Stable Ethernet gateway available.
Stable Ethernet gateway available.
Alright guys, I've been trying to do some research, but I may be at my wits end and was hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on the subject. I'm looking for a router that is extremely reliable. I do not want momentary outage blips, for it to be able to get overloaded by my use cases, or really do anything other than provide a solid, stable connection 24/7. And just to be clear, I am very specifically talking about a router, any kind of wireless capability is inconsequential, as I have UniFi WAPs to handle all of my wireless needs. A wired router to do DHCP/NAT/Port Forwarding/Firewall and other routing functions is all I need. The issue is, almost anywhere I look, any mention of "router" brings up results for wireless routers, which are not what I need. I do not want a multipurpose machine that is alright at two different things rather than great at a single thing (Unless it truly does have a rock solid routing portion). Plus, they're always talking about the wireless capabilities, rather than the reliability of the actual router function of the hardware. I have seen a lot of talk regarding creating a pfsense router, which is not out of the question, but as I am not a business, just a home with lots of devices/file transfers/plex streaming/game servers, I don't know if there is something out there already that would do just as well. I know that all of this may seem a little overkill when discussing a router for a home network, but I've had so many network issues over the years that I'm fine going overkill if that means I have rock solid stability for as long as possible. Additionally, tech projects are a hobby of mine, so I don't mind spending some money if that's what it comes down to, as I'll have fun doing it. Last thing I should mention, my home network is currently gigabit, so old server routers that are only 100T are something I would prefer to avoid (Wouldn't that create a bottleneck?) Thank you to everyone who decides to help! Edit: Here is some basic information about what I'm dealing with, skipped my mind to provide it previously. My current router (that I will not have for much longer) is a T-Mobile branded ASUS AC1900 functioning solely as a router (as in the wireless portion is not used), which I have to periodically power cycle due to it ceasing functions until it is power cycled. As for the demands of my network, it varies, but at absolute peak times, there are 5 desktops, 3 laptops, a Plex server, 3 TVs using chromecasts/similar streaming devices, around 10 phones, a tablet or two, and two consoles. Edited April 11, 2018 by Hobbes
It costs the same to build both wired and wireless routers, with wireless models performing better in sales. So your options are: low-quality routers meant for short-term home use until the warranty ends, or high-end business equipment like Cisco or Nortel. Your enterprise-grade gear works around the clock but comes with a price. Do you prioritize affordability or long-term reliability?
I placed an old unused FM2 APU motherboard into a simple 2U case (likely unnecessary except for space or size). I had a spare Gigabit PCIE card and pfSense installed. I've never faced the problems I did with 'residential' routers before. Yes, power usage is probably much higher than what a dedicated box would handle. Well, maybe virtualization could assist—combining some of my existing boxes.
They might just look for a used Zotac mini PC with two network ports and install pfSense.
Enterprise routers come in different tiers like 100 user business/1000 user business/10000, etc. You’d want a model suited for larger networks rather than budget options. For reliability, you don’t need to compromise on quality for lower prices—expect strong performance without overspending. Regarding PFSense, standard desktop CPUs, MBOs, and RAM are generally adequate for most home or small office setups. If you plan to handle heavy traffic, consider Xeons or systems with ECC support for better stability. Your FX-8350 setup could work well if it meets your needs, especially if you manage to keep it stable.
nowadays most modems come with built-in routers. you can simply plug in a switch and there have been no connection problems for me. everything functions smoothly regardless of the router type. the only improvement with newer routers is wireless performance, but since you mentioned a wired setup, that shouldn’t matter. i just need the modem’s built-in router. if it lacks one (which is uncommon), a regular cabled router works fine—just check its features and speed. don’t worry about connection quality, as I haven’t seen any changes to routers making them wired-only.
We're discussing exactly how many gadgets? Using vague terms can be tricky, but let's look at a real setup. My AC66U with extra ports has managed everything from a desktop to multiple gaming consoles, media servers, and even a bunch of other PCs—plus laptops, phones, tablets all connected via Wi-Fi. It’s definitely within the range of many mid-range routers.
During high usage periods, the setup can include multiple desktops, the Plex server, several laptops, TVs connected via streaming devices, a couple of tablets, two consoles at once, and roughly ten phones. (Occasionally we host many guests who tend to be heavy users.) I’m unsure if this load is within the limits of a standard router built into wireless models like the Netgear AC1200. If it can manage it smoothly without slowing or dropping, that would be great. So far I haven’t found concrete performance or reliability data for routers. Also, Valkyrie Lenneth isn’t using the ISP-provided modem; she’s using her own purchased hardware, which has often failed to work reliably. She’s frequently restarted because the device would shut down unexpectedly. In short, the modem is just a basic modem and doesn’t offer routing features. Apologies if it sounds like I overstated its capabilities! Right now I’m relying on the built-in router from T-Mobile, but I’ll need to look for alternatives soon.
I’m currently using a T-Mobile branded ASUS AC1900 wireless router that they provided me previously. It’s time to move on since I won’t stay with T-Mobile anymore—they’ll be replacing it. I’m already looking for a new router. The main problem is that this device often needs a power cycle; it stops working entirely until I restart it. I’ve faced the same issue with other routers I’ve owned, and now I’m ready to invest in something more dependable, even if it seems costly.