Routernetes Uses the Power of Kubernetes Operators to Turn a Raspberry Pi Into a Flexible Router
Compatible with the Raspberry Pi 4 as well as x86-64 systems, Routernetes deploys a Kubernetes-managed router operator with ease.
Developer Logan McNaughton is trying to make it easier to turn a Raspberry Pi or other single-board computer into a router for a home network — using Routernetes, a tool designed to deploy a networking-focused Kubernetes Operator with a minimum of fuss.
"Routernetes is software that can turn your computer into a router," McNaughton explains of the project. "It is made up of the following components: Fedora CoreOS; k3s; [and] Routernetes Operator."
Fedora CoreOS serves as the underlying operating system. Designed for a minimal footprint, it's configured to automatically update itself in order to patch newly-discovered security vulnerabilities — requiring, McNaughton claims, no manual maintenance. K3s, meanwhile, is a lightweight version of Kubernetes, which handles the Routernetes Operator — the part of the project which creates a Router resource and turns your Raspberry Pi into a critical piece of networking equipment.
"When you install Routernetes, it comes bundled with k3s and the Routernetes Operator. Once you login and create a Router Kubernetes object," McNaughton explains. "the Routernetes Operator takes your configuration and: Configures a DHCP server; configures a DNS server; configures the network interfaces; configures a firewall; enables IP forwarding; [and] uses TuneD to configure the underlying operating system for optimal performance."
While compatible with any 64-bit x86 computer or single-board computer, Routernetes has been created with the Raspberry Pi in mind. It requires a few more resources than your typical Raspberry Pi operating system, though: You'll need a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B with at least 2GB of RAM and a 4GB microSD card, plus an additional USB network interface alongside the single-board computer's on-board Ethernet.
Those eager to try the tool can download Routernetes from the project's GitHub page as Raspberry Pi or x86-64 installers — though be warned that the installer will wipe current operating systems without prompting; the source code is also published there under the permissive Apache 2.0 license. More information is available on the project wiki.
