Getting Fiber - Please Help Me Understand Routers - eviltoast

Hi Folks,

I host a nextcloud instance, a NAS, and a few content portals for things like ebooks and music (internal only). I’ll be migrating Smartthings to Home Assistant eventually. We’re going to be upgrading to fiber soon and I have the opportunity to rebuild my wife’s network with a long term outlook (we’ll likely be here for years). Currently we have an older eero mesh system over cable internet. My desk is right where the cable currently comes in so all my Ethernet devices can live near the router.

My question is this:

What am I missing out on as a self-hoster by using whatever equipment metronet gives me?

What am I missing out on as a regular internet user by using the default equipment.

Am I likely to be annoyed about where the fiber comes into the house?

If it makes sense to buy my own router or access point(s), what is a reasonable balance between “daddy Bezos please read all my emails” and “you’ll never be secure until you build a router from custom circuit boards you custom ordered and hand assembled in a secure area”.

I’d like to avoid complex configuration, but if I can surface advanced options when needed, that would be great.

My Linux knowledge is intermediate. My networking knowledge is begintermediate.

  • NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    What am I missing out on as a regular internet user by using the default equipment.

    You miss an understanding about what your devices do. Including the devices you got from your provider.

    As a consequence, you remain clueless when your devices get attacked and taken over.

    What am I missing out on as a self-hoster by using whatever equipment metronet gives me?

    You miss the chance of securing your network.

    As a self hoster, you are a little bit more attractive, and there are more possibilities of attacking your devices, than a typical PC or mobile user.

    My suggestion is an extra router with OpenWRT between the metronet device and all your other stuff. You will get some better understanding just by configuring your OpenWRT for the first time. Their documentation is very good.