Will this Hardware take me close to 1000/1000Mbit, pls check before I order.
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The problem is the socket 1155 boards are very new and the driver support hasn't caught up with them yet. Obviously on Windows it's not that bad of a situation, and on some of the bleeding edge Linux also support is good, but I would have concerns that PFSense and FreeBSD 8.1 supports it correctly already. Most of the 1155 board I've seen are using a new Intel NIC that I know is not on the 8.1 or 8.2 HCL yet.
It was the same with the prior generation socket 1156 boards - it always takes a bit for the drivers to catch up.
John
Issues with the X9 series and FreeBSD 8.1 makes it an iffy PF sense 2.0 platform. I agree that once driver issues are resolved it makes sense to consider this.
I would recommend rather than using the X8SIL series Supermicro motherboards you take a look at the new LGA1155 socket ones like the X9SCM coupled with the newer Intel Core-i3 2100. It's a newer architecture and probably slightly faster/more power efficient.
English not my native language, I guess Iffy = unstable ?
Will I be able to run pfsense 2 on Intel 1155 builds with eXpress NIC's at all?
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Don't confuse PCI-X, an older less-desirable server slot interface, with PCI-e (PCI-Express) which is what you want.
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Feels like I have to try and buy to be sure.
I will order and I get back when I got time to assemble it and test for pfsense v2.
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If you're that desperate to save money and get a desktop board, then go for the H61 chipset boards with a pair of Intel PCIe x1 GBe NICs instead.
The H61 still supports the Sandy Bridge Core-i processors with their IGP. You just lose 2 Sata ports (for a total of 4) and IGP overclocking. Neither are important for a pfSense build but you do save US$50 easily.The MSI H61M-E33 board runs for US$64.99 at Newegg compared to the GA-H67M-UD2H at US$129.99.
The Intel EXPI9301CT bulk pack variant runs for US$27.99 each.
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Those NICs are identical to the ones built into the SuperMicro X8SIL(-F). Unless you have some reason to want to use add-in NICs, save yourself some cash (and space) and get the SuperMicro board. If you need 4 ports then consider the X8SIE-LN4(F).
How are the NICs mounted? I couldn't find anything other than a top down pic of that board.
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What do you mean "mounted"? They're integrated on to the motherboard and the ports are part of the I/O area, right next to the USB, Video, etc.
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What do you mean "mounted"? They're integrated on to the motherboard and the ports are part of the I/O area, right next to the USB, Video, etc.
All four? Interesting.
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@Bai:
What do you mean "mounted"? They're integrated on to the motherboard and the ports are part of the I/O area, right next to the USB, Video, etc.
All four? Interesting.
Yes, for the X8SIE-LN4 all 4 are on the motherboard.
If you get the "F" variant then the 5th port for IPMI is there as well, right above the USB.
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NIC's on motherboard can share resources,if you looking for raw performance and want to be sure I would go external cards. 100Mbit not a problem but around 500+ Mbit it's another thing.
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I've had no issues pushing the two Gig-E ports to ~100MB/s on my X8SIL-F (simultaneously). Intel LoM parts are just as good as an add-in card if you're talking about the same chip. I'd stay away from Realtek and the like though.
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NIC's on motherboard can share resources,if you looking for raw performance and want to be sure I would go external cards. 100Mbit not a problem but around 500+ Mbit it's another thing.
That is for PCI or PCI-X(tended) NICs. The PCI-E(xpress) NICs do not share a common bus bandwidth like with the former 2 types and they can reach their maximum speeds each up to the limits of the platform or the capabilities of the host and client.
