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toh:buyerguide [2019/08/27 06:47] – formatting optimized vgaeteratoh:buyerguide [2023/02/05 14:45] – [Processors and Memory] Grammar memicinn19
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 OpenWrt is a niche Linux distribution, which enables you to deploy a vast variety of software. Your hardware is the only limit. This guide is intended to help you pick the right hardware to meet your particular needs. OpenWrt is a niche Linux distribution, which enables you to deploy a vast variety of software. Your hardware is the only limit. This guide is intended to help you pick the right hardware to meet your particular needs.
  
-| {{:meta:icons:tango:dialog-information.png?nolink}} |  **OpenWrt does not recommend any hardware or manufacturer!**  \\ There is no "best hardware", so stop askingPurchase something that meets your requirements\\ Inform yourself about the //current hardware support// on the Internet and ask other users/developers for //personal recommendation// in the forum. \\ Avoid overhyped, overpriced products -embedded hardware can be VERY inexpensive!  OpenWrt is what does the magic!  |+| {{:meta:icons:tango:dialog-information.png?nolink}} |  **OpenWrt does not recommend any hardware or manufacturer!**  \\ There is no "best hardware", since people's needs are so different\\ To think through your requirements, read [[:faq:which_router_should_i_buy?|Which Router Should I Buy?]] \\ Once you have that list, ask for a recommendation [[https://forum.openwrt.org/c/hardware-questions-and-recommendations/13|on the forum.]] \\ You don't have to spend a lot: OpenWrt is what does the magic!  |
  
 ===== Features ===== ===== Features =====
 +==== Devices with OpenWrt as a stock firmware ====
 +All [[docs:guide-user:installation:openwrt-as-stock-firmware|GL.iNet, Turris and some others]] routers already have an OpenWrt based firmware so you may not need to install them manually.
 +
 ==== Bootloader ==== ==== Bootloader ====
     * the [[docs:techref:bootloader]] should not only be under a [[wp>Free_and_open-source_software|FOSS]] license, but preferably under the GPL, so that the OEM is forced to release the complete source code     * the [[docs:techref:bootloader]] should not only be under a [[wp>Free_and_open-source_software|FOSS]] license, but preferably under the GPL, so that the OEM is forced to release the complete source code
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     * Support for EEE (Energy Efficient Ethernet), Green Ethernet officially: [[wp>IEEE 802.3az]]     * Support for EEE (Energy Efficient Ethernet), Green Ethernet officially: [[wp>IEEE 802.3az]]
     * Support for PoE (Power over Ethernet). non standard "passive" 12V, 24V or standardized [[wp>IEEE802.3af]],IEEE[[wp>802.3at]]     * Support for PoE (Power over Ethernet). non standard "passive" 12V, 24V or standardized [[wp>IEEE802.3af]],IEEE[[wp>802.3at]]
 +    * Support for SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable): [[:toh:views:toh_sfp_ports|Table of Hardware: SFP ports]], [[:unsupported:sfp|Unsupported SFP]]
  
 ==== Wireless ==== ==== Wireless ====
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   * Frequencies (or bands):   * Frequencies (or bands):
       * 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz or both? (see e.g. [[wp>Electromagnetic_interference_at_2.4_GHz|Electromagnetic interference at 2.4 GHz]] or [[wp>Fresnel zone]] or [[http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-basics/32316-how-to-buy-a-wireless-router-2014-edition?showall=&start=1|Throughput and Range]])       * 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz or both? (see e.g. [[wp>Electromagnetic_interference_at_2.4_GHz|Electromagnetic interference at 2.4 GHz]] or [[wp>Fresnel zone]] or [[http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-basics/32316-how-to-buy-a-wireless-router-2014-edition?showall=&start=1|Throughput and Range]])
-      * For the AP to be capable to run in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz at the same time, the router must support //<color green>dual band simultan</color>// aka //<color green>DBDC (DualBand-DualConcurrent)</color>//This tag shall help you find suitable devices more quickly: {{tagpage>802.11abgn_simultan}}+      * For the AP to be capable to provide 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz at the same time, the router should have at least two radios. This tag shall help you find suitable devices more quickly: {{tagpage>802.11abgn_simultan}} :FIXME: The simultan currently means 2 radios. 
 +      *  A single radio that allows use of both bands at the same time supports dual band simultan aka //<color green> RSDB (Real simultaneous dual band</color>// aka //<color green>DBDC (DualBand-DualConcurrent)</color>// standardIt is not widely adopted (Q1-2021; only some mt76 hardware supports it and mt76 driver support for DBDC is new and not completely stable)
       * At 2,4GHz you only have **3** distinct channels without overlap, in the 5GHz band there are **19** (EU)/ **13** (USA)/ **??** (Japan) channels without overlapping available       * At 2,4GHz you only have **3** distinct channels without overlap, in the 5GHz band there are **19** (EU)/ **13** (USA)/ **??** (Japan) channels without overlapping available
       * The 2.4 GHz band is quite crowded with [[http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/Bluetooth-coexistence|Bluetooth]] [[wp>Personal area network|PAN]], while 5GHz is usually unused.       * The 2.4 GHz band is quite crowded with [[http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/Bluetooth-coexistence|Bluetooth]] [[wp>Personal area network|PAN]], while 5GHz is usually unused.
 +      * newer Wifi standards use 6GHz ([[wp>IEEE_802.11ax#Wi-Fi_6E_products|Wifi6E]]) or 60GHz bands ([[wp>IEEE_802.11ad]]) possibly having 3 radios
   * Is it relevant to you whether the WNICs are [[https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/developers/documentation/glossary#softmac|SoftMAC]] or [[https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/developers/documentation/glossary#fullmac|FullMAC]] devices?   * Is it relevant to you whether the WNICs are [[https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/developers/documentation/glossary#softmac|SoftMAC]] or [[https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/developers/documentation/glossary#fullmac|FullMAC]] devices?
   * Do the current capabilities of the [[http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers|Existing Linux Wireless drivers]] for your WNICs satisfy your requirements?   * Do the current capabilities of the [[http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers|Existing Linux Wireless drivers]] for your WNICs satisfy your requirements?
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 ==== Processors and Memory ====  ==== Processors and Memory ==== 
-  * The most crucial decision is your choice of RAM. If you are going to run ''[[docs:guide-user:services:voip:asterisk|asterisk]]'', ''[[docs:guide-user:services:voip:umurmur|mumble]]'', ''[[docs:guide-user:services:dc:direct.connect|Direct Connect]]'', ''[[docs:guide-user:services:downloading_and_filesharing:bittorrent]]'', a [[docs:guide-user:services:webserver:start|web server]] and other stuff, enough RAM will make them run smoothly. Some of them tolerate SWAP pretty good, others do not. FYI: If you are considering adding more RAM, keep in mind that there are no DDR1-Modules bigger then 64MB. Also, the SoC sometimes only support so much. For example, the Marvell Kirkwood, supports a maximum of 512MB. +  * The most crucial decision is your choice of RAM. If you are going to run ''[[docs:guide-user:services:voip:asterisk|asterisk]]'', ''[[docs:guide-user:services:voip:umurmur|mumble]]'', ''[[docs:guide-user:services:dc:direct.connect|Direct Connect]]'', ''[[docs:guide-user:services:downloading_and_filesharing:bittorrent]]'', a [[docs:guide-user:services:webserver:start|web server]] and other stuff, enough RAM will make them run smoothly. Some of them tolerate SWAP pretty good, others do not. FYI: If you are considering adding more RAM, keep in mind that there are no DDR1-Modules bigger than 64MB. Also, the SoC sometimes only support so much. For example, the Marvell Kirkwood, supports a maximum of 512MB. 
-  * Occasionally the computing power of the CPU proves to be a bottleneck. To compare you should have a look at the [[docs:techref:hardware:cpu|CPU]] included on with [[docs:techref:hardware:soc|SoC]]. Do not compare raw MHz, e.g. a MIPS 34KE@300MHz is in most scenarios faster then a MIPS 24K@400MHz. +  * Occasionally the computing power of the CPU proves to be a bottleneck. To compare you should have a look at the [[docs:techref:hardware:cpu|CPU]] included on with [[docs:techref:hardware:soc|SoC]]. Do not compare raw MHz, e.g. a MIPS 34KE@300MHz is in most scenarios faster than a MIPS 24K@400MHz. 
-    * as you can see by referring to the [[docs:techref:flash.layout|flash layout]] with a total of 8MiB flash memory, you can use about 5MiB for own packages.+    * As you can see by referring to the [[docs:techref:flash.layout|flash layout]]with a total of 8MiB flash memory, you can use about 5MiB for your own packages.
  
 ==== Cryptography ==== ==== Cryptography ====
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 ==== Table of Hardware ==== ==== Table of Hardware ====
-  * [[toh:views:toh_available_864|Table of Hardware: Ideal for OpenWrt (8/64 MB or more)]] 
   * [[toh:views:toh_available_16128|Table of Hardware: Ideal for OpenWrt (16/128MB or more)]]   * [[toh:views:toh_available_16128|Table of Hardware: Ideal for OpenWrt (16/128MB or more)]]
   * The [[toh:views:start|Collection of views]] offers different views of the ToH, with more data and multiple filter options.   * The [[toh:views:start|Collection of views]] offers different views of the ToH, with more data and multiple filter options.
  • Last modified: 2023/02/05 14:48
  • by memicinn19