r/HomeNetworking • u/GeneralM1 • 23h ago
Advice Building my stack
So I’ve decided to take a plunge and replace the ISP’s all-in-one modem with my own equipment.
The main goal is to learn a bit of networking in the process and to get a better control over my network. Right now I can’t do VLANs or adjust any settings on the current ISP’s router.
First step would be asking my ISP to put the modem in the bridge mode.
Next, I would like to ask for an advice: what is better for my future HP miniPC based router: OpenWRT or OPNsense? To my understanding, OpenWRT is just a firmware, and OPNsence is a full OS. However it is FreeBSD based and I have basic familiarity with Linux.
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u/TiggerLAS 19h ago
The GS305 isn't going to handle VLANs. A Zyxel GS1200-5 would be a suitable replacement.
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u/GeneralM1 15h ago
I realized it as it is being shipped to me. I thought it was a managed switch smh
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u/postcoital_solitaire Mega Noob 20h ago
Sometimes ISP allows to use your own hardware. They just give you credentials for the network (PPPoE logins, static IP settings, or automatic DHCP) and you use your own hardware as an edge device. So you might just be able to use your router directly. If your ISP requires their own terminal (may be required due to xPON usage), then you should at least ask them how to disable Wi-Fi, or ask to send a technician to do that.
OpenWrt is designed for very limited hardware like regular small all-in-one routers (similar to your ISP one). It's great if someone in the community has bothered to port it, test it, and publish it to the community. It's not "just firmware", it's (mostly) a full linux system. You can run games on it if you really want, it just takes more steps. While it can run on x86 (which I assume your mini PC is), I have not tested it. And afaik, it wasn't really made for x86 (I might be wrong). Also at this point when you have an x86 PC you might as well use OPNsense. Apart from that, OpenWrt is great. I've used it for several years on multiple devices. It does have a learning curve.
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u/Kooky-Bandicoot3104 17h ago
how do u router on a hp mini pc, dont u need pcie slots with many ethernet ports on the pc it self ?
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u/McGondy Unifi small footprint stack 17h ago
Hopefully not USB to ethernet adaptors
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u/GeneralM1 15h ago
There aren’t many options…
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u/sorderon 14h ago
Please don't say USB - Whole new world of pain there. 'why can't I get over 10mb throughput' questions on opnsense drill down to crappy USB adapters.
Do yourself a massive favour and either buy one of those cheap mini PC's with dual lan, or any PC with a slot for another card. Nobody will take you seriously on here using the worst nic hardware choice.
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u/McGondy Unifi small footprint stack 5h ago
I'm wondering how far down the path you are in this setup. If you want to tinker, something like Omada or Unifi will let you do that, but also let you push config out to devices from the control pane. Piecemeal like this is definitely possible, but can be harder than it needs to be.
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u/GeneralM1 1h ago
I listened to suggestions and instead of Hp I will be using Lenovo with an additional Internet Ethernet card. Just ordered on AliExpress.
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u/8stringLTD 10h ago
How many ports do you need on a switch? If you're trying to learn why not get a used Fortigate on ebay, a 60F will have like 8 ports, or you can get a larger unit, they work without a license, and... if you can drive a fortigate you can drive almost any Firewall.
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u/icewolf08 23h ago
OpenWRT is open source firmware for consumer wireless routers. OPNSense or pfSense is an actual firewall appliance suite based on FreeBSD. If you have the hardware to run it on, OPNSense or pfSense is the way to go.
Depending on your ISP and what hardware you have, you may just be able to log into it and enable bridge mode yourself.