One of the first Homelab projects I worked on was setting up my own router. This has given me a wide range of networking freedom and control that only the most expensive routers on the market can match.
I was able to acquire a second hand Lenovo mini PC as the base for my router. I run an operating system called OPNSense for the routing capabilities. My network management strategy employs virtual LANs (VLANs), subnets, firewalls and other methods to optimize connectivity for improved security.
