Can anyone link a good "getting started" guide for this? I have experience managing servers but not managing network appliances, so I'm looking for a relatively gentle intro...
Edit: I'm not asking about how to install OpenWRT on an existing router, I'm looking for a guide on how to build a router from general purpose hardware - in the same way that you can build your own NAS etc.
[1] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/01/numbers-dont-lie-its...
[2] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/04/the-ars-guide-to-bui...
The WiFi card in my mini PC turned out not to support access point mode, so I use separate WiFi routers as my access points. I could've replaced the WiFi card and run an access point on the mini PC too, but didn't bother because I needed multiple access points anyway to cover my house.
There's no fancy GUI to mange my router though, everything is done on the command line.
They could totally work if you only need to cover something like a small apartment and don't need top speed.
But separate WiFi access point is probably the way to go, I'd made sure to get ones that could run OpenWRT.
Very good point!
It's so easy, all you need to do is install from media, and configure one interface as LAN and the other as WAN. Plug in your internet into one interface and your LAN into the other. Configure it like you normally would configure a router, and you're done.
I'm running mine on a very old dual-core i5 with 4G of RAM and a 16GB SSD, and even this is overkill.
PS just followed the AliExpress link, those prices are good