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> Being able to use Arch Linux or Debian, and the latest mainline kernel and have replaceable storage is just so much more flexible in what you can do.

Why not use dedicated router/firewall software like pfsense, OPNSense, or Untangle (all BSD-based, Untangle is a paid product though)?

I bought a little NUC with an Intel CPU and NICs to run pfSense a few months ago and it's been fantastically stable.

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I replaced microtik router with this, because it was annoying to have to run an odd duck that I always have to keep figuring how to manage differently, or how to workaround its defficiencies, because it doesn't run a reguar OS, but some dedicated thing for routing. It's much easier to me to do more complicated things, the manufacturer didn't add UI for on a general distro, than on some special purpose OS.

+ now I run the same OS on the router I run on 12 other server machines at home. This is just easier to manage and backup, and replace with any other SBC that I have at home, regardless of the model as long as it has an ethernet port.

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