submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by Faalangst_26@feddit.nl to c/homelab@lemmy.ml

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I just recently got 1 gigabit up/down at home when they put in fiber. Now I'm looking for a router/firewall to use. I run a homelab with a few VMs.

I was looking at getting a Cisco router to tinker with, as I've just finished a course on IOS. What routers would you recommend (2nd hand) for less than 150€? Is Cisco even feasible at this price point or should I just get a mini pc and run pfsense/opnsense?

I've looked at the ISR900 and it seems to meet my requirements, but I am not sure if it also offers a web interface, which would be quite useful for me.

Bit of an unstructured post but I hope you'll be able to help me regardless.

EDIT: I ended up getting a mikrotik hAP ac3 router. It seems to meet my requirements and after trying the routerOS demo they have up I decided that it would work for me.

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[-] slazer2au@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

Cisco and web UI are a nope all cisco enterprise exams are based on the cli with the exception of DNAC.

The ISR900 series has a max throughput of 250Mb so it will not work for your case.

Go for the opnsense on a mini pc. It will be more capable than a cisco router

If you are keen on continuing down the cisco line get GNS3 or EVE-ng setup and learn the cli with the iosv and iosv_l2 images.

[-] Faalangst_26@feddit.nl 4 points 9 months ago

Though so, thanks.

I'm comfortable with a cli, but in a homelab environment quick testing might prove easier using a GUI, so I'll probably go with the pfsense route then

[-] drkt@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 9 months ago

opnsense

[-] cellardoor@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

Mikrotik or Ubiquiti all the way! Don't touch Cisco.

[-] Faalangst_26@feddit.nl 2 points 9 months ago

I've had some bad experienced with Ubiquitis edge routers and their Unifi software, so I'd rather avoid them for a bit. I'll have to look into mikrotik!

[-] Oha@lemmy.ohaa.xyz 2 points 9 months ago

Currently running virtualised opnsense on Proxmox. works pretty damn well. WebUi is great, Pergormance is awesome and it just works

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 9 months ago

I run openwrt on all my stuff. Its not Cisco but it gives absolute control over your hardware.

[-] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 9 months ago

I got a mini pc and ran pfSense back in the day. I've been using pfSense ever since, though I'm now on their hardware (which costs more than your stated budget).

I agree with folks recommending Ubiquiti, but I'm also barely literate in the aspects of the market that matter. I just recognize the brand as trusted and we used their devices at a job I had.

For some reason, I have a negative view of Mikrotik - as though I've read something damning in a security-related article about them - but I can't back that up. If I did, it was only once.

Stay away from TP-LINK. I had one of their devices and it was garbage.

[-] SirMaple_@lemmy.sirmaple.ca 1 points 9 months ago

IF it's possible you might be able to take the ISP SFP and put it in a SFP to RJ45 media converter and then you can use any 1gig capable router. I did this with my Telus SFP.

OPNsense or OpenWRT. I run multiple OPNsense firewalls for family members all connected together with a WireGuard Mesh.

Cisco is command line for the most part until get into the APIC NSX stuff. There's others but I'm only exposed to those 2 where I work.

this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2024

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