Possibly the perfect firewall device? (SheevaPlug)

DWAyotte · Feb 27, 2009, 7:04 PM

I don't know if anyone has seen this: http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41525/136/

I wonder if this could potentially be one awesome firewall solution if you could use a USB to Ethernet adapter and somehow get pfSense on it? Has anyone had ane experience with this or similar device? I am highly motivated to try and get it to work if I can figure out a way to install pfSense on it before I buy it. :)

ktims · Feb 27, 2009, 8:16 PM

This is an ARM-based device. It won't run pfSense, and it couldn't really be ported as there's no ARM FreeBSD port. It could make an interesting firewall device though, with a VLAN switch and Linux (or maybe OpenBSD if it will work) instead.

cheesyboofs · Feb 28, 2009, 11:44 AM

@ktims:

there's no ARM FreeBSD port.

Not strictly True

jahonix · Mar 2, 2009, 11:28 AM

I don't see the benefit over currently availabe and proven PC Engines or Soekris hardware, so why go through all the hassle?
This is a question, not a rant (for those who like to misinterpret such postings…)

Seth · Mar 2, 2009, 1:07 PM

Can anybody say AirPort Express.

I would love a device that I could load pfSense on that would be a direct replacement for an AirPort Express.

g4m3c4ck · Mar 2, 2009, 10:54 PM

@Seth:

Can anybody say AirPort Express.

I would love a device that I could load pfSense on that would be a direct replacement for an AirPort Express.

Good point! I found this little guy right here http://www.slashgear.com/toradex-robin-atom-cpu-on-credit-card-sized-mainboard-2735953 that make me ponder what else I could use it for ;D

ftcsm · Mar 3, 2009, 9:37 PM

I would really love to have it on SheevaPlug or any ARM computer for some reasons, two of them are the most important to me:

1 - 5W consumption (maybe a little more with a USB HDD or pen drive, USB ethernet or wireless adapter), perfect for SOHO or home
2 - no hassle small space, "plug and forget", little watts figure meaning less heat and less problems.

A SheevaPlug with 2 ethernets, 2 USBs (even if a little bigger) would be awesome.

storkus · Mar 4, 2009, 7:07 AM

You forget there's also the the fact that, not being an Intel instruction set, any kind of Intel-compiled binary won't run so it should increase your security.

Mike

billm · Mar 7, 2009, 2:09 PM

@g4m3c4ck:

@Seth:

Can anybody say AirPort Express.

I would love a device that I could load pfSense on that would be a direct replacement for an AirPort Express.

Good point! I found this little guy right here http://www.slashgear.com/toradex-robin-atom-cpu-on-credit-card-sized-mainboard-2735953 that make me ponder what else I could use it for ;D

The cost of the device is double what's listed on slashgear as you need the carrier board to actually make it do anything. At that price, a cheap much faster PC is a better option.

–Bill