N100 Router Appliance #
| Role | Core router, replacing the ZimaBoard 832 |
| Current | Not yet evaluated Requirements set; no model chosen yet |
A future hardware evaluation. The current core router (ZimaBoard 832) is a general-purpose SBC repurposed as a router. Purpose-built Intel N100 router appliances offer better performance, more Ethernet ports, and a form factor designed for the role.
Why N100 Router Appliances? #
| Attribute | Current (ZimaBoard 832) | N100 Appliance |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Celeron N3450 | Intel N100 (4C, 3.4GHz boost) |
| Ethernet | 2x 1GbE | 4x 2.5GbE (typical) |
| TDP | 6-12W | 6W |
| Cooling | Passive | Fanless (typical) |
| NVMe | None built in (PCIe x4 expansion only) | Built-in M.2 slot |
| Form factor | SBC (not router-specific) | Mini PC / firewall appliance |
| Purpose | General-purpose | Built for routing/firewall |
Provisioning Model Change #
This evaluation also introduces a future shift in the provisioning approach for the core router:
| Aspect | Current Model | Future Model |
|---|---|---|
| Install method | Manual USB install | Pre-imaged NVMe drive |
| Storage | eMMC (soldered) | Removable NVMe M.2 |
| Recovery | Reinstall from USB | Swap in pre-imaged NVMe |
| Imaging | Manual | Scripted image-to-NVMe (on build host) |
Pre-imaged NVMe means the OPNsense installation is written to an NVMe drive on a build host, then physically installed in the router appliance. This approach:
- Eliminates the need for PXE or USB boot during provisioning
- Enables offline preparation of recovery drives
- Aligns with air-gap recovery requirements (spare NVMe kept ready)
- Fits the image factory model already used for other substrate hosts
This provisioning model is part of the N100 evaluation, not the current MVP approach.
Role Requirements #
What the core router role needs from a candidate, beyond the hardware criteria every model is checked against. These are H10 (role minimums) for this role.
| Requirement | Minimum | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel N100 or equivalent | |
| Ethernet | 4x 2.5GbE, Intel NICs preferred over Realtek | INC-0004: a Realtek NIC timing out in service. H4 is the test |
| NVMe | M.2 slot for removable NVMe storage | Pre-imaged recovery disks (H1, H3) |
| Cooling | Fanless preferred | H8 |
| RAM | 8GB | |
| OPNsense compatibility | FreeBSD driver support for its NICs | H4 is run on OPNsense, not another OS |
Status #
| Phase | Status |
|---|---|
| Requirements definition | Complete |
| Hardware research | Pending |
| OPNsense NVMe imaging workflow | Pending |
| Procurement | Pending |
| Validation | Pending |
Revisions #
None yet. The first revision opens when a model is chosen for the bench.