GL.iNet Flint 2 - Installing Unbound and running AGH

[Gary_Dexter]

I am looking to potentially stop using my Rapsberry Pi and install and run Unbound and AdGuard Home on a Flint 2 router (that I am yet to purchase) to replace an aging GT-AC2900.

I’m not too familiar with OpenWRT - how easy is it to install and configure Unbound on this router?

What is the performance like with Unbound and AGH running in the router directly compared to running on an RPi?

 

[tiddlywink]

...

 

[dave14305]

I just flashed OpenWrt 23.05.5 on my MT6000 and started using it as my sole router (used to be an AP running stock behind an x86 router). I don’t run Unbound or AGH, but there is plenty of headroom to run both.

Installation would be as simple as (much like Entware):

opkg update
opkg install luci-app-unbound adguardhome

Unbound can be configured via GUI, but also an extensive README:

packages/net/unbound/files/README.md at master · openwrt/packages

Community maintained packages for OpenWrt. Documentation for submitting pull requests is in CONTRIBUTING.md - openwrt/packages

github.com

Alternatively, the stock GL-INET firmware contains AGH already if you don’t want to flash vanilla OpenWrt. It also allows installation of Unbound through its own repository.

Loving this router so much, I’ll be passing my AX88U Pro to my son. Don’t need it anymore.

 

[Listedguru2]

I just flashed OpenWrt 23.05.5 on my MT6000 and started using it as my sole router (used to be an AP running stock behind an x86 router). I don’t run Unbound or AGH, but there is plenty of headroom to run both.

Installation would be as simple as (much like Entware):

opkg update
opkg install luci-app-unbound adguardhome

Unbound can be configured via GUI, but also an extensive README:

packages/net/unbound/files/README.md at master · openwrt/packages

Community maintained packages for OpenWrt. Documentation for submitting pull requests is in CONTRIBUTING.md - openwrt/packages

github.com

Alternatively, the stock GL-INET firmware contains AGH already if you don’t want to flash vanilla OpenWrt. It also allows installation of Unbound through its own repository.

Loving this router so much, I’ll be passing my AX88U Pro to my son. Don’t need it anymore.

I know this is a bit of an older thread but I was wondering if you still view the Flint 2 in a positive light? I see you had been using an AX88U Pro previously so any chance you comment comment on the pluses and minuses between the two? How is the range and speed between the two? Is there a reason you seem to favor the Flint 2?

 

[Gary_Dexter]

Flint 3 is due out next year

 

[KGB7]

I know this is a bit of an older thread but I was wondering if you still view the Flint 2 in a positive light? I see you had been using an AX88U Pro previously so any chance you comment comment on the pluses and minuses between the two? How is the range and speed between the two? Is there a reason you seem to favor the Flint 2?

Firmware still needs work. In some use cases you have to revert to a much older firmware because of the 5Ghz band issue/s in some cases.
They can't make up their mind with firmware, if they want to stay with Openwrt 21 or make permanent transition to Openwrt 24. One has closed source drivers that are better and other has open source drivers which aren't great. At least that's my understanding, since there is no clear picture provided where they are headed.

Over all, it's a great router for the price and has a ton of potential, but firmware needs a lot of work. But which brand now days doesn't have firmware issues, unless you spend bigger money on lets say Unifi/Ubiquity.

From what I can tell the company is made up of skeleton crew who are working on too many products at the same time, thus delaying firmware development. But, they are trying and are active on the forums doing what they can to help people. They do listen to people, implement changes, updates and suggestions in to newer firmwares and betas, which a great thing in my book...but you have to be patient.

One thing that I highly dislike about the router, is how it looks. It just rubs me the wrong way for some reason. Perhaps because it looks cheap? The two side front grills remind me of air vents on a BMW or a Mercedes.

 

[Tech9]

unless you spend bigger money on lets say Unifi/Ubiquity.

Mmm... see the changelog for the new UniFi OS:

https://community.ui.com/releases/UniFi-OS-Cloud-Gateways-4-1-9/10ac13d7-188a-4bc9-b83e-53239a9ca0e9

I have not seen any issues, but my UniFi systems are like minimal configuration and Wi-Fi 6. Jump to enterprise gear they offer with 30-40 switches and 100 APs on multiple sites, add Wi-Fi 7 on top and... not sure everything will be as smooth as we want it to be. UniFi is somewhere in the middle, most organizations will go with HPE or Cisco... for a different set of issues. No system is perfect no matter what you pay.

 

[KGB7]

Mmm... see the changelog for the new UniFi OS:

https://community.ui.com/releases/UniFi-OS-Cloud-Gateways-4-1-9/10ac13d7-188a-4bc9-b83e-53239a9ca0e9

I have not seen any issues, but my UniFi systems are like minimal configuration and Wi-Fi 6. Jump to enterprise gear they offer with 30-40 switches and 100 APs on multiple sites, add Wi-Fi 7 on top and... not sure everything will be as smooth as we want it to be. UniFi is somewhere in the middle, most organizations will go with HPE or Cisco... for a different set of issues. No system is perfect no matter what you pay.

I don't know if those changes are good or not since I don't follow them that much.

The point that I was trying to make, is that with Unifi set up you are paying over x2 compared to a Flint 2 that's only $130 right now. My biggest gripe at the moment with Unifi, is that you can't use internal SSD for anything other than storing videos from cameras on UCG-Max. It would make an almost perfect NAS. There is supposed to be a plugin on GitHub which I can't seem to find and there doesn't seem to be much fate at the moment in being reliable, at least that's what was mentioned on Unifi forum.

 

[sfx2000]

Firmware still needs work. In some use cases you have to revert to a much older firmware because of the 5Ghz band issue/s in some cases.
They can't make up their mind with firmware, if they want to stay with Openwrt 21 or make permanent transition to Openwrt 24. One has closed source drivers that are better and other has open source drivers which aren't great. At least that's my understanding, since there is no clear picture provided where they are headed.

On the Mediatek Filogic platform - it's pretty dynamic at the moment - but it's getting better... much better. Most of the wifi issues are around the mediatek firmware, along with the mt76 drivers - there have been vast improvement here on both fronts...

As of Dec 31, 2024... (as things might change in 2025)

OpenWRT for the moment, it means running Snapshot builds, or building off Master for those so inclined...

MT6000 is on the front-end of development, and there is Asus device support for the Tuf Gaming AX6000...

Key diffs with MT6000 vs the AX6000 is the RAM/Flash setup... both run the SoC at the same speed (2Ghz), and switch configs are similar.

MT6000 - 1GB DDR4 and 8GB eMMC
AX6600 - 512KB DDR3 and 256K of SPI-NAND

The MT6000 has been a joy to work on from a dev perspective - from cold boot to running is about 20 seconds at most, and having a gig of RAM and 8GB of storage is very nice...

 

[sfx2000]

Flint 3 is due out next year

flint3 is qualcomm based, for better or worse...

 

[sfx2000]

I’m not too familiar with OpenWRT - how easy is it to install and configure Unbound on this router?

What is the performance like with Unbound and AGH running in the router directly compared to running on an RPi?

Installing OpenWRT on MT6000 is pretty straight forward - log into their "advanced" interface, meaning LUCI, and apply the Sysupgrade Image (not factory) - do not "keep settings and retain.." as things between GL's build and OpenWRT have changed...

(use the sysupgrade image, as this will allow you also to revert back to GL's builds if desired)

Performance on MT6000 vs an RPi - the MT6000 will be better as everything is local on a fast processor and fast storage and there, getting Unbound and/or AGH, it's all in the repos...

 

[Tech9]

The point that I was trying to make, is that with Unifi set up you are paying over x2 compared to a Flint 2 that's only $130 right now.

You are comparing apples and oranges. GL.iNet is a small relatively new company and a niche player. They have to keep low prices because most potential customers have to Google them first. Their software development mostly does a skin over open source firmware in active development by someone else. It's a room of people compared to what billion dollar companies like Asus or Ubiquiti have, in one location.

I only recommend Flint 2 from time to time because: 1) it comes cheap on sale; 2) can run vanilla OpenWrt. Nothing else interesting there.

 

[sfx2000]

GL.iNet is a small relatively new company and a niche player. They have to keep low prices because most potential customers have to Google them first. Their software development mostly does a skin over open source firmware in active development by someone else. It's a room of people compared to what billion dollar companies like Asus or Ubiquiti have, in one location.

respectfully disagree here...

They're pretty smart by keeping the sales channel light and keeping overhead low as a result. Yes, it's a small team of people working on development, but they're very focused on product delivery.

 

[KGB7]

On the Mediatek Filogic platform - it's pretty dynamic at the moment - but it's getting better... much better. Most of the wifi issues are around the mediatek firmware, along with the mt76 drivers - there have been vast improvement here on both fronts...

As of Dec 31, 2024... (as things might change in 2025)

OpenWRT for the moment, it means running Snapshot builds, or building off Master for those so inclined...

MT6000 is on the front-end of development, and there is Asus device support for the Tuf Gaming AX6000...

Key diffs with MT6000 vs the AX6000 is the RAM/Flash setup... both run the SoC at the same speed (2Ghz), and switch configs are similar.

MT6000 - 1GB DDR4 and 8GB eMMC
AX6600 - 512KB DDR3 and 256K of SPI-NAND

The MT6000 has been a joy to work on from a dev perspective - from cold boot to running is about 20 seconds at most, and having a gig of RAM and 8GB of storage is very nice...

Do you have any inside info when it comes to which openwrt version glinet is going to use moving forward? From what I have gathered on their forum they are working with OpenWRT 21, 23 and 24.

MT6000 a fantastic router, but since there was no clear road map from them, while being active on their forums, after three weeks I returned the router. Now I'm kind of regretting it, after testing out several newer Asus AX router which are good but I'm so done with Asus after two decades. Yes their routers work, but I'm bored of them. Ubiquity is a bit out of my price range and I don't want to have 2-3 separate pieces of hardware to accomplish what one wifi router can do.

 

[KGB7]

You are comparing apples and oranges. GL.iNet is a small relatively new company and a niche player. They have to keep low prices because most potential customers have to Google them first. Their software development mostly does a skin over open source firmware in active development by someone else. It's a room of people compared to what billion dollar companies like Asus or Ubiquiti have, in one location.

I only recommend Flint 2 from time to time because: 1) it comes cheap on sale; 2) can run vanilla OpenWrt. Nothing else interesting there.

I know how their products and software works, I had 3 different types of their products. But they are Chinese based which comes at cost do to political theater and all the spying is done on the public. Their goal is on privacy to consumers and not commercial grade products like Ubiquiti. Glinet was started by couple of nerds where Ubiquity was started by a more experienced Engineer that used to work for Apple.

Leadership, right experience, connections and knowing the market is what makes or brakes a company. Robert J. Pera CEO of Ubiquity had everything he needed to grow a company in to what is. Wheres Glinet is ran by much less experienced team. Yes it's apples to oranges, but glinet does make good products that are far cheaper on a smaller budget. Creating entire operating system from scratch is not cheap and time consuming.