HP DC7900

Hello All! I am moving out within a week to a new apartment, and I would love to use this PC for my pfSense setup:
HP DC7900
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191187772686?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I would like to run Plex + (pfSense in a KVM), if possible.

So my questions:
1. Can this PC run Plex + (pfSense in a KVM)?
2. Will I need a total of 3 NICs? (1 for internal LAN, 1 for Wi-Fi, 1 for the modem)
2a. If I do need 3 NICs… can this PC even support 2 extra NICs (1 built-in gigabit NIC already)

divsys

Hi,

A quick review of the specs at HP: http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c04287292 shows these as the Ultraslim DeskTop versions (UDT).

Reading further they have no PCI/PCIe slots internally so no good options to add expansion NICs. Given that, I would personally pass on those units especially since there are lots of other options out there.

I may be old school but I prefer some of the converted thin-client options for a standalone pfsense box. I would then but resources into a dedicated box for your server/workstation needs. Just me, but I like having my firewall sitting quietly in the corner doing what it needs to independent of the mayhem I'm causing on my other devices.

Just my $0.02 :)

I have looked at images from Google, such as this:
http://h30492.www3.hp.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/1163i6B1806B73730D865/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1

I have also looked at other images, and it does show that it has 2x PCI-e slots?

@divsys:

Hi,

A quick review of the specs at HP: http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c04287292 shows these as the Ultraslim DeskTop versions (UDT).

Reading further they have no PCI/PCIe slots internally so no good options to add expansion NICs. Given that, I would personally pass on those units especially since there are lots of other options out there.

I may be old school but I prefer some of the converted thin-client options for a standalone pfsense box. I would then but resources into a dedicated box for your server/workstation needs. Just me, but I like having my firewall sitting quietly in the corner doing what it needs to independent of the mayhem I'm causing on my other devices.

Just my $0.02 :)

divsys

I don't know how you linked that motherboard page to the ebay posting, I still think it's the UDT that has no PCI or PCIe.

Probably worth a message to the seller asking if the units have a useable PCI/PCIe slot or at least a model#.

biggsy

Yep, it's an Ultra Small Desk Top (USDT) in the picture. There are no slots for a LAN card.

You need a Small Form Factor (SFF) dc7900, which has one PCI, one PCIe (x1), one PCIe (x4) and one PCIe (x16). Work very well as an ESXi host.

Either that or use VLANs and a VLAN-capable switch.