Silcom PEG4I (82571EB Based)
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Hello All,
I just got my hands on a HP t610 Plus ThinPro PN: H1Y37AA, I upgraded the ram from 2GB to 6GB and removed the 1GB IDE SSD and replaced it with a Seagate momentus XT 500GB I had laying around. So Then I figured I'd add a quad NIC to the unit and use the built in Broadcom as the WAN interface, after doing some research the PEG4BPi http://www.silicom-usa.com/Networking_Bypass_Adapters/PEG4BPi-Quad_Port_Copper_Gigabit_Ethernet_PCI_Express_Bypass_Server_Adapter_Intel_based_58seemed like a bang-up deal used off eBay since it had FreeBSD support and four quad Intel interfaces and would physically fit inside the thin client chassis. I install it and then do a install of pfSense 2.1.4-Release-pfsense-x64 (non-embedded).
It sees all four Intel interface including the one Broadcome for a total of 5 interfaces, yet I'm only able to get connectivity and communicate with the Broadcom (built in) interface. The lights on the Nic light up except for when a live cable is connected. I've tried multiple cables, and all the interfaces and I get the same reaction of two of the LED's light up saying we're ready to go yet no matter how that are connected to an ethernet connection the Link/ACT light never lights up, yet with in pfSense I'm able to see and configure the interfaces yet again it never will communicate over any of the Intel interfaces.
I'm wondering if it might possibly be the bridge that is limiting pfSense from being able to communicate with it, and the bios of the thin client don't allow me to disable "plug-n-play" so that the bios would have to do all the configuring.
Any Idea?
I'm looking at getting a Dell G174P dual port adapter as it looks like it will be able to communicate directly with each interface and work as I had originally hoped. I may just take this and Install it in my VMware box until i can find something better to do with it.
Thanks all for your help and ideas
- lost and confused -
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Sounds exactly like the ports are in by-pass mode. You should be able to test that easily enough if the ports that are connected are marked. Unfortunately I think you need the proprietary Silicom driver to switch the by-pass relays unless there are any jumpers on the card. There are a number of threads here discussing it.
Steve
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Sounds exactly like the ports are in by-pass mode. You should be able to test that easily enough if the ports that are connected are marked. Unfortunately I think you need the proprietary Silicom driver to switch the by-pass relays unless there are any jumpers on the card. There are a number of threads here discussing it.
Steve
How would they be marked? Two of the LEDs out if three are illuminated per port. No jumpers.
I'll look into how to switch it from bypass. -
The bypass pairs are probably adjacent at least. That info would be in the user guide.
There may be a configuration utility (probably Windows only) that lets you disable by-pass. Worth looking into.Slightly different problem to yours but shows that drivers may be available:
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=71013.0Steve
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Their site requires an account to access the drivers without the option to register. I submitted a request to their support and well see. In the meantime I'll see if I can track down anyone who is using my model card and see if they have the software I need to get this up and running.
Also just went back to my eBay purchases and saw that this card was listed as a Dell r610 pull but unfortunately there is no reference to this card by brand, model, or number of ports. The search continues.
How to download drivers and software from Silicom:
Navigate to and find your product on :http://www.silicom-usa.com
At this time the drivers and downloads is on the right hand side of the screen. Click that.
Username: "drivers"
Password: "all"Without quotes.
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Ok, so there is source code for a FreeBSD kernel module that can control the by-pass functions. It's only written for FreeBSD 6 though which could be a problem.
Steve
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I'm installing the Server 2008 x86 Drivers as I had a copy of the OS to test on.
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Installed the software yet I'm still not able to find a configuration for by-pass mode
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You need some separate utility to set the bypass mode. It may not be a setting that sticks across a reboot though, you might need a FreeBSD program.
Steve
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OK, this is out of my realm here. Do you think this is something I would get from Intel as that is what Silicom directed me to for drivers or is that something I get from Silicom? Or do you think this may be a stand alone application that a third arty has manufactured to remedy this issue.
Also WTH would someone want a bypass adapter for if it doesn't allow network communication, what good is it. I can't seem to find a clear explanation on its applicable uses.
Thanks for you help so far, it's much appreciated. If i can't find this app I'll be selling this thing on eBay and looking for a new Nic as this is getting ridiculous. I was gitty to finally be able to get a new pfSense box up and running and this nic has kept it just out of reach because i didn't fully understand what it was I was getting I guess.
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The NIC chips on your card always appear to the OS as straight Intel adapters so the drivers given at the Silicom support site are for the bypass part of the card only. Try installing those.
There is also code for FreeBSD but you'd need to compile it on a FreeBSD 8.3 machine and then transfer it to pfSense.The point of the by-pass is to maintain connectivity if the box the card is installed in fails for some reason. In the event of the box losing power or the OS crashing the by-pass relays connect the port together directly. Thus if your box is a web cache, for example, you can arrange to have the ports as the upstream and downstream connections so that although you'd loose the caching you would still have an ethernet connection to the upstream network.
In a firewall like pfSense it doesn't really make much sense to use it. You could use it for the WAN and LAN ports but that would mean you connected your LAN directly to the internet unfirewalled in the event of a failure. Not desirable! ;)Steve
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I'm not seeming to have much luck iwht this card and I'm thinking I may return it nad pay the restocking fee just to get back some of my money since I can't seem to get anywhere with it and I can't even think of an application where I would be able to use it.
What is you take on the IBM i350's? I found one that looks lie a new server pull: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Intel-I350-T4-Quad-Port-1GbE-0R1XFC-/201156971330?pt=US_Internal_Network_Cards&hash=item2ed5e3cb42
DO you think this will serve my desire for an Intel Gig quad NIC. I know the cpu won't be able to feed to actually saturate it but my though is if I buy a good NIC now I would use it again down the road in another pfSense build or by installing it into my ESXi box. I plan on eventually moving from my white box ESXi to a Dell r610 while hosting a range of different VM's with varying network communications so I like to go a little big and not have to worry about it next time around as I see Gb interfaces not really becoming obsolete for home/small office even with the VM's I operate.
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I have never used an I350-T4 but they are very well received by other members here. They seem to be the goto card if you want an Intel quad port. Check the forum. I'm not sure how IBM might have customised it though, again check the forum for specific reports.
Steve
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@Steven.DeZalia:
I'm not seeming to have much luck iwht this card and I'm thinking I may return it nad pay the restocking fee just to get back some of my money since I can't seem to get anywhere with it and I can't even think of an application where I would be able to use it.
If you will never have need for bypass, no reason to keep that card.
What is you take on the IBM i350's? I found one that looks lie a new server pull: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Intel-I350-T4-Quad-Port-1GbE-0R1XFC-/201156971330?pt=US_Internal_Network_Cards&hash=item2ed5e3cb42
That's a dell card, not an IBM card. Also, the silicom card you posted was a PCIe card, while the dell card above is clearly not PCIe (maybe PCI-x?) Appears to be a combination riser card for a server, and dell R1XFC 4-port nic daughter card.
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Well spotted I didn't actually follow the link.
Yes, you probably don't want that particular card unless you know what it fits in.Steve
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Well now that my pain meds have worn off this looks more appropriate short of having to wait 1-4 weeks for delivery.
or this one
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The only issue with those cards is they're suspiciously cheap.
I350-T4s are usually more like $300. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106127
Others have used those $100 cards from China with good results but not eveyone has been happy.
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=74158.0Steve
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I'm starting to think you like to be a buzz kill.
What would you recommend for a good quality NIC in the $100 range at least two gig ports, four preferred, Intel based, that will fit in a PCIe 4x slot?
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Sorry, I don't mean to come across that way. :)
I'm just trying to make sure you have all the info before you commit any cash. Maybe contact one of the users who had no problems in the linked thread and ask them what vendor and card they used.
From my limited experience with this (mostly what I've seen reported here) I would say the i350 really is the ideal card if you can get one. There are older Intel quad cards available second hand though and almost all Intel NICs will work well apart from maybe the VT:
@Jason:If that doesn't fix it then light the card on fire and buy a i350. The fewer VT cards that remain in this world the better.
:D
The Pro1000-PT Quad cards re-branded by HP or IBM perhaps? I've not used either though. Search the forum for positive results first. For example:
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=71069.msg388884#msg388884Steve
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The NIC chips on your card always appear to the OS as straight Intel adapters so the drivers given at the Silicom support site are for the bypass part of the card only. Try installing those.
There is also code for FreeBSD but you'd need to compile it on a FreeBSD 8.3 machine and then transfer it to pfSense.I am trying a PXG6BPi (Intel chipset) on pfSense 2.3-Alpha, and it is not detected.
Downloading drivers and trying to compile them on a FreeBSD 10.2-Stable failed. I contacted the reseller and they say "it is an old device, so buy us a new one".If I install a FreeBSD 8.3 machine and compile the driver, would this compilation be portable to pfSense 2.3 (10.2-STABLE based)?
