Organizations that need security choose Proton Pass

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• Share passwords safely with end-to-end encryption

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Home Lab Routers for RouterFreaks

Aloha RouterFreakers! 🤙

As Network Engineers, home lab enthusiasts, or just RouterFreaks we know that choosing the right router is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make when building your home lab. The router serves as the gateway and central nervous system of your network, influencing everything from security and performance to flexibility and expandability. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an experienced engineer looking to upgrade, the market offers a wide range of options—each with its own strengths and ideal use cases.

For those seeking enterprise-grade features on a budget, there are standout choices like the MikroTik hAP ac2, Ubiquiti EdgeRouter, and Netgate 2100. MikroTik routers are renowned for their advanced routing capabilities and customization, making them a favorite among professionals who need granular control over their networks. Ubiquiti, on the other hand, is celebrated for its user-friendly interfaces and seamless ecosystem, perfect for users who want robust performance without a steep learning curve. Netgate’s pfSense appliances combine the power of open-source software with reliable hardware, offering advanced firewall, VPN, and VLAN support for labs that demand both security and scalability.

But the decision doesn’t stop at hardware. Consider whether you want a dedicated appliance, a virtualized solution, or even a hybrid approach that integrates with your existing network. Think about your future needs—will you be experimenting with VLANs, VPNs, or multi-WAN configurations? Do you need Wi-Fi built-in, or will your router connect to a separate access point? These questions are essential for selecting a device that will grow with your lab.

To help you navigate these choices, this issue highlights two essential articles for anyone building a powerful, flexible, and affordable home lab network.

🔌 Affordable Home Lab Routers: Setup, VLANs, and VPNs on a Budget

First, our guide on 🔌Affordable Home Lab Routers: Setup, VLANs, and VPNs on a Budget explores top router choices like the MikroTik hAP ac2, Ubiquiti EdgeRouter, and Netgate 2100—each delivering enterprise-grade features without the enterprise price tag. You’ll learn how to set up VLANs for network segmentation, configure VPNs for secure remote access, and optimize your lab for performance and security.

Check it out: Affordable Home Lab Routers: Setup, VLANs, and VPSs on a Budget

🖥️ Building a Home Lab Router with pfSense

Second, for those interested in open-source solutions, 🖥️Building a Home Lab Router with pfSense provides a comprehensive walkthrough for deploying pfSense as your core router. This article covers hardware selection, step-by-step installation, advanced configuration options, and best practices for maximizing security and efficiency—perfect for IT professionals seeking hands-on experience with enterprise networking principles.

Read more: Building a Home Lab Router with pfSense

Stay tuned for more expert tips, upcoming events, and community highlights in future editions. Happy labbing!

🗓️ Upcoming Events for Network Engineers

Because even the best engineers need to escape the server room sometimes. Here’s what’s on the horizon:

• Black Hat USA 2025

  Aug 2-7, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV

  Major cybersecurity event with deep technical content, networking, and training for security engineers and IT specialists.

• ChannelPro Defend

  Aug 12-13, 2025 | Boston, MA

  Focuses on IT professionals, MSPs, and decision-makers. Offers networking, vendor partnerships, and actionable business strategies.

• AWS re:Invent
  Dec 1-5, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV
  Cloud, AI, and enough networking sessions to make your head spin (in a good way).

That’s a wrap for new content this week! Keep Scrolling for Data Call, Engineer Resources, and Opportunities to Contribute and Connect.
Got a killer tip, a burning question, or a meme-worthy network diagram? Hit reply—we love hearing from you (and yes, we read every RFC you send).

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Check out our latest content below and if you're using Gmail, move our newsletter to your primary mailbox to ensure proper delivery!

Data Call

This week, we are leaving open our survey on your favorite Network Management Tools. Let us know in our super quick 3 question survey and we'll share the results with everyone in the next newsletter.

Our Audience Survey is still open!

Recommended Reading

Resource Center

To improve accessibility to our free resources, we will include links to our free downloads page in every newsletter.

Call for Resources:

Do have Visio Stencils we are missing or Python Scripts we can share with other newsletter subscribers (no paywalls, we only ask visitors to subscribe to our newsletter for access). Reply to this email with whatever you can help our community out with!

​Specific Requests:

We've received requests for the following Visio stencils, does anyone have these so we can get them into our archive and out to the specific RouterFreaks who asked for them?

• Cisco RV345 dual WAN router

• AudioCodes Mediant 1000B Gateway

• Versa box

Contribute and Connect

We believe that the strength of our network lies in the collective wisdom of our members. As we continue to grow and evolve, we're reaching out to tap into the vast pool of knowledge and resources that you, our valued readers, possess.

We're looking for:

• Technical guides you've created or found particularly useful

• Troubleshooting tips that have saved the day

• Book recommendations for network engineers at all levels

• Online courses or webinars that have enhanced your skills

• Tools and software that have improved your workflow

• Industry reports or whitepapers worth sharing

• Regular content writers

Your contributions will help fellow network engineers tackle challenges, stay updated with the latest trends, and grow professionally. By sharing, you're not just helping others – you're strengthening our entire community. How to contribute:

1. Email your resources to [email protected]

2. Include a brief description of why you find the resource valuable

3. Let us know if you'd like to be credited by name or remain anonymous

We'll review all submissions and feature the most impactful ones in our upcoming newsletters and on our website. Remember, every bit of knowledge shared is a step towards a more connected and informed RouterFreak community. Let's pool our resources and grow together!

​

Mahalo,
​

Dan on behalf of RouterFreak