OpenWrt Two: jack of all trades router for OpenWrt fans
The second official OpenWrt router is significantly more powerful. Including: two SFP+ slots, Wi-Fi 7 and an SSD slot.
In the picture: The first official OpenWrt router One. There are no pictures of Two yet.
(Image: OpenWrt / Banana Pi)
A team of OpenWrt developers is working on the second official OpenWrt router, the "Two". While the One is still an entry-level device with rudimentary features for the masses, the Two is set to go all out. The router is currently in the planning phase – but there is already a detailed equipment plan.
The OpenWrt Two will support Wi-Fi 7 on three network bands: 6 GHz, 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. Three independent MIMO streams are responsible for the 6 GHz radio, and a total of five for 5 and 2.4 GHz, four of which are shared by diplexers. With a channel width of up to 320 MHz, high transfer rates are possible in the wireless network.
More connections
The router currently has a total of seven Ethernet connections (RJ45) and two SFP+ slots (up to 10 Gbit/s). The latter two and five 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet ports are connected to switches behind two 10 Gbit/s interfaces. Two further Ethernet ports transmit one gigabit per second.
If you already have a fiber optic connection via a standard Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON), you can use a generic SFP+ transceiver and connect the router directly. This works with Zyxel's PMG3000, for example. A separate provider modem is recommended for operation on a VDSL connection.
Fast processor, lots of RAM
Meanwhile, the planned heart of the OpenWrt Two is significantly faster than in the One: The Mediatek MT7988A processor, also known as the Filogic 880, integrates four Cortex-A73 cores, flanked by 4 GB of DDR4 RAM. This makes the router future-proof.
The open source OpenWrt operating system is pre-installed on 256 MByte NAND flash memory. However, there is also an M.2 slot for a PCI Express SSD. Two USB-C ports are planned for external data carriers or devices such as printers. There is a separate USB port in the design for the power supply. Data buses such as I2C can be read and controlled via a fourth interface.
The first examples of the OpenWrt Two should be available by the end of 2025. GL.iNet manufactures the router. A practical aspect of this cooperation is that GL.iNet sells its devices worldwide via Amazon. The Two could therefore be available directly in Germany without the need to import it.
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