New PFSense install - Mini ITX, ALIX, or another option?
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I am looking to setup a new PFSense install. Currently I run PFSense on my ESXi server at home, but I want to run it to its own standalone box.
I am looking at putting it near all my other computer equipment in the shelving unit I have, so I want it to look somewhat decent…
I have looking at the following two things, but obviously they are much much different in form factor and power (cpu). I don't care what power it actually uses (watts) but I do care that it can run the packages I want to run.
I want to be able to run snort, openvpn, pftop, antivirus and webcaching....
Here are the boxes I am looking at:
One of the Mini ITX boxes here: http://www.mitxpc.com/products.asp?cat=209
or the ALIX box here: http://store.netgate.com/Netgate-m1n1wall-2D3-2D13-Blue-P217C61.aspx
any suggestions? will the alix box be able to run all of those?
Thanks!
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None of the currrent Alix options can handle all that and Atoms will have a hard time doing the job. You should go with a Sandy Bridge Pentium or better.
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really?
what would you say is the heaviest hitter of what I listed?
Really trying to shoot for under 300 dollars for this build
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really?
what would you say is the heaviest hitter of what I listed?
Really trying to shoot for under 300 dollars for this build
If you want to be able to support a lot of packages (although you haven't mentioned what kind of bandwidth we're talking about) you're probably going to want to get out of the Atom range of CPUs; certainly out of Geode's or similar low CPU clock processors.
I would suggest to look at a small desktop, especially a used one with a Core2Duo or something similar. You can get decent looking and very capable machines for well under $100, at least in the US. Something like an HP DC7700 small form factor, or a DC7800 small form factor is available with a Core2Duo, takes 8GB of RAM, x64 capable, has multiple low profile PCI-Express slots (at least an x16 and an x1) for extra NICs. Put in a small modern SSD, like 32GB or 64GB and you should be around $200 out the door. It's a little larger than most mini-itx machines, but still pretty small and the DC7800's almost look like an appliance anyway.
If you have a VLAN capable switch you could go with some of the Ultra Small Form Factor type machines, which are, obviously, even smaller, but are more difficult to add an extra NIC to.
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yes a good point…. i am currently running on a 25MB/1MB DSL connection here..... not the most bandwidth, but want something that can scale if i go somewhere with a faster connection.
I will look into the HPs
The Sandybridge also comes in a mini-itx format, so I will look into that as well.... any recommendations for a mini-itx sandy bridge?
I do have an extra PC laying around which could do this, but I really wanted an "appliance" type machine
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Is noise an issue for you?
You can build a low end Sandy Bridge machine for a surprisingly low cost. Use a cpu from the low end, G620 say, and a miniITX motherboard. The cost of the case and heatsink/fan can add up quickly. There are a few threads here detailing such builds.E.g. http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,44269.0.html
Steve
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Thanks I will take a look…. Noise is not an issue, just decent looks.. The shelving unit i have already has noise, but at least the wife approves of the looks :D
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I am planning to do some experimenting with Turion64 ML/MT and socket754 desktop motherboards..
with bios properly recognizing the cpu, working 64bit system could cost next to nothing (since both the cpu and mobo are old tech, 5-10€ each around here I don't even care if some hardware dies during the testing)also, on desktop motherboards there are more than 1-2 PCI/PCIe slots to play with.. Turions have 24/35W max.TDP, when idle they draw very little..add MMX, 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, x86_64, NX, PowerNow!, Deeper Sleep and they seem to be pretty nice option..
Gonna see the results by beginning of March.. ML28 and MT32 ordered, also 2 different Asrock motherboards.. :D
