Custom VDSL modem/router/switch/access point

[matrix07012]

So I want to build a custom VDSL modem/router/switch/access point combo. Is it even possible with on the shelf components? If yes, then what components and software do you recommend?

Why? No reason, just for fun

[brwainer]

you can build a device with most of those functions using normal computer parts and an OS like PFSense or Mikrotik RouterOS. Where you will have issues is with the modem part. #1 there isn't any USB or PCIe modems available that I am aware of, you can find soem PCI ones I think, but there's a good chance you'll actually find dialups modems mislabeled as DSL modems. #2 RouterOS doesn't support any type of builtin modem, and I highly doubt PFSense does either, seeing as they don't exist. They both support USB cellular modems, but I've never heard of connecting a DSL modem by anything other than ethernet.

[Salty]

You can't build you own modem so you'll have to get an off the shelf one. The DrayTek Vigor 130 looks pretty good.

 

As for a router you can build one of those from an old PC using pfSense. All you'll need is a network adapter, I'd go for a cheap quad gigabit ethernet card off eBay because that gives you plenty of room for expansion. If you want to add a WLAN card to the system you can but pfSense is a bit picky with compatibility and only supports wireless a, b, g and n but not ac. I'd just link a decent access point up to your quad gigabit card on your router.

 

Switches are easy to get but you can't really build your own. There are unmanaged switches that work out of the box and have no web UI, and there are managed switches that support more advanced things like PoE and VLANs, etc...

 

I'd be mounting all of this into a small network cabinet just for convenience and compactness.