linux_router:hardware

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linux_router:hardware [2023-04-16 Sun wk15 09:30] – [VM / Docker on Router] baumkplinux_router:hardware [2024-02-17 Sat wk07 15:35] – [Router Hardware] baumkp
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 ++++tldr;| ++++tldr;|
   *A small ARM based machine, e.g. Raspberry Pi 3. (The current RPi looks much more capable.) However these machines are generally limited in a number of way, including by definition not x86 based. Many do not have more than one NIC and the NIC are often not full Gigabit. (To be fair this hardware may be sufficient in most cases, as most homes do not have better than 100Mb/s internet connections, and in general much slower.) The main upside is that they are small, low power and relatively cheap. Those with only one NIC need to be setup with USB NIC adaptors, that further complicates setup, performance and reliability. Although better spec'ed machines, e.g. with multiple gigabit NICs, start getting more pricey too. I suppose you get what you pay for....   *A small ARM based machine, e.g. Raspberry Pi 3. (The current RPi looks much more capable.) However these machines are generally limited in a number of way, including by definition not x86 based. Many do not have more than one NIC and the NIC are often not full Gigabit. (To be fair this hardware may be sufficient in most cases, as most homes do not have better than 100Mb/s internet connections, and in general much slower.) The main upside is that they are small, low power and relatively cheap. Those with only one NIC need to be setup with USB NIC adaptors, that further complicates setup, performance and reliability. Although better spec'ed machines, e.g. with multiple gigabit NICs, start getting more pricey too. I suppose you get what you pay for....
-  *The Raspberry Pi 4 looks like a much better option than earlier versions for a home router. Still has the complexity of only native 1 NIC, but that is full 1Gbe and there are 2 USB 3 port to allow another full 1Gbe NIC off USB.+  *The Raspberry Pi 4 & 5 looks like a much better option than earlier versions for a home router. Still has the complexity of only native 1 NIC, but that is full 1Gbe and there are 2 USB 3 port to allow another full 1Gbe NIC off USB.
   *An older x86 based machine. The main downside to these is poor power consumption and large size, even an old server tends to use more than 30W at the wall, or greater than $60/year power. Also the board I had only had one built in NIC, so I would need a PCIe NIC card. There is also the issue of reliability and performance for the older hardware, although it is probably good enough in this respect. That all being said if one is strapped for cash this may be a good way to start as the upfront cost would be smallest, if not zero.   *An older x86 based machine. The main downside to these is poor power consumption and large size, even an old server tends to use more than 30W at the wall, or greater than $60/year power. Also the board I had only had one built in NIC, so I would need a PCIe NIC card. There is also the issue of reliability and performance for the older hardware, although it is probably good enough in this respect. That all being said if one is strapped for cash this may be a good way to start as the upfront cost would be smallest, if not zero.
   *At the moment, 2016, there are a lot of Intel Celeron J1900 based units with 4 NICs around. The J1900 is an older CPU, 4 cores, 2.0-2.42 GHz. Also in many cases the NIC hardware is older, particularly on the cheaper units, so care must be taken if you want to ensure more up to date hardware. These machines are a good option, low power (~8 - 10W), small size. They come with 2 SATA ports and mini PCI-E slots. By the time you fit them out they cost out USD250 - 350, with 4-8GB RAM and 120GB mSata drive. The cheaper options are as noted above usually with older NIC hardware and lower memory and HD size and can be had at even lower prices.   *At the moment, 2016, there are a lot of Intel Celeron J1900 based units with 4 NICs around. The J1900 is an older CPU, 4 cores, 2.0-2.42 GHz. Also in many cases the NIC hardware is older, particularly on the cheaper units, so care must be taken if you want to ensure more up to date hardware. These machines are a good option, low power (~8 - 10W), small size. They come with 2 SATA ports and mini PCI-E slots. By the time you fit them out they cost out USD250 - 350, with 4-8GB RAM and 120GB mSata drive. The cheaper options are as noted above usually with older NIC hardware and lower memory and HD size and can be had at even lower prices.
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 ====VM / Docker on Router==== ====VM / Docker on Router====
-Router key features:+===Progress=== 
 +As of 2023/01 I setup a VM manager (Libvirt/qemu/KVM) on the router and loaded Docker on it.  It is slow but does seem to work. 
 +Next: 
 +  *ISC Kea DHCP in Docker (currently ISC DHCP in bare metal) 
 +  *ISC Bind 9 in Docker (currently ISC Bind 9 in bare metal) 
 +  *Wireguard VPN in Docker (currently Wireguard VPN in bare metal) 
 + 
 +===Router key features===
   - Operate reliably 24 hours per day, 7 days a week   - Operate reliably 24 hours per day, 7 days a week
   - Low power operation, power cost money   - Low power operation, power cost money
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   *VPN (for secure public access to LAN)   *VPN (for secure public access to LAN)
  
-Assumptions and Limitations+===Assumptions and Limitations===
   *Low power means low CPU resources, hence care with applications that require significant or otherwise unnecessary resources.   *Low power means low CPU resources, hence care with applications that require significant or otherwise unnecessary resources.
   *Some services on bare metal to ensure reliable performance   *Some services on bare metal to ensure reliable performance
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 ===Why not Proxmox=== ===Why not Proxmox===
 +++++tldr;|
   *I have not used to date, this is I have no experience with Proxmox   *I have not used to date, this is I have no experience with Proxmox
   *I already have a lot of experience on run Debian, libvirt/qemu/kvm, which is what Proxmox seems to be built on   *I already have a lot of experience on run Debian, libvirt/qemu/kvm, which is what Proxmox seems to be built on
-  *Proxmox seems to need to be installed on bare metal.  I am not so sure this would work well with my bare metal firewall +  *Proxmox seems to need to be installed on bare metal.  I am not so sure this would work well with my bare metal firewall feature requirements 
 +++++
 ====Specific issues with use of headless X11SBA-LN4F hardware==== ====Specific issues with use of headless X11SBA-LN4F hardware====
 ++++IPMI KVM Display Problems| ++++IPMI KVM Display Problems|
  • /app/www/public/data/pages/linux_router/hardware.txt
  • Last modified: 2024-02-24 Sat wk08 12:12
  • by baumkp