My pfsense build

[rjcrowder]

@kejianshi:

Which Intel drive did you buy exactly and what do they cost?

Don"t remember which one… it was one of the later models - 40GB. Recommended by someone on this board...

[kejianshi]

Ahhhh - A later model 40GB SSD of some sort.

Yeah - I also heard those are good.

[rjcrowder]

@kejianshi:

Ahhhh - A later model 40GB SSD of some sort.

Yeah - I also heard those are good.

I believe the key was "later model "Intel"… I didn't google it, but I doubt there are many variations on the newer Intel SSD's - they all tend to be pretty good quality.

[kejianshi]

I disagree - I think there is huge room for differences in reliability amongst the drives made by Intel.  If not, there would be no need for Intel to sell expensive SLC based drives for enterprise applications.  They could just peddle off their MLC stuff to everyone.  Personally I think people are dreaming, or perhaps just wishing, when they install MLC into something thats going to have to endure alot of writes.

Every year some company has a new fail proof scheme how to make MLC as reliable as SLC and after a year or so they find they were wrong (after having sold a ton of product of course).

[rjcrowder]

@rjcrowder:

I believe the key was "later model "Intel"… I didn't google it, but I doubt there are many variations on the newer Intel SSD's - they all tend to be pretty good quality.

Found it… Intel 320 Series 40 GB,Internal,2.5"

[kejianshi]

MLC - Get to version 2.1 ASAP and get TRIM running…

[dontgetcocky]

MarkA,

I saw someone suggested you getting a Mini-Itx board. I just successfully built a Pfsense 2.1 a system very similar to what you are talking about so I thought I would thought I would throw this idea of a build out to you.

I got this motherboard with dual Realtek nics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128567

It supports LGA 1155 So I am sure your i3 CPU would be fine, you can check here for CPU compatibility:
http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=4338

I put in a new released Pentium G2030, this system rocks man. The dual Realtek nics were not seen by 2.03 but they were seen by 2.1 and then I have an PCI express Intel Dual nic installed for the Opt interfaces. The sticker on the back says Intel Pro/100 PT Dual Port I picked it up on Ebay for $30.

The reason I am suggesting this route is I am concerned you will pay out the nose for a 4 port nic. This way you get two supported nics with the board and a cheap dual port Intel nic. I didn't put this in a 1u chassis, I just got a mini itx InWin case, so  if you go that route you will need a low profile PCI bracket for sure, but you can find one cheap.

Anyway, thought I would share since I also just built a socket 1155 4 nic build. Everything works I did not have to do ANY special setups, only enabled Trim for my SSD that's it.

Just for FYI my system:
GIGABYTE GA-H77N-WIFI
Pentium G2030
(2 Onboard Realtek Nics)
Dual Intel Pro 100 PCI express nic
4 GB 1333 GSkill Ram
32GB SanDisk SSD
InWin Case/ with 200W PSU

Let me tell you this box is amazing, I have a site to site IPSEC setup between my work and home (my home is 100mb/s fiber work is 100mb/s fiber) my tunnel traffic bounces at anywhere from 85-90 mb/s and the CPU is not even at 25%.

If you are interested to here is a similar idea (mboard/cpu combo) that has a 17 watt Celeron which people have used for PFsense 2.1 as well with dual Realtek nics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128598
you can do something similar only this one you would have to use a regular PCI dual nic rather than PCI express.

If I had to do it over again I would probably go for that Celeron because of the 17 Watt TDP, obviously my build is overkill (and it is 55 Watt)

If you want a PCI express Nic then here is another Celeron combo here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128585&Tpk=gigabyte%20celeron%20combo

Sorry I know I threw a lot at you, but I have recently been gorging myself on these specs and figured I would try to help someone else out. Your i3 might even be overkill like my G2030, not sure what you are doing with it, so those Celerons might be a better route.

I hope this helps you out.

[cojoe1]

Hi folks, just built a box with http://www.portwell.com/products/detail.php?CUSTCHAR1=WADE-8012 board, with an i3 2120T. Works like a champ. I have Squid3 and Squid Guard packages installed, may also look at Snort later on.

Full Specs
pfSense Release 2.2
Silverstone MLO5 Case
Silverstone SFX SF30 Power Supply
Silverstone AP122 Case Fan
Portwell Wade 8012
Intel i3 2120T
OEM i3 CPU Cooler
Western Digital 320G Black
8GB Ram

[Harvy66]

What does this have to do with a 1.5 year old thread?

But, cool  8)  I'm glad those are Intel NICs. So many people build firewalls and don't even look at the most important parts, the NICs. "Ohh, my system is slow" "Yeah, you've got some crappy NICs, what did you expect?"

[2chemlud]

…without bandwidth your Intel's won't buy you anything, though... :-D