Hardware recommendations?

stephenw10

@Stephen, That is a non gigabit model.
What are the models that ARE gigabit?

The X550e has 4 Marvell Gigabit NICs. The details on that ebay auction are wrong.
Hardware details of all the fireboxes are listed on the wiki page: http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/PfSense_on_Watchguard_Firebox

Steve

rjcrowder

@kejianshi:

So, frequent writes will kill a cheaper SSD. By cheaper, I mean anything that isn't industrial SSD is a gamble in my opinion for full install with SSD.

Gotta agree with this… I've killed several cheaper SSD's. The latest is an Intel and it seems fine so far.

kejianshi

SLC SSD is just fairly bullet-proof anyway, which is probably what you have. But most people don't seem to get that if it isn't SLC its just a matter of time.

Dr_Drache

@kejianshi:

So, frequent writes will kill a cheaper SSD. By cheaper, I mean anything that isn't industrial SSD is a gamble in my opinion for full install with SSD.

Gotta agree with this… I've killed several cheaper SSD's. The latest is an Intel and it seems fine so far.

@kejianshi:

SLC SSD is just fairly bullet-proof anyway, which is probably what you have. But most people don't seem to get that if it isn't SLC its just a matter of time.

this isn't as true as fear mongers like to think, if you treat the device like it has a finite write, it will last a long long time.
I have a cache on a old kingston MLC 30gb , still going strong with large amount of writes,
but, things like non-journaled, noatime, nodirtime, (and in newer systems/drives) discard, ALMOST makes the difference between the 2 techs nothing more than dollar signs, now once you go to capped SSD's, then we are in a totally different market.

tester_02

I ran a Kingston(intel) 40gb ssd for 2 years on a physical live install of pfsense (1.2.x versions) with no issues before I switch to virtual. It's now running as a bootup drive on a server. I think people's fear of wearing out SSD's is overrated. If you know you have a high write setup, then that would be the only place I would worry (I do have a HD on such a server). All I can say is stay away from brands that don't have a reputation as well as anything too small (so it has wear space).

kejianshi

I'll agree that if you take all kinds of precautions to reduce writes to a MLC you MIGHT be ok, or you MIGHT be gambling.
SLC doesn't cost a bunch more for no reason at all - Its just better.

My opinion is still up in the air on the newer MLCs with sandforce and "duraclass" garbage disposal.

If I needed my full install install of pfsense to double as my volleyball or soccer ball, I'd use SSD for sure, otherwise as long as my pfsense sits on a table and shock/impact isn't an issue, I'm waiting on TRIM to be well sorted out.

Dr_Drache

@kejianshi:

I'll agree that if you take all kinds of precautions to reduce writes to a MLC you MIGHT be ok, or you MIGHT be gambling.
SLC doesn't cost a bunch more for no reason at all - Its just better.

My opinion is still up in the air on the newer MLCs with sandforce and "duraclass" garbage disposal.

If I needed my full install install of pfsense to double as my volleyball or soccer ball, I'd use SSD for sure, otherwise as long as my pfsense sits on a table and shock/impact isn't an issue, I'm waiting on TRIM to be well sorted out.

trim works fine up-to-date BSD releases, pfsense is just on the backside of that curve, it's coming! soon!

kejianshi

Yeah - I'm sort of expecting it in 2.1 but not too sure. I've seen some of the devs talk it.
It would be a great thing to have. I know its just a matter of time.

rjcrowder

According to this http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,62648.msg338372.html#msg338372 you can enable it in 2.1 Haven't tried it yet because I haven't switched to 2.1 for my "prod" firewall.

CaptainWTF

Anyone know what the status is for pfsense support on these e-350 APU's?

Ecnerwal

@CaptainWTF:

Anyone know what the status is for pfsense support on these e-350 APU's?

Short answer - load up the LiveCD and try it. You stated that you "had this to play with" - so play with it.

Long answer that's still short - there's a compatibility list (it's a Free BSD compatibility list) - check it. The short answer is more direct and takes less time. Things not on the list may work; so back to the short answer.