Nano Image and NFS
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I have been running PFSense for years on normal x86 hardware, but I recently picked up FireBox x550e for cheap.
In my research, I found that I need to run the nano image on these which comes with some limitations to avoid excessive disk writes.
My question is this, instead of installing a HDD in the x550e, is it possible to install the full pfsense and mount the "busy" file systems to an NFS share on my NAS?
Possible complications and drawbacks I can think of would be:
- If power goes out and the firewall comes up before the NAS does.
- Rebooting the NAS while the firewall is running.
- Latency when doing writes over NFS causing lag/latency in firewall.
Of course, I may be worrying about nothing or should just spend the $100 or so for the bits to install a HDD.
I am also assuming with a HDD installed I can run the full pfsense install…
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is it possible to install the full pfsense and mount the "busy" file systems to an NFS share on my NAS?
It's probably possible. I just investigated and on my full install of pfSense, NFS mounts are supported without any extra nonsense (I'm lookin' at you, Ubuntu).
Is it advisable? Only if you're experimenting or willing to put up with more downtime than you other wise would. IMO. I have a MythTV backend / frontend that relies on NFS and ended up putting a UPS on my "NAS" because even though power outages are VERY infrequent here, it got annoying to have to manually intervene every time there was an interruption. It all had to do with the fact that the MythTV box boots more quickly than the NFS server. The last thing I'd want to have to mess with in that kind of situation is my router/firewall.
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That was kind of my thinking as well. Interesting to tinker with but impractical in the long run.