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    Warning: Dell PE R410 & R510 Servers No Good for pfSense

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
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    • T
      the.it.dude
      last edited by

      jimp,

      I tried installing FreeBSD 8.2 today.  The Stock FreeBSD did not recognize the SAS 6/ir RAID Controller.  So I couldn't even get past that hurdle.  Not sure why pfSense recognized it without a hitch?  Anyway,  I've fallen behind too far on other server builds to spend too much more time on this.  For now, I'm just going to leave our existing Internet Firewall on the same hardware and upgrade to 2.0.  For our internal firewall, I have to do something because I need more interfaces.  I'm debating between untangle and vyatta right now.  (Both install/run fine on the R510)

      beafool,

      Is that setting available in the GUI?

      Thanks,

      Jeff

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      • B
        beafool
        last edited by

        I added mine via GUI under advance setting and system tunable.  For the netstat command, I think you can run via GUI after install command prompt add-on.

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        • T
          tacfit
          last edited by

          Interesting… we're using an R210 and it's working like a dream.

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          • T
            the.it.dude
            last edited by

            Oh sure…  Rub it in  ;)

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            • T
              the.it.dude
              last edited by

              I may have a breakthrough…. :)

              Based on what I read in another thread, I tried several different keyboards on my R410 server.  I came across a keyboard that consistently produces a smooth install and configuration.  The only difference between this keyboard and the other 3 that I tried is that this one is 5v, 1.5A.  Whereas the other keyboards are 5v, 100 mA.

              I never would have guessed that a different amperage on the keyboard would affect the software... (especially since linux installed fine)

              I'm going to try this keyboard on the R510 and post back my results next week.

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                tacfit
                last edited by

                Surely it's not the keyboard…

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                  the.it.dude
                  last edited by

                  I guess I got to hopefull  :(

                  Tried the same keyboard on the R510 and the install has hung up at "Configuring WAN Interface…"

                  I may go back and give ESXi another go...

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                  • T
                    the.it.dude
                    last edited by

                    Back on the R410…

                    Swapped out 4-port PCI-e Intel NIC w/ 2-port PCI-e Broadcom NIC  (didn't need that many interfaces)

                    Now the install is hanging during the install to the hard drive again...

                    I give up on these freaking boxes!!!!

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                    • P
                      photonman
                      last edited by

                      Load ESX 4.1 and build a VM pfSense

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                      • H
                        heper
                        last edited by

                        i second that

                        pfsense runs very well on esxi with dell Rxxx

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                        • T
                          the.it.dude
                          last edited by

                          I did try that and I posted in another thread that I saw considerable (at least what I think) throughput loss compared to pfSense installed on bare metal (I was able to install pfSense on the R410 without any of the PCIe NICs installed).  I saw approximately a 50 mbits/sec loss using ESXi.  For completeness here is my testing methology:

                          Using iperf ("iperf -s" on 1 laptop and "iperf -c x.x.x.x -t 30" on the other laptop) with a crossover cable between 2 vostro laptops yields an average of 172 mbits/s.  I did the same test thru the following firewall distros:  Here are those results:

                          Laptop -> Laptop via Crossover cable

                          172 Mbits/sec

                          pfSense on bare metal

                          Intel -> Broadcom = 140 mbit/sec

                          pfSense on ESXi using e1000 (with or without vm tools installed)

                          Intel -> Broadcom = 85 mbit/sec

                          Astaro

                          Intel -> Intel = 165 Mbits/sec
                          Intel -> Broadcom = 147 Mbits/sec
                          Broadcom -> Intel = 132 Mbits/sec
                          Broadcom -> Broadcom = 140 Mbits/sec

                          Vyatta

                          Intel -> Broadcom = 114 Mbits/sec

                          Untangle

                          Intel -> Intel = 165 Mbits/sec
                          Intel -> Broadcom = 160 Mbits/sec
                          Broadcom -> Intel = 200 Mbits/sec
                          Broadcom -> Broadcom = 200 Mbits/sec

                          Note: the NICs in use also made a difference.  When I did the pfSense test, I only tested going from Intel -> Broadcom.

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