Advice on Dual LAN mobo

craveness

Thanks for the responses guys, the DQ77KB does seem to be low cost and fits my needs!

EDIT: However, I'm now looking at the Gigabyte (just not sure how to power it)
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-1155-Intel-Motherboard-GA-H77N-WIFI/dp/B009JDTWVC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

fragged

If you don't need the WiFi card, I would go with one of the Intel motherboards for the Intel NIC's. To power either one you need a standard ATX power supply or preferably a DC-DC power supply (like: this and a 12 volt AC-DC adapter (Maybe: this?). One possibility is also to go with a case that integrates a DC-DC power supply and comes with the 12 volt brick too, but most I think are mini-itx and wont fit the PCI-E NIC.

GruensFroeschli

@craveness:

Thanks for the responses guys, the DQ77KB does seem to be low cost and fits my needs!

EDIT: However, I'm now looking at the Gigabyte (just not sure how to power it)
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-1155-Intel-Motherboard-GA-H77N-WIFI/dp/B009JDTWVC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I run this board in my home setup with an i3-3220T
To power it i use a 150W pico PSU ( http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-150-XT ) together with an old external Dell i had lying around ( this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-AC-Power-Supply-Adapter-Dell-Optiplex-SX270-SX270N-3R160-12V-150W-NEW-/110834720162 )

If you don't intend to run it full time. Be aware, that this board does not support WOL…

stephenw10

One of the things people like about that Intel board is that it has a dc-dc power supply built in so you only need an external power brick. Check the specs.

Steve

craveness

Thanks Steve, I didn't see that DC-DC power supply on the Intel board. So, that makes it more appealing and would cost less than the Gigabyte overall. I have an old 90W Dell power brick that I'll use. I'm looking at the Core i3 2100 for this but can't find a good price :\

stephenw10

Do you actually need an i3? What are hoping to do?
You can start out with some lesser CPU that is cheaper. The G620 and G530 have been used by other forum members to achieve high throughput. If it turns out you really do need something more powerful you can always upgrade later down the line.

If you already have the Dell power brick then you may as well try it but be aware that many Dells have an unusual 3 pin arrangement (the third connection inside the central pin) that may or may not affect matters.

Steve

thermo

What's your budget?
I bought a few of these at USD $638.4, not for pfsense, but the requirement that they be fanless, and with no mechanical disk. They use the DQ77KB and a streacom case which acts as a heatsink.
http://aleutia.com/relia-fanless-industrial-server

craveness

I don't have a need now for the i3 but reading through the forums it seemed like people prefer that (like your most http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,48229.msg254473.html#msg254473). I guess I need to research it some more. There will be two 25Mbit uplinks for about 200 users and I'm planning on using Squid and Captivate eventually.

BTW, thanks for the critical thinking!

stephenw10

Hmm, perhaps I should have engaged more brain when I wrote that. ::)
Really I meant any Sandy Bridge processor compares favourably with an Atom D525. I gave i3 as an example but even the lowliest Celeron is still way faster and needn't be any more expensive to buy or run if you do it right. Though the very low end Celerons have a tiny cache size which restricts them a lot.

The G530 will NAT/firewall >1Gbps. Throw Squid into the mix and it will slow down but even so 2x25Mb connections will be well within it's capability.

Have look at this thread: http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,45439.0.html

Steve

Datasiphon

I just bought the Gigabyte H77N-wifi and was wondering if the Mini PCIe Intel Centrino 2230 is supported by pfsense.
Can you confirm this works? or do I need to swap out the Mini PCIe card with a compatible one?

I was looking at the hardware compatible list but couldn't figure it out. Google searches came up with nothing too.

Thanks…

@GruensFroeschli:

@craveness:

Thanks for the responses guys, the DQ77KB does seem to be low cost and fits my needs!

EDIT: However, I'm now looking at the Gigabyte (just not sure how to power it)
http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-1155-Intel-Motherboard-GA-H77N-WIFI/dp/B009JDTWVC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I run this board in my home setup with an i3-3220T
To power it i use a 150W pico PSU ( http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-150-XT ) together with an old external Dell i had lying around ( this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-AC-Power-Supply-Adapter-Dell-Optiplex-SX270-SX270N-3R160-12V-150W-NEW-/110834720162 )

If you don't intend to run it full time. Be aware, that this board does not support WOL…

stephenw10

It's not supported. I don't think its supported even in the most recent FreeBSD code yet.
The most complete and up to date source of wifi card informtion is here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AojFUXcbH0ROdHgwYkFHbkRUdV9hVWljVWl5SXkxbFE&hl=en

Steve

Datasiphon

Steve,

Thanks for the great spreadsheet! It seems Atheros Cards are the most compatible but it doesn't identify any specific models or chipsets. I found a linux vendor selling a Mini PCI-e half height card with Atheros AR9285, then Amazon has a bunch different Atheros options. Anybody know which chipset to go with?

Thanks in advance.

@stephenw10:

It's not supported. I don't think its supported even in the most recent FreeBSD code yet.
The most complete and up to date source of wifi card informtion is here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AojFUXcbH0ROdHgwYkFHbkRUdV9hVWljVWl5SXkxbFE&hl=en

Steve

wallabybob

A search of the wireless forum for ar9285 showed a number of entries reporting experience with different cards using that chipset.