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    Intel Mini-ITX Atom 8-core Hardware Build Recipe Available Here

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    • D
      dopey
      last edited by

      With an ATX powersupply you can't use the 4-pin without modding it.

      ATX supplies don't provide full power without a PS_On signal sent back.  The 4-pin is "dead" until the ATX supply is told to turn on. and the 4-pin doesn't have a PS_On  pin for the motherboard to tell it to turn on.

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      • P
        pfcode
        last edited by

        @dopey:

        With an ATX powersupply you can't use the 4-pin without modding it.

        ATX supplies don't provide full power without a PS_On signal sent back.  The 4-pin is "dead" until the ATX supply is told to turn on. and the 4-pin doesn't have a PS_On  pin for the motherboard to tell it to turn on.

        Right. I forgot that.

        Release: pfSense 2.4.3(amd64)
        M/B: Supermicro A1SRi-2558F
        HDD: Intel X25-M 160G
        RAM: 2x8Gb Kingston ECC ValueRAM
        AP: Netgear R7000 (XWRT), Unifi AC Pro

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        • C
          codyst
          last edited by

          @dopey:

          With an ATX powersupply you can't use the 4-pin without modding it.

          ATX supplies don't provide full power without a PS_On signal sent back.  The 4-pin is "dead" until the ATX supply is told to turn on. and the 4-pin doesn't have a PS_On  pin for the motherboard to tell it to turn on.

          Still waiting on your 4-pin from eBay? Mine literally only took 2 days to get to me in Austin, TX. I freaking love this system!

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          • D
            dopey
            last edited by

            @codyst:

            Still waiting on your 4-pin from eBay? Mine literally only took 2 days to get to me in Austin, TX. I freaking love this system!

            Should be here tomorrow.  Still waiting on the fan bracket and fans though.  I'm not sure I'll need them, but noise isn't a concern in the utility room so I'll install them just in case.

            I'm pretty excited to get this set up.  I currently have a /29 but that's primarily because network isolation was easy and anything more complicated was a bit of a pain with dd-wrt.  With pfsense, I think I can drop down to a /30 and just have a couple of VLANs.

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            • D
              dopey
              last edited by

              Power supply installed.  Got the build installed and doing some basic tests.  I just hooked it up as a DHCP client to my current internal network and did some tests with the dhcp and dns server and some throughput tests over NAT.

              900+MBit/s either direction using iperf3.

              So yup, definitely gigabit routing - i was expecting this.

              CPU temp topped out at 39c.  I currently don't have a fan on it at all.  Doesn't seem like I'll need one, but I have 3 40mm and a bracket still enroute, but I think this thing would definitely function well fanless even.

              I set a 100MB /tmp and 200MB /var ramdisk and I think my memory peaked out at 5% of 8gb :)

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              • ?
                Guest
                last edited by

                900+MBit/s either direction using iperf3.

                Wow, this sounds really good.

                Can you have a look at the LAN Port LED´s please, are they on or off?
                Thnx for that.

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                • C
                  codyst
                  last edited by

                  @dopey:

                  Power supply installed.  Got the build installed and doing some basic tests.  I just hooked it up as a DHCP client to my current internal network and did some tests with the dhcp and dns server and some throughput tests over NAT.

                  900+MBit/s either direction using iperf3.

                  So yup, definitely gigabit routing - i was expecting this.

                  CPU temp topped out at 39c.  I currently don't have a fan on it at all.  Doesn't seem like I'll need one, but I have 3 40mm and a bracket still enroute, but I think this thing would definitely function well fanless even.

                  I set a 100MB /tmp and 200MB /var ramdisk and I think my memory peaked out at 5% of 8gb :)

                  Glad you like it! I am loving mine as well. I have the 3x 40mm fans installed and it's all located here in my office and I still can't hear it.

                  My iperf results topped out at 930 Mbps which I'm sure could be increased with a little tweaking here and there but I am very satisfied. My Time Warner Cable speeds are now up to 350 Mbps and I cannot wait until Google Fiber is installed in my house for 1 Gbps up/down.

                  I am going to rocking and rolling at that point!!!

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                  • P
                    pfcode
                    last edited by

                    @codyst:

                    @dopey:

                    Power supply installed.  Got the build installed and doing some basic tests.  I just hooked it up as a DHCP client to my current internal network and did some tests with the dhcp and dns server and some throughput tests over NAT.

                    900+MBit/s either direction using iperf3.

                    So yup, definitely gigabit routing - i was expecting this.

                    CPU temp topped out at 39c.  I currently don't have a fan on it at all.  Doesn't seem like I'll need one, but I have 3 40mm and a bracket still enroute, but I think this thing would definitely function well fanless even.

                    I set a 100MB /tmp and 200MB /var ramdisk and I think my memory peaked out at 5% of 8gb :)

                    Glad you like it! I am loving mine as well. I have the 3x 40mm fans installed and it's all located here in my office and I still can't hear it.

                    My iperf results topped out at 930 Mbps which I'm sure could be increased with a little tweaking here and there but I am very satisfied. My Time Warner Cable speeds are now up to 350 Mbps and I cannot wait until Google Fiber is installed in my house for 1 Gbps up/down.

                    I am going to rocking and rolling at that point!!!

                    Newbie to iperf3,  Do you mind letting me know how to run this iperf3 thing to test my network throughput?

                    Release: pfSense 2.4.3(amd64)
                    M/B: Supermicro A1SRi-2558F
                    HDD: Intel X25-M 160G
                    RAM: 2x8Gb Kingston ECC ValueRAM
                    AP: Netgear R7000 (XWRT), Unifi AC Pro

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • C
                      codyst
                      last edited by

                      @pfcode:

                      @codyst:

                      @dopey:

                      Power supply installed.  Got the build installed and doing some basic tests.  I just hooked it up as a DHCP client to my current internal network and did some tests with the dhcp and dns server and some throughput tests over NAT.

                      900+MBit/s either direction using iperf3.

                      So yup, definitely gigabit routing - i was expecting this.

                      CPU temp topped out at 39c.  I currently don't have a fan on it at all.  Doesn't seem like I'll need one, but I have 3 40mm and a bracket still enroute, but I think this thing would definitely function well fanless even.

                      I set a 100MB /tmp and 200MB /var ramdisk and I think my memory peaked out at 5% of 8gb :)

                      Glad you like it! I am loving mine as well. I have the 3x 40mm fans installed and it's all located here in my office and I still can't hear it.

                      My iperf results topped out at 930 Mbps which I'm sure could be increased with a little tweaking here and there but I am very satisfied. My Time Warner Cable speeds are now up to 350 Mbps and I cannot wait until Google Fiber is installed in my house for 1 Gbps up/down.

                      I am going to rocking and rolling at that point!!!

                      Newbie to iperf3,  Do you mind letting me know how to run this iperf3 thing to test my network throughput?

                      Easiest way is to install the iPerf 2.0.5.2 from the Package Manager. Be advised, I don't believe that version is compatible with iPerf 3.0 so go to https://iperf.fr/iperf-download.php and download version 2.0.5.2 for whatever OS your computer is.

                      Now it doesn't matter if you run the server or the client on your pfSense box and vice versa with your computer. Just make sure and do 1 on each, obviously.

                      I ran the server on my computer which is running Windows 10 by opening a command prompt and navigating to the folder that the iperf files are in.
                      Once you've done that, type "iperf -s" without the quotes and press enter.

                      Next, connect to your pfSense box by SSH, Serial, or maybe you have a monitor and keyboard connected directly to your pfSense box.
                      Make sure you know the local IP address of the computer you ran the server on and then open shell and type "iperf -c x.x.x.x" without the quotes and fill in your other IP address for x.x.x.x

                      If you did everything correctly you should see the following. Mind you, I normally get about 930 Mbits/sec but am currently downloading a couple torrents!  8)

                      Hope this helps!

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                      • P
                        pfcode
                        last edited by

                        Thank you. It worked.

                        I can't click the thank you button on your post buz 'I have already posted a thanks to this topic', thats odd.

                        Release: pfSense 2.4.3(amd64)
                        M/B: Supermicro A1SRi-2558F
                        HDD: Intel X25-M 160G
                        RAM: 2x8Gb Kingston ECC ValueRAM
                        AP: Netgear R7000 (XWRT), Unifi AC Pro

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • D
                          dopey
                          last edited by

                          @BlueKobold:

                          Can you have a look at the LAN Port LED´s please, are they on or off?
                          Thnx for that.

                          They are on.

                          @codyst:

                          Now it doesn't matter if you run the server or the client on your pfSense box and vice versa with your computer. Just make sure and do 1 on each, obviously.

                          I ran the server on my computer which is running Windows 10 by opening a command prompt and navigating to the folder that the iperf files are in.
                          Once you've done that, type "iperf -s" without the quotes and press enter.

                          Next, connect to your pfSense box by SSH, Serial, or maybe you have a monitor and keyboard connected directly to your pfSense box.
                          Make sure you know the local IP address of the computer you ran the server on and then open shell and type "iperf -c x.x.x.x" without the quotes and fill in your other IP address for x.x.x.x

                          Unless I'm misunderstanding something, you're not testing routing throughput.  You're testing the speed of the NIC and the speed of your switch.  To test routing throughput you really need to have a iperf system on either side of the router (not within the router.  The router is "local" to both sides and thus there is no routing/NAT going on in your scenario.

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                          • ?
                            Guest
                            last edited by

                            They are on.

                            Yep, thnx.

                            Unless I'm misunderstanding something, you're not testing routing throughput.  You're testing the speed of the NIC and the speed of your switch.  To test routing throughput you really need to have a iperf system on either side of the router (not within the router.  The router is "local" to both sides and thus there is no routing/NAT going on in your scenario.

                            But this depends more on the goal someone want to reach,
                            LAN - LAN throughput (two PCs with iPerf)
                            WAN - LAN throughput (two PCs with iPerf)

                            With an plain fresh new install without firewall rules, snort, squid and whatever
                            it would be coming near the result what the board and NICs are able to realize.
                            SPI/NAT are only taking something around 3% - 5% of the entire throughput.

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                            • D
                              dopey
                              last edited by

                              Got my fans.  Router is now in place operating as my production router.

                              lan->wan throughput:
                              [  4]  0.00-10.00  sec  1.09 GBytes  936 Mbits/sec  213            sender

                              wan->lan throughput:
                              [  4]  0.00-10.00  sec  1.10 GBytes  944 Mbits/sec  172            sender

                              Running a simultaneous client/server brings me down to around 916 Mbit/s (i.e. an attempt to do a full duplex test)

                              This is with zero performance tuning other than increasing mbufs :)

                              Oh, and CPU is running at 21c right now for temp :)

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                              • M
                                mifronte
                                last edited by

                                @dopey

                                Are you running your LAN -> WAN and WAN->LAN by connecting the pfSense router WAN port to your internal network?

                                Is RAM disk really needed if you are using SATA3 SSD?

                                SuperMicro Atom C2758 A1SRI-2758F 16GB
                                2.7.2 (amd64)

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                                • D
                                  dopey
                                  last edited by

                                  @mifronte:

                                  Are you running your LAN -> WAN and WAN->LAN by connecting the pfSense router WAN port to your internal network?

                                  Not any more.  That's how I tested it, initially but now it's connecting to my external network.  I have a /29 through my ISP, so the pfsense router is one of my public /29 IP addresses.

                                  I have another system that's on the public /29 address that i ran iperf on as a server, and I ran iperf internally from a client wired to the switch connected to the pfsense's LAN port to test lan<->wan throughput.

                                  @mifronte:

                                  Is RAM disk really needed if you are using SATA3 SSD?

                                  Probably not :)  I mean I ended up with a 120GB ssd because 32 and 64 gb SSDs aren't that much cheaper (maybe save 15-20 bucks total).  But I figure why waste NAND write cycles if you don't have to :)

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                                  • D
                                    dopey
                                    last edited by

                                    Just for comparison, two LAN clients, wired onto the same gigabit switch, I get the exact same speeds.

                                    I'm not using jumbo frames, so theoretical maximum throughput with 1500mtu is about 940-950Mbit/s.

                                    So 930 or so, ain't too shabby :)

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                                    • R
                                      redpine
                                      last edited by

                                      So I read all the way through the thread.  Went ahead and ordered the same parts and will be putting a box together over the next couple weeks.  Was wondering what people thought about the following.

                                      1.  USB wireless add on or pcie wireless add on?
                                      2.  Run in a VM under Centos(KVM)?

                                      Thanks for all the great info.

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                                      • C
                                        ciccio
                                        last edited by

                                        HI,

                                        I would like to change my actual router (Asus RT N-16) with a PFSense DIY router.

                                        I followed this thread (your experience have been very helpful) and I will order in next few days:

                                        Supermicro A1SRi-C2758, 8GB RAM (2x 4GB), SSD (I have not yet decided).

                                        My doubts are:

                                        1. I would like to add a Wifi card (on PCI-E slot): what do you recommend?

                                        2. What case do you recommend given the presence of the above card and since I will use the router also as a VPN gateway (I would not have a router too noisy).

                                        Thanks in advance

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                                        • ?
                                          Guest
                                          last edited by

                                          @redpine

                                          1.  USB wireless add on or pcie wireless add on?

                                          An external WiFi AP would be the best in my eyes, perhaps something cheap from Buffalo, Netgear, TP-Link
                                          pre-installed or flashed with DD-WRT or OpenWRT would do the job nest at these days. Or a plain UBNT WLAN
                                          AP would also be a really good choice if more then one AP is needed related to the free WLAN controller software.

                                          I would not have a router too noisy

                                          You can go with a C2558 Board this comes without a CPU fan and would be also sufficient enough
                                          for all actions too.

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                                          • D
                                            dopey
                                            last edited by

                                            My previous router was my Netgear R7000 running dd-wrt.  I simply reflashed that back to stock Netgear firmware and use that as an AP for my wireless needs.

                                            IMO, it's much easier to manage than having a router+wireless AP in one unit.  Plus, wireless architecture is changing at a much faster rate than router technology are.  You can future proof a router for a long long time.  Wifi is much harder to future proof.

                                            I'd definitely recommend getting either a consumer off the shelf AC router based on your needs (i like tp-link, netgear and asus ones for performance/value) or if you're in need of more enterprise-y gear, look at ubiquiti.

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