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    Build Pfsense router

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    • C
      Clear-Pixel
      last edited by

      What makes Pfsense more flexible and powerful than all of the available open source firewalls?

      Its the ability to easily add third party packages to increase security and functionality. To run most packages you need lots of memory and CPU power, if you are lacking either of the two, you may not be able to utilize all the powerful options available to the Pfsense platform.

      Why would you want to limit the possible additional security and functionality that third parties have to offer Pfsense?  :D

      HP EliteBook 2530p Laptop - Core2 Duo SL9600 @ 2.13Ghz - 4 GB Ram -128GB SSD
      Atheros Mini PCI-E as Access Point (AR5BXB63H/AR5007EG/AR2425)
      Single Ethernet Port - VLAN
      Cisco SG300 10-port Gigabit Managed Switch
      Cisco DPC3008 Cable Modem  30/4 Mbps
      Pfsense 2.1-RELEASE (amd64)
      –------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Network Power Consumption - 29 Watts

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • J
        jasonlitka
        last edited by

        @Clear-Pixel:

        What makes Pfsense more flexible and powerful than all of the available open source firewalls?

        Its the ability to easily add third party packages to increase security and functionality. To run most packages you need lots of memory and CPU power, if you are lacking either of the two, you may not be able to utilize all the powerful options available to the Pfsense platform.

        Why would you want to limit the possible additional security and functionality that third parties have to offer Pfsense? :D

        Power consumption, cost, simply don't need them.  The list goes on.

        I can break anything.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • C
          Clear-Pixel
          last edited by

          @Jason:

          @Clear-Pixel:

          What makes Pfsense more flexible and powerful than all of the available open source firewalls?

          Its the ability to easily add third party packages to increase security and functionality. To run most packages you need lots of memory and CPU power, if you are lacking either of the two, you may not be able to utilize all the powerful options available to the Pfsense platform.

          Why would you want to limit the possible additional security and functionality that third parties have to offer Pfsense? :D

          Power consumption, cost, simply don't need them.  The list goes on.

          If that's the case, why don't you go to Best Buy …

          Intellinet - Wireless Router - IEEE 802.11n  $24.99
          http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Intellinet+-+Wireless+Router+-+IEEE+802.11n/3999869.p?id=1218446801789&skuId=3999869

          HP EliteBook 2530p Laptop - Core2 Duo SL9600 @ 2.13Ghz - 4 GB Ram -128GB SSD
          Atheros Mini PCI-E as Access Point (AR5BXB63H/AR5007EG/AR2425)
          Single Ethernet Port - VLAN
          Cisco SG300 10-port Gigabit Managed Switch
          Cisco DPC3008 Cable Modem  30/4 Mbps
          Pfsense 2.1-RELEASE (amd64)
          –------------------------------------------------------------
          Total Network Power Consumption - 29 Watts

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • J
            jasonlitka
            last edited by

            You've got a bit of an attitude problem. We don't need sarcasm here do please try to make your comments constructive.

            In the event that that wasn't sarcasm and that you were being serious, pfSense provides far more functionality, performance, and security out of the box than any $30 "router" you'll pick up at Best Buy.

            Also, not everyone here wants to have their edge network handled by a 5 year old laptop with a single NIC and vLANs.  If you're a business on a tight budget then low-end but new hardware is likely a requirement for any deployment.  If you're a home user then your laptop method might be ok but the requirement of only using a single NIC and vLANs adds complexity and is a security risk if not configured correctly (and I've seen a LOT of switches not properly secured.

            I can break anything.

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            • C
              Clear-Pixel
              last edited by

              You should read your own comment from Yesterday again at 12:18:54 pm…. My opinion was appropriate, but your response was belligerent!

              Anyhow .... your opinion and my opinion my differ but as for businesses they look for value ... if your incapable of providing a Complete Value orientated solution, there's always a competent solution lurking in the shadows!

              HP EliteBook 2530p Laptop - Core2 Duo SL9600 @ 2.13Ghz - 4 GB Ram -128GB SSD
              Atheros Mini PCI-E as Access Point (AR5BXB63H/AR5007EG/AR2425)
              Single Ethernet Port - VLAN
              Cisco SG300 10-port Gigabit Managed Switch
              Cisco DPC3008 Cable Modem  30/4 Mbps
              Pfsense 2.1-RELEASE (amd64)
              –------------------------------------------------------------
              Total Network Power Consumption - 29 Watts

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • P
                phreshjive
                last edited by

                Alternate idea Clear-Pixel: http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,60336.0.html

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                • C
                  Clear-Pixel
                  last edited by

                  Let me clear a few things up.

                  Pfsense is a very flexible firewall because you have the option to run a basic install which works fine for the Atom platform or even a Alix.

                  You also have many add on packages which can easily bring a Atom platform to its knees.

                  The majority of people running Pfsense are very technically inclined individuals which at some point will want to use options which are available to extend there firewall beyond a normal consumer firewall.

                  For an individual that just wants a cool Pfsense firewall for bragging rights, yea maybe a Atom platform is right for them. But if they want to extend there firewall they will find they have limited themselves by using the Atom platform.

                  For a very simple crude example using CPU Passmarks:
                  Total cost of platform / CPU passmarks  = Cost of Productivity

                  The Atom platform is the lowest productive yielding product Intel has in there product line!

                  It's very much like calculating the cost and efficiency of labor. Your computer is your slave, it all comes down to what you payed for your slave, and how productive it is.

                  If you look at the energy and materials required to produce a matx motherboard they are all very close no matter what platform. If you believe what the marketers say, than you have become fallen prey to the Marketers.

                  @ phreshjive looks to be one of the best prices I've seen. They should sale for based on how much work they can perform.

                  HP EliteBook 2530p Laptop - Core2 Duo SL9600 @ 2.13Ghz - 4 GB Ram -128GB SSD
                  Atheros Mini PCI-E as Access Point (AR5BXB63H/AR5007EG/AR2425)
                  Single Ethernet Port - VLAN
                  Cisco SG300 10-port Gigabit Managed Switch
                  Cisco DPC3008 Cable Modem  30/4 Mbps
                  Pfsense 2.1-RELEASE (amd64)
                  –------------------------------------------------------------
                  Total Network Power Consumption - 29 Watts

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • E
                    extide
                    last edited by

                    The list in the OP is good, just switch out the CPU for the G1610, as it is 22nm Ivy based and will use less power.

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                    • C
                      Clear-Pixel
                      last edited by

                      @extide:

                      The list in the OP is good, just switch out the CPU for the G1610, as it is 22nm Ivy based and will use less power.

                      Yes …. very nice setup

                      The reason I brought up my laptop ... OP was looking to lower his cost, well its very difficult to beat the price of a quality used laptop for all the advantages it has to offer.

                      HP EliteBook 2530p Laptop - Core2 Duo SL9600 @ 2.13Ghz - 4 GB Ram -128GB SSD
                      Atheros Mini PCI-E as Access Point (AR5BXB63H/AR5007EG/AR2425)
                      Single Ethernet Port - VLAN
                      Cisco SG300 10-port Gigabit Managed Switch
                      Cisco DPC3008 Cable Modem  30/4 Mbps
                      Pfsense 2.1-RELEASE (amd64)
                      –------------------------------------------------------------
                      Total Network Power Consumption - 29 Watts

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • P
                        phreshjive
                        last edited by

                        @Clear-Pixel:

                        The majority of people running Pfsense are very technically inclined individuals which at some point will want to use options which are available to extend there firewall beyond a normal consumer firewall.

                        For an individual that just wants a cool Pfsense firewall for bragging rights, yea maybe a Atom platform is right for them. But if they want to extend there firewall they will find they have limited themselves by using the Atom platform.

                        For myself, I just wanted the ability to run my VPN directly on the router without a loss of bandwidth attributable to the CPU in the router in addition to enterprise-grade wireless.  There isn't a single consumer-grade router that could perform the VPN aspect.  Even the coveted Asus Dark Knight couldn't.  A sad state of affairs indeed.

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