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PC ENGINES EOL, trusted HW option?

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  • G
    GeorgeCZ58
    last edited by Jun 4, 2023, 7:35 AM

    I've just read, that PC engines will end production of APU. For business I use Netgate HW, but for home I use mostly PC Engines (price reason).
    Do there exist any alternatives?
    I dont want to buy some appliances from Aliexpres etc. I do not trust to such devices. Prefer to buy something builded in EU or USA...west :) that will receive time to time some Bios upgrades.
    Do you have any tips?

    D B 2 Replies Last reply Jun 7, 2023, 12:37 AM Reply Quote 0
    • R rcoleman-netgate moved this topic from Off-Topic & Non-Support Discussion on Jun 4, 2023, 10:21 PM
    • D
      Dobby_ @GeorgeCZ58
      last edited by Jun 7, 2023, 12:37 AM

      @GeorgeCZ58 said in PC ENGINES EOL, trusted HW option?:

      I've just read, that PC engines will end production of APU.

      I read somewhere at the github.io section of them that
      there will be a device called APU7 that should be also
      tested with the new BIOS version 4.19.0.1 it comes with
      2.5 GBit/s ports too, it should be a variant of the APU2.

      Do there exist any alternatives?

      Jetway & Axiomtek will be near but not the same.

      I dont want to buy some appliances from Aliexpres etc.
      I do not trust to such devices.

      Why?

      Prefer to buy something builded in EU or USA...west :)
      that will receive time to time some Bios upgrades.

      Would be nice.

      Do you have any tips?

      I don´t know, I am searching too here.

      #~. @Dobby

      Turris Omnia - 4 Ports - 2 GB RAM / TurrisOS 7 Release (Btrfs)
      PC Engines APU4D4 - 4 Ports - 4 GB RAM / pfSense CE 2.7.2 Release (ZFS)
      PC Engines APU6B4 - 4 Ports - 4 GB RAM / pfSense+ (Plus) 24.03_1 Release (ZFS)

      R 1 Reply Last reply Jun 7, 2023, 1:13 AM Reply Quote 0
      • R
        rcoleman-netgate Netgate @Dobby_
        last edited by Jun 7, 2023, 1:13 AM

        @Dobby_ said in PC ENGINES EOL, trusted HW option?:

        I dont want to buy some appliances from Aliexpres etc.
        I do not trust to such devices.

        Why?

        There are many concerns about hardware from no-name businesses having legit and functional hardware, and then when you have a warranty issue getting someone to honor the warranty.

        Then there's the licensing issues with sellers on AliExpress preinstalling pfSense Plus on their devices to make the i226 interfaces usable but the device is non-functional because 1) the license doesn't match the new NDI and 2) the installation was done against the terms of the Plus licensing.

        Ryan
        Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
        Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
        Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
        Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • B
          bingo600 @GeorgeCZ58
          last edited by Jun 7, 2023, 3:37 PM

          @GeorgeCZ58 said in PC ENGINES EOL, trusted HW option?:

          've just read, that PC engines will end production of APU. For business I use Netgate HW, but for home I use mostly PC Engines (price reason).
          Do there exist any alternatives?
          I dont want to buy some appliances from Aliexpres etc. I do not trust to such devices. Prefer to buy something builded in EU or USA...west :) that will receive time to time some Bios upgrades.
          Do you have any tips?

          To me it seems like the most viable alternative would be protecli with CoreBoot Bios.
          https://eu.protectli.com/

          But the prices will be close to "Genuine Netgate HW" .... So maybe consider Netgate 41xx or 61xx too

          /Bingo

          If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

          pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

          QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
          CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
          LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

          D 1 Reply Last reply Jun 7, 2023, 10:12 PM Reply Quote 0
          • D
            Dobby_ @bingo600
            last edited by Jun 7, 2023, 10:12 PM

            @bingo600 said in PC ENGINES EOL, trusted HW option?:

            But the prices will be close to "Genuine Netgate HW" .... So maybe consider Netgate 41xx or 61xx too

            That is the point!

            #~. @Dobby

            Turris Omnia - 4 Ports - 2 GB RAM / TurrisOS 7 Release (Btrfs)
            PC Engines APU4D4 - 4 Ports - 4 GB RAM / pfSense CE 2.7.2 Release (ZFS)
            PC Engines APU6B4 - 4 Ports - 4 GB RAM / pfSense+ (Plus) 24.03_1 Release (ZFS)

            G 1 Reply Last reply Jun 11, 2023, 5:05 PM Reply Quote 0
            • G
              GeorgeCZ58 @Dobby_
              last edited by Jun 11, 2023, 5:05 PM

              @Dobby_ I am buying Netgate HW for business. But for home it is too expensive solution :( APU was just acceptable. We usualy have WAN speed <100Mb, so no problem that it isnt so powerfull.

              D B 2 Replies Last reply Jun 11, 2023, 6:33 PM Reply Quote 0
              • D
                Dobby_ @GeorgeCZ58
                last edited by Jun 11, 2023, 6:33 PM

                @GeorgeCZ58

                Yep here too, but the APU7 should be sorted then with
                2,5 GB Ports, but if this will be hitting the market at one
                day I don´t know.

                #~. @Dobby

                Turris Omnia - 4 Ports - 2 GB RAM / TurrisOS 7 Release (Btrfs)
                PC Engines APU4D4 - 4 Ports - 4 GB RAM / pfSense CE 2.7.2 Release (ZFS)
                PC Engines APU6B4 - 4 Ports - 4 GB RAM / pfSense+ (Plus) 24.03_1 Release (ZFS)

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • B
                  bingo600 @GeorgeCZ58
                  last edited by bingo600 Jun 12, 2023, 1:24 PM Jun 12, 2023, 1:02 PM

                  @GeorgeCZ58 said in PC ENGINES EOL, trusted HW option?:

                  @Dobby_ I am buying Netgate HW for business. But for home it is too expensive solution :( APU was just acceptable. We usualy have WAN speed <100Mb, so no problem that it isnt so powerfull.

                  Too expensive and Not China ... Those doesn't go well ... Especially if you want new & low power

                  /Bingo

                  If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

                  pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                  QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                  CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                  LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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