My advice is that you will almost NEVER need 2.5 GbE network at home so don’t pay this higher cost. I am slowly replacing my home network with the above sort of thing and its a hobby and i enjoy it but have seen NO benefits worth the extra cost.

My advice is to buy one of these two as they are reliable, reasonably cheap and work well with OpenWRT.

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6

Have a look at CWWK Intel N150
I.e. https://cwwk.net/products/12th-gen-intel-firewall-mini-pc-alder-lake-i3-n305-8-core-n200-n100-fanless-soft-router-proxmox-ddr5-4800mhz-4xi226-v-2-5g?variant=44613920555240

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7
  1. https://www.guru3d.com/story/rog-magic-box-wifi7-router-intelligent-network-management-and-security-features/ - China only but can buy on ebay
  2. Openwrt Two - not out yet
  3. https://docs.banana-pi.org/en/BPI-R4_Pro/BananaPi_BPI-R4_Pro - preorder

If you need something right now:
Filogic 8x0 with 2.5G WAN and 2.5G LAN + managed 2.5G switch.

8

True, if you have zero need for 2.5G you should not be buying it; however, I would not say never.

  1. Over-provisioned gigabit WAN requires 2.5G if you want to take advantage of "free" bandwidth. (100-400Mbps "free")
  2. AFAIK all wifi 7 AP have 2.5G uplinks.
  3. NAS's now come with 2.5G ports.
  4. Desktops have been 2.5G for a while; now some come with 5G ports.

#1 and #2 will happen to regular people with regular home networks.

9

I’ve a small Lenovo pc with (2nd hand via Amazon) Mellanox 2x SFP+ running Proxmox with some LXC’s and a VM with OpenWRT x86 , one SFP goes to fiber provider and one SFP with SFP coax cable to managed switch from Aliexpress LIANGUO 2.5GbE Smart Managed Switch 4 Poort 2500M Netwerk 10G SFP +

The only thing I want is OpenWRT WiFi 6e capable accesspoints, now running TP-Link BE800 and 2x TP-Link AXE75, but crap, if you have Guest WiFi it sits on my own user LAN. Lot of money for TP-Link crap without VLANs :frowning: , even when it is based on OpenWRT.