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    Watchguard Firebox M400/M500

    Hardware
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      NC2AE8 is the XTM5 which is much older device. It uses a Core2duo CPU for example.
      The M400 is better in just about every way. Except maybe the lack of an LCD. And whether you consider a UEFI BIOS an advantage! ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Steve

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        seacombe2379 @stephenw10
        last edited by

        @stephenw10 uefi bios has cause nothing but bother in my eyes where stuff would normally just boot you now have to dick around and change stupid settings just to get it boot from a usb ๐Ÿคฃ

        I'm trying to get a good deal on the M400 atm

        What's the difference between the M400 to the M500?

        Cheers Ollie

        stephenw10S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator @seacombe2379
          last edited by stephenw10

          @seacombe2379 said in Watchguard Firebox M400/M500:

          What's the difference between the M400 to the M500?

          Different CPU. Double the RAM. Check the hardware guide.

          Both of which you could swap in anyway.

          Steve

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            seacombe2379 @stephenw10
            last edited by

            @stephenw10

            So that's out of Watchguards factory specs but nothing a wee upgrade couldn't fix?

            What's the max ram they support? 16gb ddr3?

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            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              Yeah the board and case are identical as far as I know. I've never laid hands on an M500.

              If you search this thread I'm sure you'll find someone who has tried 16GB. I've never needed that.

              Steve

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                seacombe2379 @stephenw10
                last edited by

                @stephenw10 Cheers Steve I will confirm once I get my hands on one I have a few combinations of ram lying around ๐Ÿ˜

                Regards the console is it only rj45? Is there an internal serial at all I can't remember if that was said? I know there is a internal VGA.

                What's the best usb to rj45 serial that people use?

                chpalmerC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  Yes, it's only the RJ-45 console port. I've used a variety of whatever I had in hand and they've all worked.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • chpalmerC
                    chpalmer @seacombe2379
                    last edited by

                    @seacombe2379 said in Watchguard Firebox M400/M500:

                    What's the best usb to rj45 serial that people use?

                    I use the same blue one that I use at work on our Cisco stuff.

                    Triggering snowflakes one by one..
                    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4590T CPU @ 2.00GHz on an M400 WG box.

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                    • S
                      seacombe2379 @chpalmer
                      last edited by

                      I was literally just about to pull the trigger on the Watchguard then a Nomadix AG5800 came up,

                      As far as I can see there the same inside?!? Correct me if I'm wrong for it for a steal for the price they sell at plus I like the green but red would of been good ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜ redirect me to the nomadix thread if you want ๐Ÿคฃ

                      chpalmerC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • chpalmerC
                        chpalmer @seacombe2379
                        last edited by

                        @seacombe2379 said in Watchguard Firebox M400/M500:

                        I was literally just about to pull the trigger on the Watchguard then a Nomadix AG5800 came up,

                        Trust me.. there are no Watchguard fan boys here... just the equipment style and layout.. plus it pisses off their management that we repurpose them..

                        Triggering snowflakes one by one..
                        Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4590T CPU @ 2.00GHz on an M400 WG box.

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                        • S
                          Scorch95 @stephenw10
                          last edited by

                          Does anyone have the stock 4GB ram stick that they'd be willing to part with? I picked up a second unit and plan to set them up in a high availability arrangement but need an additional stick of ram

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                            jutg987654321 @Scorch95
                            last edited by

                            @scorch95 I got the original 8 gig (2x 4gig ECC) out of an M500 just sitting here I can get rid of... I sent you a chat.

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                            • S
                              seacombe2379 @chpalmer
                              last edited by

                              @chpalmer yeah I gathered that by the way they lock everything down on them and use stupid reverse pcie connectors ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

                              stephenw10S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • stephenw10S
                                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator @seacombe2379
                                last edited by

                                @seacombe2379 said in Watchguard Firebox M400/M500:

                                stupid reverse pcie connectors

                                Those are standard the Lanner devices to be fair.

                                chpalmerC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • chpalmerC
                                  chpalmer @stephenw10
                                  last edited by chpalmer

                                  @stephenw10 said in Watchguard Firebox M400/M500:

                                  @seacombe2379 said in Watchguard Firebox M400/M500:

                                  stupid reverse pcie connectors

                                  Those are stupid on the Lanner devices to be fair.

                                  There.. fixed that for ya! ;) :)

                                  Triggering snowflakes one by one..
                                  Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4590T CPU @ 2.00GHz on an M400 WG box.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • stephenw10S
                                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                    last edited by

                                    Ha!

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • J
                                      JackMeyer
                                      last edited by

                                      Hey all, I read through this thread till about number 300, I figured there was much smarter people on here that could help me out. Came into an M400 for free, want to load pfsense on it. What I gather from here (correct me if I'm wrong) but there is two ways that people have had success with: load an SSD and connect to Sata port and boot with the CF card removed or unlock the bios flash from CF card.

                                      What are people thinking about upgraded processor, worth it or not? What have been some processor people have like and worked well for them?

                                      Thanks in advance

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                                      • J
                                        JackMeyer @nd-t
                                        last edited by

                                        @nd-t it looks like you and I are in the same boat here, how did this work out for you?

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                                        • stephenw10S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          You can also just run from the CF card if you have something else to install onto it with. But be sure to use UFS, disable SWAP during the install and enable RAM disks after install if you do.

                                          4th gen CPUs are cheap (some are very cheap!) and almost all are an upgrade from the Celeron fitted in every way. The only thing to look out for is that many cause the unit to fail to reboot for some reason which is a PITA. Search the thread for specifics.

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                                            JackMeyer @stephenw10
                                            last edited by

                                            @stephenw10 is this assuming I have or will have to have the bios unlocked to boot from CF and disable SWAP?

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