Banana Pi BPI-R4 Pro (MediaTek MT7988A)
Plage de prix : 435,00 € à 544,62 € INCL. VAT
- Open source MediaTek MT7988A router for 10G and 2.5G networks, with optional Wi-Fi 7
- Two 10G RJ45 or SFP+ links, four 2.5G ports, up to 8 GB DDR4
- Two NVMe, three M.2 4G/5G, OpenWrt 24.10 images provided by Banana Pi
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- Description
- Additional information
Description
Banana Pi BPI-R4 Pro: MediaTek MT7988A router board, 10G, 2.5G and Wi-Fi 7
Visit Banana Pi BPI-R4 Pro is the high-end version of the BPI-R4. It keeps the MediaTek MT7988A (Filogic 880)SoC, 4 Cortex-A73 cores at 1.8 GHz, but adds 10G RJ45 ports, four 2.5G ports, two NVMe slots and three M.2 slots for 4G/5G modems. It is a foundation for an open source router, SD-WAN gateway or firewall for multi-gigabit networks.
Two versions are available: the 8X (8 GB DDR4, 10G RJ45 and SFP+ on both WAN and LAN) and the 4E (4 GB DDR4, 2.5G RJ45 WAN combined with a 10G SFP+, 10G SFP+ LAN).
Highlights
- Two 10 Gbit/s links (WAN and LAN) in SFP+ or RJ45 depending on the version.
- Four 2.5G RJ45 ports for workstations, NAS and fast access points.
- Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 by adding a mini PCIe card (two PCIe 3.0 x2 slots).
- NVMe storage : two M.2 M-key slots in PCIe 3.0 x1.
- 4G/5G : three M.2 B-key slots in USB 3.2, nano SIM slot; Banana Pi has validated the Quectel RM500U-CNV, RM520N-GL and EM05-E.
- Tunnel acceleration : the MT7988A integrates MediaTek’s TOPS engine to offload tunnel protocol processing.
Technical specifications
| Element | BPI-R4 Pro 8X | BPI-R4 Pro 4E |
|---|---|---|
| SoC | MT7988A, 4 x Cortex-A73 1.8 GHz | identical |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR4 | 4 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 8 GB eMMC, 256 MB SPI-NAND, microSD | identical |
| WAN | 10G RJ45 combined with a 10G SFP+ | 2.5G RJ45 combined with a 10G SFP+ |
| LAN | 10G RJ45 combined with a 10G SFP+, 4 x 2.5G, 1 x 1G, 1 x 1G on FPC connector | 10G SFP+, 4 x 2.5G, 2 x 1G, 1 x 1G on FPC |
| Expansion | 2 x mini PCIe (Wi-Fi), 2 x M.2 M-key (NVMe), 3 x M.2 B-key (4G/5G) | identical |
| USB / console | 1 x USB 3.2, 1 x USB 2.0, USB-C console | identical |
| Miscellaneous | 2 x 13-pin GPIO, 2 PWM fan connectors, CR1220 RTC battery holder, Reset and WPS buttons | identical |
| Power supply | DC5521 jack 12 V / 5.2 A or 19 V / 3.2 A, or USB-C PD 20 V | identical |
| Dimensions / weight | 132 x 194 mm, approx. 220 g | 132 x 194 mm, approx. 210 g |
Which one should you choose?
| Model | Fastest ports | Wi-Fi | Format | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPI-R4 Pro 8X | 2 x 10G (RJ45 or SFP+) + 4 x 2.5G | Mini PCIe module | 132 x 194 mm | Multi-gigabit fiber, network lab, SMBs |
| BPI-R4 Pro 4E | 2 x 10G SFP+ + 4 x 2.5G | Mini PCIe module | 132 x 194 mm | Fiber links, controlled budget |
| OpenWrt One | 1 x 2.5G | Built-in Wi-Fi 6 | 148 x 100.5 mm | Official OpenWrt home router |
| BPI-R3 Mini | 2 x 2.5G | Built-in Wi-Fi 6 | 65 x 65 mm | Compact 5G router |
Visit 8X is the obvious choice if you have 10G copper; the 4E is enough if your 10G links run over fiber. Compared with the standard BPI-R4 (4 or 8 GB, 2 x 10G SFP+, 4 Gigabit ports), the Pro adds 10G RJ45, 2.5G ports and more M.2 slots. To discover this family, read our article on the open source business router with the BPI-R4.
Compatibility and pitfalls to avoid
- Combo ports : in each RJ45 / SFP+ pair, only one port works at a time. On the 8X switching is automatic (inserting an SFP+ module disables the 10G RJ45); on the 4E it is done in U-Boot.
- No Wi-Fi without a module : add a card such as the BPI-R4-NIC-BE14 Wi-Fi 7 and set switch SW4 to ON to supply it with 12 V.
- SFP+ fixed at 10 Gbit/s : only 10G modules work. The BPI-R3’s 2.5G modules are not suitable.
- Heat : Banana Pi requires a good heatsink, as the 10G and 2.5G PHYs draw a lot of power. Two 12 V PWM fan connectors are provided.
- Power supply : the board alone draws about 10 W, but Banana Pi recommends a 12 V / 5 A power supply or a USB-C PD 20 V charger of at least 65 W as soon as you add modules and SSDs.
- Format : 132 x 194 mm, not compatible with the standard BPI-R4 case (148 x 100.5 mm).
- Software : the images provided are Banana Pi BSPs based on OpenWrt 24.10 (MT76 Wi-Fi driver). Some functions, such as MLO configuration, are done via SSH.
Recommended accessories
- Pair of 10G BX20 SFP+ modules : 10 Gbit/s single-mode fiber link up to 20 km, tested by Banana Pi on this family.
- CAT6 RJ45 Ethernet cable: for the 2.5G ports and short 10G RJ45 links.
- SanDisk High Endurance microSD card and USB 3.0 card reader: to boot a test image before flashing the eMMC.
Uses and projects
- Multi-gigabit fiber router with firewall, VLANs and QoS: follow our tutorial on turning a BPI-R4 into an OpenWrt router, the approach is the same.
- Backup 5G gateway with automatic failover if the fixed line goes down.
- Wi-Fi 7 access point tri-band, for an office or open-plan space.
- Lab router to test VPN, SD-WAN and hardware offload. Businesses and integrators: open a business account.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BPI-R4 Pro compatible with OpenWrt?
Yes, via Banana Pi images and sources based on OpenWrt 24.10 for the 8X and the 4E, with support for the Quectel RM500U, RM520N-GL and EM05 modules.
What is the difference from the standard BPI-R4?
The standard R4 has 4 Gigabit ports and 2 x 10G SFP+. The Pro adds 10G RJ45 (8X), four 2.5G ports, two NVMe and three M.2 B-key slots, in a larger form factor.
Is the Wi-Fi 7 module included?
No, the board has no built-in Wi-Fi. The BPI-R4-NIC-BE14 module installs in the two mini PCIe slots.
Which power supply should I choose?
A DC5521 12 V / 5 A power supply (or 19 V / 3.2 A), or a USB-C PD 20 V charger of 65 W or more. The accepted range is 9 to 24 V; above 25.3 V the board shuts down.
Can the 10G RJ45 and the SFP+ be used at the same time?
No, they form a combo port: it is one or the other, for both WAN and LAN.
Do I need a fan?
An efficient heatsink is essential, and Banana Pi offers dedicated PWM-controlled 4010 and 5020 fans.
Discover the other Banana Pi boards; on monraspberry.com, the BPI-R4 Pro is an official, tested product, with returns within 14 days with a return authorization, free pickup point delivery on orders over €200 and payment by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Additional information
| Version | BPI-R4 PRO 8X, BPI-R4 PRO 4E |
|---|
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