Comparing Soft Router Firmwares for using Tailscale Exit Node: OPNsense, pfSense & Openwrt

In my previous post, I mentioned that have a remote portal machine in my friend’s house where I use RustDesk to access into. However, in some use case, like access LAN resources and managing online services across multiple devices, the best practice is not using a remote desktop tool but having a VPN tunnel. Old Stories In the very early days, I used to use Hamachi to play LAN games like Counter Strike, Warcraft 3 and Minecraft with my internet friends. After I started doing homelab, I have used ZeroTier for quite a while before Tailscale came out. ...

August 2, 2026 · 9 min · Jun

Making N100 mini-PC into a pfSense Box

Since I was a teenager, I have started voluntarily helping people around me with my skill of technology. This time, I’m helping someone to build up a robust, secure and cost-effective firewall/gateway/soft router at home. It ends up on a $100 worth N100 mini-pc with dual Ethernet port, which can be a great pfSense box for home or even business use. Hardware Tweaks This model (T8PLUS) secured with 4 screws at outside, after removing them the outer case can be easily pried open (just a little bit more effort than Intel NUCs), and removing 4 more screws inside to get the access of the motherboard (way more simpler design of the power button comparing to NUCs). ...

August 27, 2025 · 3 min · Jun