I’m trying to make my first server (Immich + Navidrome + Nextcloud running on Debian, will use WireguardVPN for remote access), but my crappy XFinity router (XB7) just won’t port forward at all to my server machine. I’ve tried so many things to make it work, so the best thing I can do now is buy my own router so that I can just use the Xfinity router as a bridge. Do you guys have recommendations for a secure, customizable enough, and long-distance router good for 6 people?
OpenWRT gets a lot of love around here, incorrectly.
If you are willing to flash custom software to a router you bought for that purpose, you may as well just pick the better option and put pfSense or (better) OPNsense on a mini PC with two Ethernet ports.
The router running OpenWRT will usually be a lot less power hungry than a mini PC, ethernet switch and access point.
That really depends. And whether or not it matters at all depends on the cost of electricity where OP is.
Its high everywhere.
It is absolutely not.