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

    Cheapest hardware for handling a 50/50Mbit WAN?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved
    Hardware
    6
    7
    2.8k
    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.
    • G
      GeeZuZz
      last edited by

      I currently run PFsense as a virtual machine on a very old PC. I'm unable to use all available bandwidth (50/50Mbit) because the CPU load is too high.

      So I'm wondering if there's any cheap hardware suitable for my needs? It doesn't need to handle very heavy traffic - only 1-2 users. But it must be able to handle torrents at full speed. Preferably not a full desktop PC (noise/power consumption).

      I have an MSI Wind Netbook (Intel Atom N270 @1.60ghz, 2GB RAM). Would that work? It only has 1 NIC, so I guess i need to buy a USB to RJ45 adapter.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        srynoname
        last edited by

        N270 with Hyperthreading handles ~15 MB/s (=30 MB/s throughput) :-)

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

          @GeeZuZz:

          I currently run PFsense as a virtual machine on a very old PC. I'm unable to use all available bandwidth (50/50Mbit) because the CPU load is too high.

          On an old PC (how old?) you may get a lot of CPU back by running pfSense on the "bare metal".

          @GeeZuZz:

          I have an MSI Wind Netbook (Intel Atom N270 @1.60ghz, 2GB RAM). Would that work? It only has 1 NIC,

          You could use a VLAN capable switch as a "port multiplier" for the single NIC. What is the brand and model number of the NIC?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • G
            GeeZuZz
            last edited by

            @wallabybob:

            On an old PC (how old?) you may get a lot of CPU back by running pfSense on the "bare metal".

            Very old - AMD Athlon XP 1800+ (1.5Ghz). It's used as a server (Windows Server 2003), that's why i run PFsense in a virtual machine (have done it for 5 years with <10Mbit WAN, never been a problem!).

            @wallabybob:

            You could use a VLAN capable switch as a "port multiplier" for the single NIC. What is the brand and model number of the NIC?

            I don't have a VLAN compatible switch… Also i don't know anything about the NIC (PC currently without OS and I can't find any info online.) I'm pretty sure it's Realtek.

            But i just ordered a very cheap USB to RJ45 adapter so I'm going to give that a try.

            Anyway, are there no recommendations on other hardware?

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • M
              matguy
              last edited by

              I've been partial to HP business machines, lately.  Depending on your geographical location, you can probably get a SFF DC7700 for under $100 shipped on Ebay with a Core2Duo.  They're good on power, quiet, and has a full PCI-Express x16 slot as well as an x1 slot (in SFF and Tower models.)  The SFF will require a low profile bracket on any cards installed, though.  If you do have a switch that handles VLAN's an UltraSlim 7700 would be great; they're really small and still cheap.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • N
                NOYB
                last edited by

                @GeeZuZz:

                …
                Anyway, are there no recommendations on other hardware?

                You precluded everything by saying "cheapest".  Nobody knows what "cheapest" is.  It's different for everyone.

                In your case sounds like "cheapest" may be running on current bare metal with ether a USB NIC or VLAN capable switch.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  Almost anything you have laying around already will be capable of 50Mbps throughput. Your netbook will do it. I have a small collection of old computers here which are on their way to be recycled all of which could easily do it and they were all given to me for nothing. So 'cheapest' is free.

                  Do you need to run any packages (Squid, Snort etc)? Or use VPNs?
                  Do you have any other requirements such as many interfaces or quiet running?

                  Steve

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