the FCC ruling yesterday got me thinking about my router, it’s probably due for a replacement by the time the theoretical end of firmware updates baked into that (natural eol is likely around the same time) takes effect. I’m having trouble finding good options particularly in regards to openwrt at least.

We currently use two asus rt-ax3000 routers in mesh mode. One attached to the modem because it’s in a really shitty location, and one attached to our home server. I have 3 items that need 2.4ghz for smart home automation and everything else runs 5ghz, 2 laptops phones etc.

Everything I can get in local stores isn’t supported by openwrt (neither are the current routers). Looking at using older hardware we have spare (a MacBook Pro 2012 or rpi4) seem to have a track record of underperforming. What are the recommendations for upgrades from here?

Follow up question is am I overthinking it? Would the MacBook Pro or rpi4 with a second Ethernet nic running a firewall before the routers also fix the issue of not getting security updates?

  • CaptainPedantic@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    6 hours ago

    I use a 2012 Mac Mini running OPNSense. I use the Apple Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter in addition to the built in Ethernet. You could probably do the same for the MacBook Pro. I have a separate switch and access point. It works really well. And it was cheap.

    • 51dusty@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      5 hours ago

      make sure to remove the battery if you use the MacBook as a server. the battery blows up like a balloon… I’m assuming because the server install doesn’t/can’t manage the battery properly. I’ve had this happen twice.

      • i_am_not_a_robot@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        2·
        3 hours ago

        At least for some laptops, you cannot just remove the battery. If the battery is removed, the performance may be throttled. This is true of very old MacBooks.

      • AlfalFaFail@lemmy.mlEnglish
        5·
        5 hours ago

        I looked into to using a laptop as a router a while back and decided against it. From what I read, the chip is designed for bursts of processing and isn’t designed to be under constant load like a router would be. That means the fan will always be running an you risk overheating, fan failure, and high power draw.

        That’s my non professional recollection so take it with a grain of salt.

        • 51dusty@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          3 hours ago

          100%.

          but $ for cpu+ram of old MacBooks makes it feasible. They are dirt cheap on ebay, and I don’t need the screen.

          My bedrock server runs on a 2012mbpro. I take daily backups and have another mbp laying around when this one fails completely. The expanding battery warped the shell pretty bad, but it’s still functional.

      • Beacon@fedia.io
        5·
        5 hours ago

        iirc battery function management is supposed to happen at a firmware level. So hypothetically it shouldn’t be effected by what os you install. I think what you experienced was just a byproduct of keeping it plugged in 24/7