My Intel Atom System - PfSense 1.2.3 and newer

pmb1010

q: you mention CF card "read and write'

So are you running full install or nanobsd(embedded type) install?

BTW:
Thanks for posting your stuff.

infinityloop

@SecretAsianMan:

I would definitely like to see the power consumption and CPU load figures at your normal load.

PPPoE
up: 1 MBit
down: 8 MBit

@pmb1010:

q: you mention CF card "read and write'

So are you running full install or nanobsd(embedded type) install?

downloaded the 1.2.3 Release LiveCD image
burned it on a CD
started up the system
did the basic config (interfaces assignment + LAN IP)
and finaly choose "99" install

@SecretAsianMan:

Thanks for posting your stuff.

pmb1010

aren't you worried about the issue of using CF card as read & write, where it "burns itself out" because of limited read/writes they can handle?

mhab12

The issue of CF wear is not a problem unless logging or packages are enabled/installed. Even then, with newer CF cards it's not nearly the problem it used to be. I have seen SLC CF cards popping up on the market recently too…

infinityloop

@pmb1010:

aren't you worried about the issue of using CF card as read & write, where it "burns itself out" because of limited read/writes they can handle?

Not yet.
It can not be worse than 3 dead HDD's in one year + it's a lot cheaper than a new HDD + uses a lot less power (good for electricity bill).
So even if i have to replace it once a year, it will cost me less. :D

indesman

I really like your setup and am looking at emulating it for a dual WAN router setup in my home. Did you choose the CF as a less expensive option to a SSHDD? Also, how did you install from a CD? Is there a drive in the case that's not listed in the specs you posted or is it possible to boot from a USB CD drive?

infinityloop

@indesman:

I really like your setup and am looking at emulating it for a dual WAN router setup in my home. Did you choose the CF as a less expensive option to a SSHDD?

Sort of.
A SSD would be overkill.
@indesman:

Also, how did you install from a CD? Is there a drive in the case that's not listed in the specs you posted or is it possible to boot from a USB CD drive?

I've connected an ordinary 5,25" DVD drive just for installing - i refused to buy a slim DVD drive "just" for a router. :)

evildave

@infinityloop:

For years i have used an old P2-350MHz to run PfSense. But during the last year i had 3 broken HDD's and its powerconsumtion of 74Watt was not very economical either.

Thats why i decided that i have to build a better system. :D
Since i've seen quite a few users asking for a PfSense compatible Intel Atom System, i thought that i might share mine.

At this is it:
-MoBo: MSI IM-945GSE-A

CPU: Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz

Chipset: Intel 945GSE + ICH7M

NIC: 2 x Intel 82574L GbE LAN

-RAM: Kingston 1GB DDR2 PC2-4200 non-ECC CL4 soDIMM 533MHz NTB
-HDD:

IDE to CF-Card Reader: Delock 91624

CF-Card: SanDisk CompactFlash Card Extreme III 4GB - 30MB/Sec Read and Write

-Case: Compucase 8K01
-Total Powerconsumption: 16W right now

Best thing is that PfSense 1.2.3 is working nicely. I did not expect that. Thought i would need to use 2.0 Beta. :)

The MSI board is an excellent near-embedded platform. Its a bit hard to find since its not a consumer board and is sold through their embedded/digital-signage channels though. Given a bit more budget I'd have used one for my home firewall rather than my USD125 project that currently runs it.

I have a hard time believing that power figure though.

I'm using a D510 CPU (total cpu+northbridge lower than an N270+945G) totally fanless running off a USB memory attached to a pinheader daughtercard, a 'vge' pci ether and nothing else and drawing over 20W (using a picoPSU DC-DC converter running off of a 12VDC regulated input).

(The Intel D510MO, as well as the previous generation Intel mini-itx board the 945CGLF2 makes an excellent pfsense platform btw. Only downside is a single 're' gigabit, but that is loads better than an 'rl' in my book.)

infinityloop

@evildave:

Only downside is a single 're' gigabit, but that is loads better than an 'rl' in my book.)

Indeed. the MSI IM-945GSE-A was the only mobo i could find where both NICs are Intel and not some realtek junk. :)

reitzmichnicht

I'm also running full install on CF Card. It was an old one 512MB and after 5 years it died. I just bought a new one and everything is ok again. This time 4GB so the wear leveling has more space to allocate new blocks.
And I also changed /tmp to RAMDisk, that should help a lot.