JimBloggins
New Around Here
I have what I believe to be a few simple questions about home.networkinh and compiling your own hardware for this use.
I currently have an AMD FX6100 w/ 24gb ddr3 running as our household game/file/media server. I currently run a Netgear R7000 w/ Netgear firmware and a Pi-Hole installation(w/ recursive DNS settings) on Pi 3B+ stock hardware. I run two 5 port switches, one behind a powerline adapter to get ethernet to another floor.
I have Shaw internet(which I despise) and discovered they do not allow altering of DNS settings when you use their DHCP software. The bonus to their DHCP software is that included in it is mobile app access to internet access scheduling/pause/resume/etc. However I enjoy having complete control over my home network so without DNS control it's a deal breaker.
The Netgear software allows DNS altering which is a bonus off the bat however it allows similar access scheduling/etc via a mobile app ONLY by paid subscription to a 3rd party. I'm exhausted by every company everywhere trying to milk a few dollars from every person they can via subscriptions ESPECIALLY when the ability to use those features are already in the software.
So my end result is to do as much work myself as possible with the time/knowledge I have to ensure I can have as much of the same functionality as possible. I have watch a million "build your own router!!!1111" videos, read tons of posts and found lots of tldr content. However I'm left needing to just ask a question or two to get enough information to move forward. I like to have as much information before making any purchases in any project so here I am.
Most videos/articles/etc seem to point to pretty specific situations when they talk about building routers from Pi's or unused older PC hardware and I think I have a semi-unorthodox situation myself.
My first question is;
Can I purchase and use a dual port NIC instead of 4 port NIC for a router built from a PC?
The 4 port cards I see are much more expensive(but seem to be the only ones people talk about) and if I already have a switch plus the R7000(that could run bridged mode) in-line, couldn't they just do the switching for the dual port NIC for cheaper?
Second question;
Is there a way to easily identify whether an NIC will benefit from the pcie 3.0 lanes on my FX6100 board?
More to that point, I see dual port gigabit and dual port 2.5 gigabit cards, is there a difference between the two for which pcie generation can be used?
Third question;
Can I run a Windows 10 OR Linux machine with all the services I want on it including routing software, game servers, file sharing, secondary Pi-Hole(I do realize Pi-Hole is not able to install on windows), FTP, Media server, PVPN, etc?
I'm comfortable in the windows environment and have explored Linux as far as a few installations over the years in desktop/laptop environments. I tried running ubuntu server as our home server a few years back but got overwhelmed by having to learn to do everything by terminal without the ability to have multiple windows open(I do know now I can run GNOME/etc if I wanted). I did try the dragonized Arch distro as my daily driver recently and had no issues except no DolbyDigitalLive ability with ease(CreativeLabs stupid issue for not supporting Linux) and the inability to use the HDR function on my expensive projector. When those two items are rectified fully I am happy to convert fully to Linux.
So with these experiences in Linux and Windows environments I think there're solutions to all my needs but I wanted to consult a community of knowledgeable people to confirm. I would prefer that if I went with Linux I could use a GUI instead of only terminal, I have used windows since windows was DOS so the microsoft environment is burned into my soul.
I also posted this on Reddit, I was curious what difference I will find in responses.
I currently have an AMD FX6100 w/ 24gb ddr3 running as our household game/file/media server. I currently run a Netgear R7000 w/ Netgear firmware and a Pi-Hole installation(w/ recursive DNS settings) on Pi 3B+ stock hardware. I run two 5 port switches, one behind a powerline adapter to get ethernet to another floor.
I have Shaw internet(which I despise) and discovered they do not allow altering of DNS settings when you use their DHCP software. The bonus to their DHCP software is that included in it is mobile app access to internet access scheduling/pause/resume/etc. However I enjoy having complete control over my home network so without DNS control it's a deal breaker.
The Netgear software allows DNS altering which is a bonus off the bat however it allows similar access scheduling/etc via a mobile app ONLY by paid subscription to a 3rd party. I'm exhausted by every company everywhere trying to milk a few dollars from every person they can via subscriptions ESPECIALLY when the ability to use those features are already in the software.
So my end result is to do as much work myself as possible with the time/knowledge I have to ensure I can have as much of the same functionality as possible. I have watch a million "build your own router!!!1111" videos, read tons of posts and found lots of tldr content. However I'm left needing to just ask a question or two to get enough information to move forward. I like to have as much information before making any purchases in any project so here I am.
Most videos/articles/etc seem to point to pretty specific situations when they talk about building routers from Pi's or unused older PC hardware and I think I have a semi-unorthodox situation myself.
My first question is;
Can I purchase and use a dual port NIC instead of 4 port NIC for a router built from a PC?
The 4 port cards I see are much more expensive(but seem to be the only ones people talk about) and if I already have a switch plus the R7000(that could run bridged mode) in-line, couldn't they just do the switching for the dual port NIC for cheaper?
Second question;
Is there a way to easily identify whether an NIC will benefit from the pcie 3.0 lanes on my FX6100 board?
More to that point, I see dual port gigabit and dual port 2.5 gigabit cards, is there a difference between the two for which pcie generation can be used?
Third question;
Can I run a Windows 10 OR Linux machine with all the services I want on it including routing software, game servers, file sharing, secondary Pi-Hole(I do realize Pi-Hole is not able to install on windows), FTP, Media server, PVPN, etc?
I'm comfortable in the windows environment and have explored Linux as far as a few installations over the years in desktop/laptop environments. I tried running ubuntu server as our home server a few years back but got overwhelmed by having to learn to do everything by terminal without the ability to have multiple windows open(I do know now I can run GNOME/etc if I wanted). I did try the dragonized Arch distro as my daily driver recently and had no issues except no DolbyDigitalLive ability with ease(CreativeLabs stupid issue for not supporting Linux) and the inability to use the HDR function on my expensive projector. When those two items are rectified fully I am happy to convert fully to Linux.
So with these experiences in Linux and Windows environments I think there're solutions to all my needs but I wanted to consult a community of knowledgeable people to confirm. I would prefer that if I went with Linux I could use a GUI instead of only terminal, I have used windows since windows was DOS so the microsoft environment is burned into my soul.
I also posted this on Reddit, I was curious what difference I will find in responses.
