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Banana Pi Launches BPI-RV2 Router Featuring RISC-V Architecture and Multiple Ethernet Ports

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Banana Pi has introduced the BPI-RV2, a cost-effective router powered by a RISC-V architecture, now available for purchase at around €32.50. This latest offering aims to meet the growing demand for versatile networking solutions.

The BPI-RV2 is equipped with 512 MB of DDR3 RAM, alongside 128 MB of SPI NAND and 16 MB of SPI NOR flash for enhanced storage redundancy. It features a 2.5GbE port, five additional gigabit Ethernet ports, and offers options for PoE support. For expandable storage, the device includes an M.2 2242/2230 PCIe Gen 2 x1 interface for NVMe SSDs and a mini PCIe socket for WiFi modules.

Key Specifications #

  • SoC: Siflower SF21H8898, quad-core 64-bit RISC-V at 1.25 GHz
  • Memory: 512 MB DDR3
  • Storage:
    • 128 MB SPI NAND for U-Boot and Linux
    • 16 MB SPI NOR flash (write-protected by default)
    • M.2 socket for NVMe SSD
  • Networking:
    • 2.5GbE RJ45 port
    • 5 gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports
    • Optional WiFi and Bluetooth via mini PCIe
    • Optional 4G LTE/5G via M.2 socket
  • USB: USB 2.0 Type-A port
  • Expansion:
    • M.2 Key-B socket for NVMe SSD and cellular modules
    • 26-pin GPIO header
  • Power Supply: 12V/2A through a power barrel jack, with optional PoE module
  • Dimensions: 148 x 100.5 mm

The BPI-RV2 operates on a customized version of OpenWrt, utilizing Linux kernel 5.10. Additional technical details and the operating system image can be found on the documentation website. The source code for the OpenWrt fork is available on GitHub.

This release marks Banana Pi’s first RISC-V router, expanding their portfolio, which previously included models such as the BPI-WiFi5 and the BPI-WiFi6 Mini, both utilizing different architectures.

The BPI-RV2 is offered in two variants: one with PoE support for approximately €36.00 and a standard version for €32.50. While an enclosure is not currently available, the board’s dimensions align with the BPI-R3, suggesting that a compatible case may be developed in the future.

For further details, visit the Banana Pi official website.

Source: CNX Software – Embedded Systems News.

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