A few years ago we wrote about a “Firewall Micro Appliance” that was basically a small, fanless computer that combined a 10-watt Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core processor with six 2.5 GbE LAN ports. Now it looks like Chinese PC makers have updated the design with new models sporting 6-watt Intel N100 chips and DDR5 memory. […]
router
Posted inNews
Banana Pi’s $31 BPI-WiFi 6 router runs a fork of OpenWrt
The Banana Pi BPI-WiFi 6 Router is an inexpensive router with a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, four antennas, and three Gigabit Ethernet ports (in addition to the WAN input). Available from Banana Pi’s AliExpress store for $31 (plus shipping, which adds another $13 for customers in the US at time of publication), this inexpensive router is also […]
Posted inNews
10 Comments on Libits: Framework Laptop 16 review roundup, a pocket-sized travel router, Firefox 122, and budget phones with 90 Hz displays
Libits: Framework Laptop 16 review roundup, a pocket-sized travel router, Firefox 122, and budget phones with 90 Hz displays
10 Comments on Libits: Framework Laptop 16 review roundup, a pocket-sized travel router, Firefox 122, and budget phones with 90 Hz displaysThe Framework Laptop 16 is one of the most unusual laptops expected to launch this year… and that’s saying something at a time when we’re expecting dual-screen notebooks like the Asus Zenbook Duo and Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, and models with E Ink lids like the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 SPE. But the Framework […]
Posted inNews
54 Comments on AOOSTAR R7 Review: An affordable 2-bay DIY NAS with Ryzen 7 5700U and PCIe NVMe support
AOOSTAR R7 Review: An affordable 2-bay DIY NAS with Ryzen 7 5700U and PCIe NVMe support
54 Comments on AOOSTAR R7 Review: An affordable 2-bay DIY NAS with Ryzen 7 5700U and PCIe NVMe supportRouters and Network-attached-storage (NAS) devices are basically small, purpose-built computers that run software designed to provide some of the core functionality used in networking and data storage respectively. Many users prefer to buy routers from established brands like Linksys, Netgear or Asus and NAS hardware from companies like Synology, QNAP or Asustor. But, despite being […]
Posted inNews
Banana Pi BPI-R3 Mini is a tiny router board with two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports and an MT7986 chip
7 Comments on Banana Pi BPI-R3 Mini is a tiny router board with two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports and an MT7986 chipThe latest member of the Banana Pi line of single-board computers is a tiny model designed for networking applications. The Banana Pi BPI-R3 Mini has two 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, two M.2 connectors, and support for WiFi 6E, but there’s no video output. So you could use the board as a router, wireless repeater, gateway, […]
Posted inNews
This 2 inch board is a dual-port Ethernet router with a RISC-V processor
MangoPi has introduced several tiny single-board computers with RISC-V processors over the past year. Now the company is showing off an upcoming model that has a feature that helps set it apart: two Gigabit Ethernet ports. The company is positioning the upcoming board as a “tiny RISC-V router.” It measures just 5 x 5cm (about […]
Posted inNews
Storaxa is a NAS and WiFi 6 router and up to 5 HDDs and 4 SSDs (crowdfunding)
There are a growing number of relatively inexpensive mini PCs with multiple Ethernet ports, allowing you to build your own router, firewall, or other networking appliances. But Storaxa goes further than most. It has four 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports and support for WiFi 6, allowing you to use it as a networking device. But it’s […]
Posted inNews
These fanless mini PCs combine Intel Alder Lake-U chips and six 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports
4 Comments on These fanless mini PCs combine Intel Alder Lake-U chips and six 2.5 GbE Ethernet portsLast year a number of Chinese PC makers began offering “Firewall Micro Appliance” systems that are basically fanless mini desktop computers with a bunch of high-speed Ethernet ports, allowing you to build your own router, firewall, or other networking system. But up until recently most of the systems featured low-power, low-performance Intel Celeron or Pentium […]
Posted inNews
Topton TP-X4F is a mini PC with Ryzen 5000U and four 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports for $346 and up
1 Comment on Topton TP-X4F is a mini PC with Ryzen 5000U and four 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports for $346 and upChinese PC maker Topton’s new TP-X4F “Soft Router” system is a compact computer designed for use as a networking device. With four 2.5 GbE Ethernet ports, it’s a system that could be used as a firewall, router, network-attached-storage device, or media server, among other things. But under the hood, it also has the guts of […]
Posted inNews
R86S mini PC features Intel Jasper Lake processor, optional 10 Gbps Ethernet ports (firewall or networking appliance)
3 Comments on R86S mini PC features Intel Jasper Lake processor, optional 10 Gbps Ethernet ports (firewall or networking appliance)The R86S mini PC is a compact computer designed for networking applications. For example you could use it as firewall, network-attached storage device or media server, or as a general-purpose computer. Powered by a 10-watt Intel Jasper Lake quad-core processor and available with up to 16GB of RAM, the pocket-sized computer has three 2.5 Gbps […]