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Ask HN: Single board computer suggestions for DYI wireless router

8 points by gtirloni 10y ago

Requirements: 1 - WAN port 2 - At least 4 LAN ports 3 - Capable of running Linux (no need for management GUI) 4 - Decent CPU performance 5 - 1GB RAM should be enough, >2GB is better 6 - Good support for decent USB wireless adapters I considered using a RaspberryPi 2+ I have laying around but it seems the performance wouldn't be great (and my experience with the famous Edimax USB adapter was that it can reach at most 2-3MB/s). Any suggestions?

JPLeRouzic 10y ago
I am not any more in this business but I was involved at IEEE 802.11 some years ago. * One limit that you should consider is the fact that if you use Wi-Fi with more than a few hundred megabits/sec, then the computer busses will be overloaded at the hardware level. * Then memory chips are not so fast either, with respect to modern Wi-Fi. * Another problem is the fact there are few free drivers and the one I saw (four years ago) were actually very simplified. For example there was no MIMO, which was supposed to exist since 2007 in IEEE 802.11n, even simple MAC features do not existed in 80211mac. * And indeed most chips are not free, they load a binary at powerup, and nobody knows what's in there. I suspect that it is quite ugly. What you see in the "free" Linux driver, is just calls to the binary API. * Another thing is that most kernel and userland software use memory buffers which slow incredibly any transfer. Obviously things may have improved but I would check those five points.
- gtirloni 10y ago
  Makes sense. These small ARM-based boards might be to underpowered for my needs (capable home server, not too worried about power consumption, etc). Great insights, thanks!
simon_acca 10y ago
I followed ArsTechnica suggestion and built a home server/wireless router from a minipc, so far it's been great. I got the machine from HYSTOU, on aliexpress, it partially matches your requirements: - two gigabit ethernet ports - an AP capable intel wifi card - 2 sata ports and multiple mPCIe - i5 processor, overkill for a router but useful for a home server - 2 ram slots In addition, several niceties like 2HDMI ports and digital audio if you also want it to be a media center, several USB3 ports for printer or storage sharing and an SD slot for automatically archiving your photos when you get home with a card full of pictures! It's been running with debian Jessie with 100+ days of uptime now :) Jeff Atwood's article on the "scooter computer" also encouraged me to explore this path, I recommend checking it out. 0: http://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/2016/01/numbers-dont-lie-its-time-to-build-your-own-router/ http://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/2016/01/numbers-dont-lie-it... 1: https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-scooter-computer/ https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-scooter-computer/
- gtirloni 10y ago
  I didn't know this "mini PC" category existed on AliExpress. This amazing, it's exactly what I need (standard parts, capable CPU for a home server, etc). Thank you!
deleted 10y ago
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seanp2k2 10y ago
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/874883570/marvell-espressobin-board https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/874883570/marvell-espre...
NeutronBoy 10y ago
These Alix boards are my normal go-to for exactly this sort of stuff. Note I say Alix, but they have a few different platforms with a few key differences. You can also get small enclosures, Wifi cards and antennas, etc. http://www.pcengines.ch/alix.htm http://www.pcengines.ch/alix.htm

8 points by gtirloni 10y ago

JPLeRouzic 10y ago

I am not any more in this business but I was involved at IEEE 802.11 some years ago. * One limit that you should consider is the fact that if you use Wi-Fi with more than a few hundred megabits/sec, then the computer busses will be overloaded at the hardware level. * Then memory chips are not so fast either, with respect to modern Wi-Fi. * Another problem is the fact there are few free drivers and the one I saw (four years ago) were actually very simplified. For example there was no MIMO, which was supposed to exist since 2007 in IEEE 802.11n, even simple MAC features do not existed in 80211mac. * And indeed most chips are not free, they load a binary at powerup, and nobody knows what's in there. I suspect that it is quite ugly. What you see in the "free" Linux driver, is just calls to the binary API. * Another thing is that most kernel and userland software use memory buffers which slow incredibly any transfer. Obviously things may have improved but I would check those five points.

gtirloni 10y ago
Makes sense. These small ARM-based boards might be to underpowered for my needs (capable home server, not too worried about power consumption, etc). Great insights, thanks!

simon_acca 10y ago

I followed ArsTechnica suggestion and built a home server/wireless router from a minipc, so far it's been great. I got the machine from HYSTOU, on aliexpress, it partially matches your requirements: - two gigabit ethernet ports - an AP capable intel wifi card - 2 sata ports and multiple mPCIe - i5 processor, overkill for a router but useful for a home server - 2 ram slots In addition, several niceties like 2HDMI ports and digital audio if you also want it to be a media center, several USB3 ports for printer or storage sharing and an SD slot for automatically archiving your photos when you get home with a card full of pictures! It's been running with debian Jessie with 100+ days of uptime now :) Jeff Atwood's article on the "scooter computer" also encouraged me to explore this path, I recommend checking it out. 0: http://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/2016/01/numbers-dont-lie-its-time-to-build-your-own-router/ http://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/2016/01/numbers-dont-lie-it... 1: https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-scooter-computer/ https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-scooter-computer/

gtirloni 10y ago
I didn't know this "mini PC" category existed on AliExpress. This amazing, it's exactly what I need (standard parts, capable CPU for a home server, etc). Thank you!

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

seanp2k2 10y ago

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/874883570/marvell-espressobin-board https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/874883570/marvell-espre...

NeutronBoy 10y ago

These Alix boards are my normal go-to for exactly this sort of stuff. Note I say Alix, but they have a few different platforms with a few key differences. You can also get small enclosures, Wifi cards and antennas, etc. http://www.pcengines.ch/alix.htm http://www.pcengines.ch/alix.htm