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    Want small form pc for pfSense … recommendations

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    • ?
      Guest
      last edited by

      Hello,

      My main need is an OpenVPN server so I can pass through it for secure internet

      Please read an answer from @gonzopancho here in the forum related to exactly this point, Link

      Also, I want to explore snort and other features without worrying about processing power.

      Snort, Squid, + SquidGuard, AV Scanning, VPN,…....
      Better to know all first really all about your needs and wishes, not to run in a trap

      I want overcapacity, but not something too expensive.

      Likes all others, 100 MBit/s Internet, VPN and all other on top for $50,
      but as I see it right this will not even really work.

      Also, low power requirements are wanted.

      There are some of them out know, really enough power but
      power saving also. Intel´s C2xxx series could do this job.

      Is there a Zotac model that would work? What about other brands? What processor, how much ram, anything else is suggested?

      • VK-T40E pfSense® Security Gateway Appliance from the pfSense Shop based on an
        Alix APU Board really enough for 50 - 100 MBit/s
        But without AES-NI and Intel´s QA!
      • Supermicro Mainboard with a C2358 CPU
        Not a power saving firewall, but powerful
      • SG-2440 pfSense® Security Gateway Appliance from the pfSense Shop
        Really wicked firewall that matches all your needs and power saving, but not cheap
      • Supermicro Mainboard with C2358 and 8 GB ECC RAM would be also matching
        But a case and some other things are also needed on top

      So as I see it right a CPU with AES-NI and/or Intel´s QA or a Atom C2xxx CPU
      with 2 -8 GB RAM and Intel NICs or LAN Ports would be great for you.

      In my eyes it is better for to save some money for over some month and then buy
      a SG-2440 pfSense® Security Gateway Appliance, this will be running for years for
      you well and saving power on top also.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • ?
        Guest
        last edited by

        Thanks. Lots to think about.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • N
          NOYB
          last edited by

          Take a look at the Intel NUC.  Think there is one with dual Ethernet.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • W
            Wolf666
            last edited by

            @NOYB:

            Take a look at the Intel NUC.  Think there is one with dual Ethernet.

            Intel NUC5ix series, latest with 5th gen i3/i5/i7 is single ethernet only. You can mod using a different case and using pci slot to fit the second ethernet adapter.
            I own NUC5i3RYH.

            Modem Draytek Vigor 130
            pfSense 2.4 Supermicro A1SRi-2558 - 8GB ECC RAM - Intel S3500 SSD 80GB - M350 Case
            Switch Cisco SG350-10
            AP Netgear R7000 (Stock FW)
            HTPC Intel NUC5i3RYH
            NAS Synology DS1515+
            NAS Synology DS213+

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            • N
              NOYB
              last edited by

              Maybe this is what I saw.  Not sure if this is considered a NUC, but it does have to RJ45 connections.
              http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856205007

              Or I may have been thinking Thunderbolt NIC adapter.

              Personally though I'd settle for single NIC and VLAN unless there is specific requirement for no VLAN or bandwidth constraints.

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              • S
                Supermule Banned
                last edited by

                Better to go with 2 seperate NIC's than VLAN's. You can always VLAN the LAN part to get things seperated…

                I prefer the WAN and LAN on 2 seperate physical interfaces. Even if its running virtualized....

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                • ?
                  Guest
                  last edited by

                  The suggestions here have been helpful. I think I'm going to have to spend a few bucks but less than $400 if I'm careful. I will either build one using the suggestions here about the motherboard that has the new Intel Rangeley chip and Intel nics or explore a Jetway small form PC that will need memory and a drive. I read about them elsewhere and they appear to have some capabilities … but not all models have Intel nics so care is needed in the selection.

                  It's been a long time since I built a PC so it might be fun to build a router.

                  Is a small form case just a case or are there specs to look for?

                  Regarding ram, 4GB or 8GB? The cost is negligible. With a router is there any advantage to having a reserve of ram?

                  I have a spare 2.5" 500GB drive, but a small SSD is cheap. Any pros or cons to either? 32GB ok?

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • jahonixJ
                    jahonix
                    last edited by

                    snort and Suricata are memory hogs. Point to 8GB for that, otherwise 4GB is completely sufficient.
                    Personally, I don't like running HDDs in my routers as they have moving parts. A small SSD is fine even though there won't be much of a speed improvement.

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                    • W
                      Wolf666
                      last edited by

                      I suggest Supermicro MB with C2558 or 2758, 8GB to run Snort and pfBlockerNG. A small SSD is fine. On the market there are a lot of cases available, both fan and fanless. Such a setup will secure your future bandwidth upgrades, up to 1000Mbps. With upcoming OpenVPN supporting in full AES-NI it will be the standard.

                      Modem Draytek Vigor 130
                      pfSense 2.4 Supermicro A1SRi-2558 - 8GB ECC RAM - Intel S3500 SSD 80GB - M350 Case
                      Switch Cisco SG350-10
                      AP Netgear R7000 (Stock FW)
                      HTPC Intel NUC5i3RYH
                      NAS Synology DS1515+
                      NAS Synology DS213+

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • ?
                        Guest
                        last edited by

                        Umm, I used some left over computer parts from a PC upgrade to build mine. It is a larger build but then again, it is rack mounted with my server. I used a Asrock z77 board, i5 CPU, 2x2 gig ram, an old 1TB HD, 2 x Intel EXPI9400PTBLK network cards and 2 Emulex 4GB LPE 1150-E fiber cards. I am running pfsense and snort with NO memory lag as mentioned by a previous poster. Overall system performance will be determined by the quality of the hardware. If you looking for a low power system then maybe 8 gig is necessary. If not concerning with physical size then 8 gig may be overkill. Just as with an SSD which again is overkill

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                        • S
                          Supermule Banned
                          last edited by

                          Use Innodisk DOM for the drive instead of a normal HD.

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                          • E
                            Evad
                            last edited by

                            You could seek out the local electronics recyclers. 3 to 5 year old PC's can be had cheap. For me my first pfSense box was a $50 Dell 760 small form factor core2, 4gb ram. I added a 2.5 40gb hd. I scored a NC360T dual nic cheap.
                            Then you can decide later how much power you need and what you want to spend on low power vs hp. You may even run into a stack of old firewalls you could revive with pfSense.

                            Unfortunately, visiting a place like that can be habit forming. I need special permission from my significant other just to drive by the place..

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