Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
6
Time Required
1 hour
Sections
1
- LTT guide for building your own Router
- 6 steps
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Introduction
Things you will need
- An x86 computer with a 3rd generation PCIe slot - Typically this is any PC that has been manufactured within the past 10 - 15 yearsAn Intel-based NIC - They use a 4 port card, but as long as you have 2 ports then you should be fineAn SSD (In place of your Hard Disk Drive) - 256 GB is recommendedEither PFSense or OpnSense - OpenSense is a more user-comprehensive GUIA cheap multipart networking switch - A Netgear GS308 is a good inexpensive oneA Wireless Access Point or Mesh SystemA USB Drive for installing your Operating system
Video Overview
Step 1
Getting your hardware ready
- To get things ready you are going to want to open your machine up and give it a good dusting, and depending on how old it is, maybe replace the thermal paste.
- If you haven’t yet, it is recommended that you upgrade your processor and your storage to a single 256 GB SSD.
To get things ready you are going to want to open your machine up and give it a good dusting, and depending on how old it is, maybe replace the thermal paste.
If you haven’t yet, it is recommended that you upgrade your processor and your storage to a single 256 GB SSD.
1024
Step 2
Install your Network NIC
- Once your device has been cleaned, install your Network NIC into your PEIe slot.
Once your device has been cleaned, install your Network NIC into your PEIe slot.
Step 3
Install OpnSense onto your machine
- Using your USB Drive, create a live boot of OpnSense.
- Typically you can write it with Etcher, or Win32DiskImager to create this.
- Plug it into your soon-to-be Router and select the device from your boot manager.
- If your machine happens to have an internal speaker, you may hear a beep. While not annoying, it may be surprising if you’re not expecting it.
Using your USB Drive, create a live boot of OpnSense.
Typically you can write it with Etcher, or Win32DiskImager to create this.
Plug it into your soon-to-be Router and select the device from your boot manager.
If your machine happens to have an internal speaker, you may hear a beep. While not annoying, it may be surprising if you’re not expecting it.
Step 4
Installing OPNsense
- During the boot sequence, it will ask for manual input, but you can skip these steps.
- Once you are prompted to log in, take note of the port numbering of your system.
- You can get the numbering by taking the ethernet port from a nearby computer and testing each port. (If you can, physically label these ports)
- When prompted to log, do so by using installer as the username and opnsense as the password.
- When the device reboots remove the USB, otherwise you will reboot back into the installer.
During the boot sequence, it will ask for manual input, but you can skip these steps.
Once you are prompted to log in, take note of the port numbering of your system.
You can get the numbering by taking the ethernet port from a nearby computer and testing each port. (If you can, physically label these ports)
When prompted to log, do so by using installer as the username and opnsense as the password.
When the device reboots remove the USB, otherwise you will reboot back into the installer.
Step 5
Logging into your router and setting your DHCP
- Once Opnsense is installed, plug your client system into the port marked as LAN in your console and using a web browser put the IP address 192.168.1.1. This is the default address set by the operating system and should be changed.
- By default, OPNsense will allow for a range of 100 different IP addresses. You can change this in your IP range settings by modifying the last Octet of the From field to 50. and the last Octet of the To field to 254. This will allow a range of 200 different IP addresses.
- You can also modify your DNS settings to use Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 for IPv4) or Google DNS (8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 for IPv4).
Once Opnsense is installed, plug your client system into the port marked as LAN in your console and using a web browser put the IP address 192.168.1.1. This is the default address set by the operating system and should be changed.
By default, OPNsense will allow for a range of 100 different IP addresses. You can change this in your IP range settings by modifying the last Octet of the From field to 50. and the last Octet of the To field to 254. This will allow a range of 200 different IP addresses.
You can also modify your DNS settings to use Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 for IPv4) or Google DNS (8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 for IPv4).
Step 6
Additional things to consider
- While we have one port assigned on your router, it is recommended that you pair it with an inexpensive multi-port Switch, and a few Wireless Access Points.
While we have one port assigned on your router, it is recommended that you pair it with an inexpensive multi-port Switch, and a few Wireless Access Points.
Congratulation, you have just created your very own router that can be updated, customized, and configured to your liking. You may also want to consider pairing it with your own custom VPN or your own server.
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Jacob Mehnert
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