Configure your OpenWRT VM to act as a router.
Configure your OpenWRT VM to act as a router.
Hi everyone! I’m preparing a basic home network at my mom’s place. She prefers sitting in front of the TV and watching media or working on her PC, especially since she has mobility challenges and long sitting sessions are tiring. I’m planning to place her laptop behind the TV and use it as her main device—serving as a PC, Plex server, Home Assistant server, and ideally a router if possible. Since she mainly uses web apps, the operating system doesn’t need to be specific. I’m considering Debian with a user-friendly desktop environment (any tips?). Unfortunately, only LTE is available nearby, which I managed to connect to using an external antenna. It’s not the most stable connection, especially with heavy traffic from streaming, browsing, and video calls. She also rents part of her floor, so it might get used for various activities, including gaming. I’m exploring OpenWRT’s advanced QoS features to improve performance for everyone. The setup idea is: internet comes through a Huawei modem in bridged mode linked to a VLAN switch; a wireless access point connects to the switch; her laptop runs OpenWRT as the router; the switch manages wired connections. I’m curious—what’s the best approach? Should I use a USB Ethernet adapter for the VM and connect the host via the laptop’s built-in network card to the switch? Have you found any guides or articles about similar configurations? Any suggestions or better ideas would be appreciated! Thanks!
I strongly advise against using a router on this setup. It tends to disrupt the network more than necessary. A budgeted edge router would work well for this purpose. Alternatively, sticking with the modem alone could simplify things. QoS isn’t a major concern in this scenario.
They might be using this internet connection together. Make sure they know it's an LTE-based setup. You won't be able to fix the delay issues when they complain about lag in their online games. This computer could stay on constantly, which creates a single point of failure. Using the laptop as a complete unit isn't ideal if you want something simple and reliable. If you need something basic, DFRobot is a good option. In my experience, for families, stick with straightforward, dependable solutions that actually work. I've tried setting up advanced gear with good intentions, but it often breaks down when I'm not there to handle it.
Thanks for your feedback! Regarding the laptop acting as a single point of failure, it's accurate—though I've been using Linux on similar hardware for months without any problems. It will run continuously, which is good since it'll serve as a Plex/HA server. For the ping, it's decent and similar to ADSL, staying stable after installing a better antenna. However, I need to address QoS and bufferbloat. Most affordable router options don't work well, and many solutions are either too expensive or make things worse. The ASUS wireless router I purchased a while ago isn't performing well, particularly with WiFi. I thought OpenWRT would fit, but I didn't realize that specific model wasn't supported. Maybe I should look into a dedicated device for routing, like a PI, if issues persist. For now, I'm trying to see if running a VM is a viable option and searching for helpful setup guides.
AsusWRT Merlin is a popular firmware for Raspberry Pi devices. The VMware guides and Docker resources offer useful insights into managing and optimizing these systems. Blockquote widget highlights key points from those documents.