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Since Apple is not contributing much to BSD, then most of the lifting has to be done by volunteers, but as Linux is more widely used, thats likely also where many go to help out.


@Patrick

Can the functions be added to Linux's kernel, and would it make sense, if someone was to convince Linus about the importance of it?

I saw the new Mono gateway, and while I like it, it also points to a deeper underlying issue with OPNsense. It trades high network performance of BSD kernel for poor quality drivers and hardware support, which, from my limited point always seems to be behind Linux, and more ppl today are familiar with Linux, unlike BSD. I saw on the openSUSE fora that some use it to route & firewall big internet connections for companies, so it's not unheard of. BSD drivers and hardware support will always be an issue for OPNsense, as few hardwarecompanies want to invest in it, due to its few users. Linux, while imperfect, but due to its larger userbase which is growing, also see better support from hardware vendors and a bigger team working on it. That goes from NIs and CPUs, especially. 
I do understand that the lure of BSD is the routing efficiency of its kernel and low sys footprint. Now, could Linus Torvalds & the Linux kernel team be convinced to increase the routing efficiency of the Linux kernel, if it is possible, and work with the OPNsense guys and girls to do it?
If the above is correct, it cost little to at least start a dialogue with him/them about it.

More info here on the EUropean initiatives.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/26/3225340/0/en/The-OpenHW-Foundation-unveils-the-first-industry-ready-RISC-V-ecosystem-to-advance-European-digital-sovereignty.html

RISC-V cores should be cheaper than Arm & x86 over time, as there are no royalties to pay for the ISA, and the ISA also allows the software stack to not be tied to a specific vendor like Arm or AMD, but can be used freely on any RISC-V CPU that fulfils the spec. Thu thats also a consideration, as the RV23 spec has only been firmed now, so the chips are mostly not fully RVA23 compliant. But the Titan board above is getting there in terms of performance. 

R5 reportedly has reached 30% marketshare, mostly likely in MCUs. There are movement to R5 in the higher end, incl in India & China, as they are de-US-ing their tech supply and tech dependency. Where FOSS & open standards makes a lot of sense. Also for interoperability.

So is EU working on, incl the Higher-project which aims for RISC-V chips from the edge to server/cloud.
There is also the Tristan & Isolde focussing on EU embedded RISC-V cpus and the EU-processor project. 

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4sw44vxmeqjd3idlzyuuenpy

There is a RISC-V summit in Bologna in June I think. Could be a place to network & talk to other EUropeans in the industry.
If Opnsense team works with another EU company or 2 about an EU proejct, its likely to get funded, and some of the project paid to port it.

For the masses, if we can run Opnsense on a small RISC-V for 1, 2,5, 5, 10g speeds, setup network services like vlans, and optionally another like one of the ad-removal DNS services...

FreeBSD has been ported to RISC-V. I don't know if Intels NICs only have BSD drivers for R5?

As of yet, most of the hardware available is US or China, thou its also rumored that there are activities in EU like Sipearl, Kalray, Corbus and others are working in the same segment, incl on automotive. There is also some EU Horizon projects, that aim to develop EU hardware from the edge to HPC. Barcelona SuperComputing Department is also a participant.

US board. There are also smaller boards with 2 NIs or more, but don't know the compute performance needed to run the router & OS compared to their performance. Some of them could make for cheap low end routers for 1-2,5g.

https://www.electronics-lab.com/milk-v-titan-brings-high-performance-risc-v-to-the-mini-itx-motherboard/

https://wccftech.com/european-chip-startup-pulls-off-working-risc-v-solution-on-the-intel-3-node/

https://www.freebsd.org/where/

@PatricMH

Thx. I'll give them a look.

That still leaves the main question.

With all the move towards European tech independence, an RISC-V router with opnsense could be a place to start. I have searched the English forums but no hits.

There are both smaller cards with RISC-V and 2 gbit ports, but also bigger P550-based, which with a 10gb nic could likely reach higher speeds as well. While the P550 is not European it can be used until there are European solutions.

Are opnsense only for firewall duty, or can it also be used for wireless, or do opnsennse users use something else like openWRT for that duty?

https://wiki.freebsd.org/riscv

https://www.elektormagazine.com/articles/the-risc-v-architecture-16-boards-mcus