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

    Newbie home router build - need suggestions

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    18 Posts 4 Posters 5.6k 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.
    • W
      wallabybob
      last edited by

      @KM:

      Is there anything I should be looking for, or anything I should avoid in a switch?

      I would check the specs to ensure it has enough bandwidth to run all the physical ports at line rate, that it supports "enough" VLANs and I would look for a fanless switch. (I have an old 10/100 switch which has the mildly unpleasant habit of emitting grinding noises to remind me that one or more of the fans is terminally ill.)

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • K
        KM
        last edited by

        Great! I really appreciate the help sorting all this out. I'm looking for a managed switch, correct? I'll surf around the forum here because I'm pretty sure there are some suggestions already floating around.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • W
          wallabybob
          last edited by

          @KM:

          I'm looking for a managed switch, correct?

          I'm not sure that all managed switches have VLAN capability. I expect all switches with VLAN capability will be described as "managed switches".

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • K
            KM
            last edited by

            Would this be a good choice for my needs?
            http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122381CVF

            I don't really need 8 ports (5 would do nicely), but I'm sure I'll find some use for them.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • B
              biggsy
              last edited by

              I have a couple of those switches and they are pretty good for the price.

              The only issue with them is that they have a crappy NTP client that, because it just requests every 64 seconds, will force any strict NTP server to give it the "Kiss of Death".   The NTP server in pfSense doesn't complain though.  I take that back  :(

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • K
                KM
                last edited by

                Is this a big problem? Any other switch suggestions around or below this price point? It can be less than 8 ports.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • K
                  KM
                  last edited by

                  Will this NIC work? Seems like a good deal.
                  http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Dell-X3959-Intel-PRO-1000-Dual-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-PCI-Express-Network-Card-/230781877556?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bbabfd34

                  Thanks for the help!

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • B
                    biggsy
                    last edited by

                    Is this a big problem?

                    Not a problem at all if you can live with a few seconds drift in the local clock each day.  Only relevant if you are logging and need accurate timestamps from the switch.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • K
                      KM
                      last edited by

                      Anyone know if the above NIC will work for my application? These NIC's look like a good deal and with the PCI-e interface I shouldn't have any problems with overloading, right?

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • T
                        taryezveb
                        last edited by

                        @KM:

                        Will this NIC work? Seems like a good deal.
                        http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Dell-X3959-Intel-PRO-1000-Dual-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-PCI-Express-Network-Card-/230781877556?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bbabfd34

                        @KM:

                        Anyone know if the above NIC will work for my application? These NIC's look like a good deal and with the PCI-e interface I shouldn't have any problems with overloading, right?

                        Yes, that Intel NIC should work just fine.

                        I bought a similar NIC from ebay and has worked great:
                        http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=350513539530&si=pUKS45vXwy9SShprAaeU5dhVZq8%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AL%3AOC%3AUS%3A1123&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • K
                          KM
                          last edited by

                          Great, thank you for the verification. I have ordered one of these cards. I read somewhere that these cards need at least pci-e x4, meaning that I wouldn't be able to run it off of a standard pci-e x1 slot. Is this correct? If this is the case I don't really consider it a draw back I'm just wondering because it affects my motherboard selection.

                          Thanks

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • T
                            taryezveb
                            last edited by

                            According to Intel:

                            Compatible with x4, x8, and x16 full-height and low-profile PCI Express* slots

                            http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/network-adapters/gigabit-network-adapters/pro-1000-pt-dp.html

                            I use mine in a x16 PCI Express slot.

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