The developers behind OpenWrt have been offering an open source, Linux-based operating system for routers and other embedded devices for two decades. So far the team has primarily focused on making software that can be installed on existing hardware. But earlier this year developer John Crispin announced that the team was considering releasing the first official OpenWrt hardware.
It looks like that effort is moving forward, because now he’s shared the first pictures of a hardware prototype for the upcoming OpenWrt One router board.
Designed in partnership with Banana Pi, the board features a 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT7981B (Filogic 820) ARM Cortex-a53 dual-core processor, 1GB of DDR4 memory, 128 MB of SPI NAND flash storage, 4MB of write-protected SPI NOR flash storage (for recovery), and an M.2 2242 socket for PCIe Gen 2 x1 solid state storage.
Networking features include two Ethernet ports: one with Gigabit speeds and one with support for 2.5 GbE speeds, as well as s MediaTek MT7976C chip with support for WiFi 6.
Other features include a USB 2.0 Type-A host port, a USB Type-C port (for device or console use), a mikroBUS expansion socket, and a real-time clock.
There are also physical reset and user buttons, a boot selection switch (allowing you to choose between the NAND or NOR storage, and support for a 12V power input (and optional support for a Power over Ethernet module).
The board measures 148 x 101mm (5.8″ x 4″) and it’s expected to sell for $100 or less when it’s finalized. But at this point only a small number of prototypes exist, with Crispin and others performing tests to ensure that everything works as expected. OpenWrt developers will also “auction off one or two” of the boards at the upcoming OpenWrt Summit in May.
via CNX Software
Only two Ethernet ports (1 LAN and 1 WAN) is a non starter IMO. I have repurposed a Netgear R7450 Ethernet ports in 2WAN and 3LAN, albeit @ 1 Gbps/port @ $30 (eBay)
$100??? Oh it’s not worth it , I expected lower price and much better specs and ports , I guess I’m gonna build one for myself
In contrast to Phibs, above, I feel like this thing is a beast. I regularly use computers with way less power, RAM, or I/O bandwidth than this router will have. If I ever need something that’s 10x my normal router horsepower I’ll look for this! 🙂
For such price it lacks nearly everything with these parameters.
This product, while a good idea, is very underwhelming and under spec’d.
almost perfect specifications. 5V 2A will power this? They could have given 2GB RAM. It wouldn’t be much more expensive, and there are always some plugins (add-ons) that could be uploaded in the future.
Ahh yes!! the CCP hardware!!
Keeping an eye on this one… very interested to see what sort of hardware OpenWrt would be vouching for. Probably a good exercise for the team to get in touch with hardware development too.
The lack of more than one LAN port is kinda disappointing, but it makes sense when you’re supposed to be using a PoE Switch to power the thing anyway. They say the module for that is optional, but my experience would be considerably worse without it.
I think it will limit the board usability a lot, to make matters worse they’re going with a mix of 2.5gbit and 1gbit so your wired connections through a switch will be limited to a gigabit uplink anyway (multi gigabit is most useful inside lan anyway but it’s nice to have the possibility for more).
I know there’s the wifi6 to pull some extra bandwidth but still, seems like a waste IMO. I’d rather they had recycled the Banana Pi BPI-R3 design that should be similarly affordable with the development savings or jump right in for a Banana Pi BPI-R4 based design with all the bells and whistles (more expensive but will resist the test of time much longer)
It seems pretty meh, weak, and expensive for a USD $90 shipped product.
As you said, it’s better to get a different/better product and modify that for your needs.
But perhaps this is just a stepping stone for them, and they might use the experience from this to make a much much better second product, that would be better value, competitive and worth the time of enthusiasts. Let us hope.
Agreed, should be 2x 2.5Gbit ports there, if not 3x. Gigabit plans are now a base offering and multi-gig plans a reality across many countries as fibre has ramped things up – 10Gbit is still edge-case but is picking up as well.
For something aimed at enthusiasts, likely to be higher up the speed charts, it seems to misses the mark here… no Wifi 7 too, though that is offset as running separate APs is a norm now.
I hope cases become available shortly after the board goes on sale. The WAF would be low having a bare board in the living room.
This is looking great, can’t wait to buy it