Looking for "smart piece of iron"?

Question

ASUS

For several years now, an old D-Link DIR-320 router has been working faithfully at my house. In addition to its main task, it also runs a web server, svn server, print server, and several other services for personal use. The router copes with its task, however, of course, it is rather weak. If it is unloaded from everything superfluous, I think it will continue to suit me. But services need to go somewhere, and there are not very many options yet.
So, for myself, I chose 2 ways for the development of events: to purchase a new router more powerful or to purchase a media player for the TV and place the services there. The requirements for both are quite strict:
1. The price is about $100, because. for $200 you can already take a nettop or assemble it yourself.
2. More or less adequate linux. You need the ability to install the necessary software, even if this is not provided by the developers. Accordingly, most likely you need the ability to change the official firmware to some kind of "enthusiasts".
3. Ability to work 24/7. This is not a problem for the router, but the media player needs the opportunity so that when “disconnecting from the remote control” it does not cut off completely and the running services continue to work.
4. USB with the ability to connect almost any peripheral (keyboard, webcam, HDD, DVD drive, and possibly something else).
Considered options:
1. Routers Asus, D-link and NetGear. Most of them have alternative firmware and there are no problems with the software in general. I can’t just decide on the model, because. I want to be productive and inexpensive.
2. Media players BBK PopcornTV. Like linux, it seems to work, even some kind of “package manager” is out of the box. But the positive and negative reviews on the forums are 50/50. I am looking at the NP101S v2, NP102S and NP103S models. I tend to NP101S v2, because. HDD can be pushed into the case, but so far I doubt it.
3. Media players iconBIT. There is quite a bit of information on them, but, it seems, there is linux, there is ssh and ipkg is used as a package manager.
Please share your experience of using a rasp and a file for these devices or advise a “smart piece of iron”.

Answer 1

For such purposes, I assembled a miniITX computer. Not counting the HDD came out in the region of 4000r. the truth is not made on Linux, but on WinXP. It provides RDP, web, file storage, torrents, print-scan service, and much more. For a while, he also worked as an ATS. He was also a WiFi router at one time. In short, all-in-one. With rare shutdowns, it has been working for the 3rd year. The only negative is that it was not possible to make passive cooling, it buzzes a little. But it's in the closet and the wires to the TV go through the wall. Well, for 3 years, the 330th Atom has certainly become outdated, now there are much more interesting options for the same money.

Answer 2

I bought the same BBK Popcorn NP101s V2. In vain. Brake piece of iron, often freezes, almost impossible to use. But, of course, omnivorous.

Answer 3

Well, in conclusion. I handed back the brake corn, took just such a board and 4GB of memory. I will collect myself.
Thank you all for your input, advice and comments.

Answer 4

I've been using ASUS WL-520gPv2 for more than a year now with firmware from Oleg, modified by enthusiasts. I have a web server, print server, ftp server, samba running on it, a USB HDD is connected, to which the router downloads torrents, and from which I watch movies via wi-fi on the ASUS HDP-R1 media player. The router works stably, there was never a freeze (!!). The only thing is the speed with USB HDD leaves much to be desired. There is access via ssh, ipkg is present.

Answer 5

I say right away - do not take BBK Popcorn NP101s V2. Doesn't handle loads well. Out of 18 megabits / s from the channel, I squeeze out only 6-8 megabits / s on torrents, while it likes to hang (apparently from overheating). I was hoping to use it for file storage, but now I use it only as a computer-TV adapter (to watch something).
Another house is Asus RT-N16. Almost the same as DIR-320. It's a pity there is no support for OpenWRT (or maybe already), only DD-WRT. The iron inside will be more abruptly. Well, 2 external USB ports instead of one. And, in general, it is necessary to try. I didn't drive much myself. I took it because of the gigabit ports and WiFi 802.11n.