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    Multiple interface NIC's?

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    • K
      kevlatimer
      last edited by

      I have a 4-port d-link card in a m0n0wall, it's a DFE-580TX.  Was only about 90ukp I think.  Interfaces show up as ste (sundance?), don't support VLAN tagging in hardware but do handle long frames properly.  Can't say as I've had any problems with it.

      That said, it's only a 100meg card and 33MHz PCI - if you do find a gigabit card with more than 2 ports, it's going to have to be over some meaty bus to get anywhere near port-speed switching.  The only card I recall seeing with more than two ports was by Eomax(?) and was fibre-only.  I remember it being part of some VAX outfit…

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      • M
        MikaelS
        last edited by

        I'm running pfSense on a AMD k6 2 400Mhz 192MB with only one PCI and two ISA slots.
        In my current configuration im running WAN interfacer on a Realtech 8029 isa card and LAN interface on a Netgear FA311, but im getting lots of errors (incoming packets at the wan interface).
        Therefore im very interested at dual interface NIC's.

        Could someone recomend me a NIC that will work good with pfSense at a resonable price?

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        • N
          Numbski
          last edited by

          Could anyone post specific model numbers or links?  I'm in need of a few of these in short order, and for all of my Googling, I'm coming up empty.

          Gigabit and 10/100 links welcome.

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          • K
            KiFFuSeR
            last edited by

            I've had a project box with 2 Intel PRO/1000 MT Quad Port Server Adapter, they cost about 600EUR each 2 years ago, plus 1200€ for the 2,4Ghz Xeon box with PCI-X.

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            • JeGrJ
              JeGr LAYER 8 Moderator
              last edited by

              What about the ones, bundled with the Soekris devices?

              => http://soekris.com/lan16x1.htm

              Don't forget to upvote 👍 those who kindly offered their time and brainpower to help you!

              If you're interested, I'm available to discuss details of German-speaking paid support (for companies) if needed.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • R
                rds_correia
                last edited by

                What about the routerboard 44?
                It comes with 4x 10/100Mb lan ports and it costs about $95

                Check the bottom right of this page http://www.mikrotik.com/.
                And here is the detailed description page http://www.routerboard.com/rb44.html.
                It says it's BSD compatible but if I were you I'd send them an email just in case… ;)

                Off topic just to tease you guys -> look at this hardware http://www.routerboard.com/rb500.html  :P
                If only it would have a memory expansion slot capable of receiving some extra 128MB SoDIMM or something and if only we could make a pfSense compliant with a MIPS 4Kc CPU and if only it could boot from the CF card instead of the NAND memory…
                To many ifs but it would make it the perfect embedded platform because it's got so many expansion options and it's got a CPU 2 or 3 times faster than a SC1100.
                And I've seen prices starting from $200 for an RB532 with case. :o

                pfSense 2.2.4 running on a HP DL385 G5
                WAN bce(4) + LAN em(4) + OPTn em(4) with 10 VLANs + Snort + PPTP VPN soon to be trashed by OVPN

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                • N
                  Numbski
                  last edited by

                  How's this for insanity for you?

                  http://www.bvm-store.com/ProductDetail.asp?fdProductId=316

                  :o

                  Too bad you'd never be able to get enough cpu into a WRAP in order to make this worthwhile.  I've asked how much these interface modules cost, and what chipset they use.  Makes things interesting though, given that many of the Mini-ITX systems out there have 1 or 2 mini-pci slots available.  I've even seen a core-duo based system with two mini-pci slots available.  Be nice to have that with 4 gigabit ethernet interfaces and 1 10/100 interface. ;)

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                  • H
                    hoba
                    last edited by

                    heh, gigabit on a wrap is a waste of money but the linitx could also be upgraded with that, however don't know where to put the outlets.

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                    • N
                      Numbski
                      last edited by

                      No reply yet.  I'm actually able to think of a few systems that could get good use from these. ;)

                      Mac mini comes to mind (if I felt like machining the case….)

                      Maybe I could get an extra case-top off of eBay?  :D  Make an intel core duo mini into a firewall?  (Not too expensive...$700?)  Too bad it only has 1 mini-pci slot, and by default it's populated by an 802.11g card.  However, if you don't need wireless, then that gives you 3 Gigabit ethernet ports.

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                      • H
                        hoba
                        last edited by

                        keep in mind that the pci bus is a limitting factor.

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                        • N
                          Numbski
                          last edited by

                          Yeah, you're right of course.

                          Odd, they offer dual Gigabit, but only single 10/100 cards.  They tell you what chipset that is at least:

                          http://www.bvm-store.com/ProductDetail.asp?fdProductId=160

                          I had the impression that those are quality chipsets too.  Perhaps they have duals and just don't list them on the site?

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                          • N
                            Numbski
                            last edited by

                            Huh.  I'm starting to become of the impression that these people don't respond to e-mail.  Sad.  I sent a follow-up message yesterday.

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                            • N
                              Numbski
                              last edited by

                              Okay, now they responded:

                              "The MP-540 costs  £35.  It is not a stock item.  Delivery typically 3 weeks
                              from confirmed order.

                              We have the MP-541D2 in stock at £52.
                              This is a dual channel Gigabit unit and uses the Intel 82541PI controllers.

                              These can be ordered from our website but please note there is a minimum
                              order quantity of £100."

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                              • N
                                Numbski
                                last edited by

                                $98.31 for the dual model.  They require that you spend ~$200 minimum with them.

                                So you have to buy two to make it worth the money.  Now if I could just find a mini-itx system that had enough cpu and a pair of mini-pci slots, I'd be all set. :D

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                                • P
                                  pcatiprodotnet
                                  last edited by

                                  Could someone recommend a "cheap" 4-port Ethernet PCI card compatible with pfSense?
                                  Thanks, -pc

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                                  • JeGrJ
                                    JeGr LAYER 8 Moderator
                                    last edited by

                                    What is cheap for you? As already mentioned:

                                    http://soekris.com/lan16x1.htm

                                    would be a possibility.

                                    Don't forget to upvote 👍 those who kindly offered their time and brainpower to help you!

                                    If you're interested, I'm available to discuss details of German-speaking paid support (for companies) if needed.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • H
                                      hoba
                                      last edited by

                                      http://shopping.hacom.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=38_43&products_id=75 should work too and you get 2 mini PCIs on top. Ideal to be used for boxes with only one PCI slot but be prepared that you might need a better PSU in case you use this with an embedded system. Contact Hacom for verification if needed. Hacom is one of our recommended vendors.

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                                      • P
                                        pcatiprodotnet
                                        last edited by

                                        I just bought some; I was hoping for cheaper, but those are good recommendations.
                                        Thank you, -Pete

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                                        • C
                                          Criggie
                                          last edited by

                                          @pcatiprodotnet:

                                          Could someone recommend a "cheap" 4-port Ethernet PCI card compatible with pfSense?

                                          I have a crap 4 port dlink that works fine with the dc driver.  Cost me $50 on www.trademe.co.nz.  The model is a DFE-570-TX

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                                          • J
                                            Juve
                                            last edited by

                                            From my personnal experience,
                                                Intel Pro 1000 MT dual port -> ok
                                                Intel Pro 1000 GT quad port -> ok
                                                IBM dual port based on broadcom chips -> bad bad bad bad very bad

                                            I'm about to try Dlink dual and quad port cards, they are cheaper ;-)

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