Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Multiple interface NIC's?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    28 Posts 11 Posters 14.5k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • 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. ;)

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • 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.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • 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.

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

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

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • 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?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • 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.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • 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."

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • 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

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • P
                      pcatiprodotnet
                      last edited by

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

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • 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.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • P
                            pcatiprodotnet
                            last edited by

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

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • 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

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • 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 ;-)

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • N
                                  Numbski
                                  last edited by

                                  Planning to go googling, but since the PCI bus has been brought up as a limiting factor, anyone seen any PCI Express (NOT PCI-X) 8x or 16x multiple interface cards?  Should be able to get multi-gigabit that way, right?

                                  Just five mins of googling turned this up, but I have no idea about compatibility:

                                  http://www.alacritech.com/html/SEN2100_Accelerator.shtml

                                  I will tell you that I think that company is a bit too rich for my blood.  Take a look at CDW's pricing on single interface cards:

                                  http://www.cdw.com/shop/search/Results.aspx?key=alacritech&platform=pc&x=13&y=13

                                  :o

                                  That garners a great big. WTF????

                                  I know they want you to use that with iSCSI stuff, but still….if it's worth that kinda cash, use fiber. :P

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • N
                                    Numbski
                                    last edited by

                                    Speaking of cheap, this seller has listed about 10 of these on ebay.  Have no idea if they would work with FreeBSD i386 or not.  Also, looking at it, don't think the card would fit into my Hacom firewalls…64-bit PCI?  Maybe?  He says it's a "sun" branded one.

                                    http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-PCI-QUAD-FAST-ETHERNET-CARD_W0QQitemZ9743050552QQihZ008QQcategoryZ51195QQcmdZViewItem

                                    Or heck, the search term that should be obvious that wasn't to me for some reason:

                                    http://search.ebay.com/quad-ethernet_W0QQbsZSearchQQfposZ63021QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsadisZ200QQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ2QQsofocusZbs

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • N
                                      Numbski
                                      last edited by

                                      Please be aware of the following bug.  Been haunting me on the Hacom units for the last week:

                                      http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/query-pr.cgi?pr=i386/88610

                                      When we're talking multi-interface systems, this becomes an issue.  I was trying to build an 11 interface box (to handle all of the carp interfaces since you can't alias) and if it weren't for this bug I'd have no problems…

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • First post
                                        Last post
                                      Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.