Pfsense custom build help $450 budget from ($200)
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You dont need a network card. It has 4 Ethernet ports on it. Me personally, I would use a router with DHCP turned off as a WAP. Lot better control and feature set. You can also upgrade it at a later date . Use one of the ethernet ports WAN, 1 Lan and 1 connected to the WAP. That leaves one free.
If you wanted to save a little money, you could go with a 2558 board. As a pure pfSense machine, it would probably serve you fine.
http://www.amazon.com/Supermicro-Mini-A1SRI-2558F-O-Motherboard-Combo/dp/B00HS4NLHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423115896&sr=8-1&keywords=A1SRi-2558F
While it cost more, the 2758 is a stronger board. If you possibly wanted to run VMs I would go with the 2758.
That the problem with putting one of these together, feature creep and the associated cost.
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Any suggestions on ram?
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"I have decided to go with A1SRM-2758F - the reason being is that it holds two PCI slots and can use ECC or non ecc. I plan on using ECC"
I'd bet the one that only uses ECC is actually going to be better. And since ECC is what you are buying, why bother with non-ecc compatibility?
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I agree, if you are going ECC anyway, go with the MBD-A1SRI-2758F-O.
Get a good mini-itx case.
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One is a mini-itx board and the other is micro atx. The Micro is only stated to use ECC and non ECC. It also has two pci slots.8x & 4X along with 7 USB ports 2.0 only
while the mini-its has usb 3.0 and can only use ECC and has 1 pic slot 8x
Mini-Itx
http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Atom/X10/A1SRi-2758F.cfmMicro-Atx
http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Atom/X10/A1SRM-2758F.cfmThe A1SRI-2758F is DIFFERENT from the A1SRM-2758F
I just bought this on Amazon "I couldn't found it on Newegg….. Now I just need to find the ram I want along side a good wireless card. Please any suggestions on a card and ram???
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GO9E61K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -
I bought this one, which I don't think has been mentioned yet: http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Atom/X10/A1SRM-LN7F-2758.cfm
The advantage is 7x Intel nics, 6 of which can be failover pairs.
The disadvantage is a single PCIe v2 4-lane slot.
I chose 16gb ecc registered memory as 2 8gb sticks, so I can upgrade to 16gb. I intend to run pfSense as a VM and use the remaining CPU for other VMs. If there is still available performance and not enough RAM I can double it without wasting money on these sticks. Also according to my manual this board has a minimum configuration of 8gb in 2x 4gb sticks.
I also have an OCZ Vector 150 240gb ssd and a 500gb spinning rust drive.
Gotta say though, I more than doubled your "bigger" budget. Not a lot of peripherals but they pack a punch right to your bank account.
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I bought this one, which I don't think has been mentioned yet: http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Atom/X10/A1SRM-LN7F-2758.cfm
The advantage is 7x Intel nics, 6 of which can be failover pairs.
The disadvantage is a single PCIe v2 4-lane slot.
I chose 16gb ecc registered memory as 2 8gb sticks, so I can upgrade to 16gb. I intend to run pfSense as a VM and use the remaining CPU for other VMs. If there is still available performance and not enough RAM I can double it without wasting money on these sticks. Also according to my manual this board has a minimum configuration of 8gb in 2x 4gb sticks.
I also have an OCZ Vector 150 240gb ssd and a 500gb spinning rust drive.
Gotta say though, I more than doubled your "bigger" budget. Not a lot of peripherals but they pack a punch right to your bank account.
Thats cool on " doubled: budget. I came into this project not knowing what cost would be. But anyways back to my topic I got my motherboard picked out now I just need to get some quality ram. Once I get everything I will post pictures & I am sure you will see me around asking the questions.
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Did you look at the tested Ram?
http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/atom/x10/a1srm-2758f.cfm -
You'll see me around asking questions too. I started first but if your router project is in the fast lane you'll probably finish first. I have lots of honey-do's and other projects that are keeping my c2758 in the 'assembled but no operating system' state.
More important than the tested RAM IMO is to look in the owner's manual and check the supported memory configurations. As I said earlier, my board (not the OP's chosen board) supports a minimum of 8 gb.
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Agreed on looking at the manual.
I also like Crucial memory
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Supermicro/a1srm-2758f
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I'd love it if you could get mushkin ram. Its never ever been flakey, finiky or failed me. Alswys just works. Not sure if they sell it for your box or not but I suspect yes. They do server ram and do it well.
(couldn't find any low profile ram with mushkin for that )-:
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One thing about my board is it takes standard sized sticks. And when I got it the ecc registered memory was only about $4 more per stick than non-ecc for 8g sticks. Which brings me to another idea.
When I was shopping I noticed that there wasn't much difference between 4g and 8g sticks. I don't know exactly how fast the c2758 is but a 64g max memory and support for VT-x gives me hope that it will support not only a full pfSense install but also a few other VMs.
If you have the cash and bigger sticks aren't much more than littler sticks you might consider going to more memory. It won't hurt anything to be sure.
I don't have a favorite brand of memory but I do stick to the folks who have been doing it awhile and google for problems before buying a specific stick.
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One thing about my board is it takes standard sized sticks. And when I got it the ecc registered memory was only about $4 more per stick than non-ecc for 8g sticks. Which brings me to another idea.
When I was shopping I noticed that there wasn't much difference between 4g and 8g sticks. I don't know exactly how fast the c2758 is but a 64g max memory and support for VT-x gives me hope that it will support not only a full pfSense install but also a few other VMs.
If you have the cash and bigger sticks aren't much more than littler sticks you might consider going to more memory. It won't hurt anything to be sure.
I don't have a favorite brand of memory but I do stick to the folks who have been doing it awhile and google for problems before buying a specific stick.
I am just going to pick up found it on Amazon for cheaper. On newegg they are $187
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-2x8GB-10600-KVR1333D3E9SK2-16G/dp/B0064R7LH8#customerReviews -
ecc on intel will be expensive. Probably past your budget point.
cheaper on amd if you use am asus board, which tend to support ecc. They tend to use a bit more power, but will save you a lot.
just add intel nics from ebay or such.
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I got my Motherboard and Case still waiting on the hard drive and the ram.
I with with 16GB of ECC kingston
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZX2C36260&cm_re=KVR1333D3E9SK2--20-139-979--Product -
From amazon? I got my ssd and ram from amazon, more than $500 worth of hardware came in an envelope in my mailbox. I was a little bent.
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From amazon? I got my ssd and ram from amazon, more than $500 worth of hardware came in an envelope in my mailbox. I was a little bent.
The ram is from Amazon, I will post an update on what the package comes in. The hard drive is from Newegg.
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the people at the freenas forum went all anti Kingston after they messed around with their part numbers. most recommend crucial now. what i used on my freenas build
