PfSense with Gigabyte GA-J1900N-D3V

Installed untangled last night 100% stable and works, this is frustrating. Works OK, but it is not pfsense.

The Linux and Windows driver support for hardware are more common then for BSD and Unix systems
but this is not a really secret.

Any tips to see if the WAN is initialized differently that the LAN? Well really if RE0 is inited differently.

Are there any special BIOS settings according to that LAN port?

Power saving
speed increasing
Green Ethernet
bypass mode
settings related to this above named things

sensebox

Thanks Frank for your suggestions, this board unfortunately only has the ability to enable or disable the ports.

So I was able to get it to work, after 2.2.6 and 2.3 beta did not work, I tried 2.2.4 and it worked out of the box. I then installed 2.2.6 again and the first port re0 never works as WAN or LAN still.

So my question is, how do I find out what has changed in the code specifically for the first lan port re0 initialization? Again these are both the same chipset, just different positions on the PCI bus.

I am using the pfsense-memstick-2.2.4-release-amd64.img.gz. I did try 32bit for giggles, but it crashes. Xenserver and CentOS worked beautifully too!

I may at a later point try 2.2.5 to see if that works or broke at that point.

I would like to contribute and find out what it is, and open a bug report.

Thanks!

MikeV7896

I had been running 2.3 on my J1900 board before I finally put it onto my main box… I don't remember if I updated the BIOS to F4 though... it might still be F3. I know I had no problems with both NICs functioning.

I don't have it hooked up at the moment though... if I have the opportunity sometime this week, I'll see what the BIOS settings look like.

I tried 2.2.4 and it worked out of the box. I then installed 2.2.6 again and the first port re0 never works as WAN or LAN still.

It could be based on the driver or the general architecture or pfSense code but this might be only a
guess from me. So I personally would more tend to go with 2.2.4 and wait a bit longer to try it out
from time to time.

sensebox

@BlueKobold:

I tried 2.2.4 and it worked out of the box. I then installed 2.2.6 again and the first port re0 never works as WAN or LAN still.

It could be based on the driver or the general architecture or pfSense code but this might be only a
guess from me. So I personally would more tend to go with 2.2.4 and wait a bit longer to try it out
from time to time.

Thanks, from the sounds of it, there is a good chance this lan chipset won't be supported. So I decided to return the board. Really wanted to make it work, based on the price. and seemed stable when running, but a reboot or a shutdown was a crap shoot on whether it would come back up or not!

So I returned the board (and case) but stuck with the pico psu and 12v brick (Cost of doing business I guess) and ordered this: http://www.amazon.com/Solana-Tech-pfsense-firewall-motherboard/dp/B01DB9JRNC?ie=UTF8&colid=2PRIMO09NOET5&coliid=I1R617T4IQIYBV&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl

Twice the price but intel nics, so hoping it works as advertised, since it does say pfsense this time around!

BobbyB

Oh man… I guess I should have done more research before buying this mobo... Am I completely stuck or will this thing ever play nice? I was able to get 2.3 to install, I had to disable UEFI and a turned off usb junk. I was able to boot and install from a DVD+R, I was able to get into the web gui but it seems to get angry with the other nic. I REALLY would like to get this board working, has anyone has any success with this mobo and 2.3 or, should I down-grade to a different working version (can someone provide a link, can't seem to find one). Thanks!

I REALLY would like to get this board working, has anyone has any success with this mobo and 2.3 or, should I down-grade to a different working version (can someone provide a link, can't seem to find one). Thanks!

Try out pfSense version 2.2.4 or 2.2.6 if this will helping you out.
Older pfSense version ISO files

lavem

@BobbyB:

I REALLY would like to get this board working, has anyone has any success with this mobo and 2.3 or, should I down-grade to a different working version (can someone provide a link, can't seem to find one). Thanks!

I have been using this board (GA-J1900N-D3V) since November 2014 with pfSense. Updating with each new release. Currently on 2.3-RELEASE (amd64) with no issues with either NIC.

BobbyB

Thanks for the reply's guys! I took another look at this board this morning and I had a blank screen. Went to reboot it and take a look back into the BIOS and I get wiggly screen and random lock-ups. Looks like I have a dead board. Going to send it back to Amazon for a refund, I REALLY like what the board offers and I would like to get it to work, but I'm a little concerned with compatibility and reliability. Thoughts?

BobbyB

@lavem:

@BobbyB:

I REALLY would like to get this board working, has anyone has any success with this mobo and 2.3 or, should I down-grade to a different working version (can someone provide a link, can't seem to find one). Thanks!

I have been using this board (GA-J1900N-D3V) since November 2014 with pfSense. Updating with each new release. Currently on 2.3-RELEASE (amd64) with no issues with either NIC.

Yesterday, the board seemed to behave, but I would get issues from the WAN NIC. Then I would reset and re-address them and it worked for a while. But now the board flaked out. It gives me hope that I still might use it, since you are having good luck with it, but I don't know what I want to do now… I find it hard to believe that no one makes a decent mini-itx board with Intel NICS, that would be REALLY nice!

Would also like to know which BIOS you are on, this one shipped with the latest I believe, F4? Thanks for the insights.

BobbyB

@lavem:

@BobbyB:

I REALLY would like to get this board working, has anyone has any success with this mobo and 2.3 or, should I down-grade to a different working version (can someone provide a link, can't seem to find one). Thanks!

I have been using this board (GA-J1900N-D3V) since November 2014 with pfSense. Updating with each new release. Currently on 2.3-RELEASE (amd64) with no issues with either NIC.

Thank you for the link, I found a list of old archives the other day and made sure to grab 2.2.4, .5 and .6.

I really dig the new web look of 2.3! They did a fantastic job on making it look more modern, sort of reminds me of Sophos UTM.

RussellB

I have been using the GA-J1900N-D3V with pfSense for about a month. This is my first router build and I did not have any problems other than a memory stick which was not compatible and caused the system to fail to boot. (I ended up using a memory stick out of a laptop; the new memory stick worked fine in the laptop.) I am using an Intel Dual NIC since I had read a lot of problems with Realtek NICs. I purchased the Intel PWLA8492MT PRO/1000 MT PCI/PCI-X Dual Port Server Adapter:

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00006HX1V

I am getting 150Mbps down and 12Mbps up and my CPU utilization goes to about 30%. The rest of the time CPU utilization sits between 0% and 3%.

This is a home router, so I am not running any VPNs. I have Snort installed, but I am still trying to figure it out.

I can't speak for enterprise use, but as a home router, this thing is awesome.

For WiFi I installed an Ubiquiti Networks UAP-AC-LR-US 802.11ac Long Range Access Point. I mounted it on the ceiling in the center of our 2200 sq ft single story house and get awesome wireless coverage throughout.

BobbyB

@RussellB:

I have been using the GA-J1900N-D3V with pfSense for about a month. This is my first router build and I did not have any problems other than a memory stick which was not compatible and caused the system to fail to boot. (I ended up using a memory stick out of a laptop; the new memory stick worked fine in the laptop.) I am using an Intel Dual NIC since I had read a lot of problems with Realtek NICs. I purchased the Intel PWLA8492MT PRO/1000 MT PCI/PCI-X Dual Port Server Adapter:

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00006HX1V

I am getting 150Mbps down and 12Mbps up and my CPU utilization goes to about 30%. The rest of the time CPU utilization sits between 0% and 3%.

This is a home router, so I am not running any VPNs. I have Snort installed, but I am still trying to figure it out.

I can't speak for enterprise use, but as a home router, this thing is awesome.

For WiFi I installed an Ubiquiti Networks UAP-AC-LR-US 802.11ac Long Range Access Point. I mounted it on the ceiling in the center of our 2200 sq ft single story house and get awesome wireless coverage throughout.

I was actually thinking about doing something like that, tossing in the PCI card. I may have to revisit things, but I'm almost positive that this board is bad. I went ahead and ordered some 1.35 volt ram, just to see if mine was flakey. Good to hear that you are happy with it. I really want to like this board, so I might have to give it another change. I just want to make sure that this thing will be able to handle the need speed that I will be getting here by the end of the year. 300Mbps down and 50Mbps up.

I too use Ubiquity AP's they are amazing!

Thanks for the reply. Always good to read about a success story!

RussellB

@BobbyB:

I was actually thinking about doing something like that, tossing in the PCI card. I may have to revisit things, but I'm almost positive that this board is bad. I went ahead and ordered some 1.35 volt ram, just to see if mine was flakey. Good to hear that you are happy with it. I really want to like this board, so I might have to give it another change. I just want to make sure that this thing will be able to handle the need speed that I will be getting here by the end of the year. 300Mbps down and 50Mbps up.

I too use Ubiquity AP's they are amazing!

Thanks for the reply. Always good to read about a success story!

If you have ruled out all the other possible culprits: loose connections, memory, and power supply; then the only thing left is the motherboard. Amazon is so good about returns, you could have a new board in a day or two.

BobbyB

@RussellB:

@BobbyB:

I was actually thinking about doing something like that, tossing in the PCI card. I may have to revisit things, but I'm almost positive that this board is bad. I went ahead and ordered some 1.35 volt ram, just to see if mine was flakey. Good to hear that you are happy with it. I really want to like this board, so I might have to give it another change. I just want to make sure that this thing will be able to handle the need speed that I will be getting here by the end of the year. 300Mbps down and 50Mbps up.

I too use Ubiquity AP's they are amazing!

Thanks for the reply. Always good to read about a success story!

If you have ruled out all the other possible culprits: loose connections, memory, and power supply; then the only thing left is the motherboard. Amazon is so good about returns, you could have a new board in a day or two.

Right on, yeah, I ordered some 1.35 DDR3, so that should be here this week. I'll give that a go before I send it back. I sort of think that maybe one of these old modules is flakey, so we'll see what the new ram does. If it works, I'll keep the board for sure, esp. if guys like you have had success with 2.3!

BobbyB

This Intel Atom board from Amazon looks pretty good, and has Intel NICs, I wonder if anyone is running 2.3 with this?

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-D2500CCE-Mini-ITX-Motherboard-BLKD2500CCE/dp/B006ICQ3FK/ref=pd_sim_147_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51mMt8cv6CL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=1R4J9EH37W9168QM59YW

Would the Atom have enough power?

BobbyB

So it looks like the NEW 2x4GB LPDDR3 helped. System seems a LOT more stable. Maybe that was the issue all along, goofy ram. I'm going to run this thing through-out the night to see what it looks like in the AM. I'll keep people posted that may be interested. Thanks!

@BobbyB:

This Intel Atom board from Amazon looks pretty good, and has Intel NICs, I wonder if anyone is running 2.3 with this?

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-D2500CCE-Mini-ITX-Motherboard-BLKD2500CCE/dp/B006ICQ3FK/ref=pd_sim_147_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51mMt8cv6CL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=1R4J9EH37W9168QM59YW

Would the Atom have enough power?

Your board & an Intel Quad Port NIC for ~$50 on top might be ending up with ~$170, if I will be in that situation
I would more love to go with this one and all is on board likes N2930 CPU that is the follower of the J1900 and
4 x Intel i211AT NICs, 2 x miniPCIe + SIM, fan less and for only ~$29 on top of yours. Jetway N2930

BobbyB

@BlueKobold:

@BobbyB:

This Intel Atom board from Amazon looks pretty good, and has Intel NICs, I wonder if anyone is running 2.3 with this?

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-D2500CCE-Mini-ITX-Motherboard-BLKD2500CCE/dp/B006ICQ3FK/ref=pd_sim_147_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51mMt8cv6CL&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR160%2C160&refRID=1R4J9EH37W9168QM59YW

Would the Atom have enough power?

Your board & an Intel Quad Port NIC for ~$50 on top might be ending up with ~$170, if I will be in that situation
I would more love to go with this one and all is on board likes N2930 CPU that is the follower of the J1900 and
4 x Intel i211AT NICs, 2 x miniPCIe + SIM, fan less and for only ~$29 on top of yours. Jetway N2930

I hear ya! So far the J1900 has been up for over 3hrs and seems to be okay, I'm starting to think that the only thing wrong with it was RAM. I used some old DDR3 that I had lying around. For giggles, I might pop in a different hard drive and see if I can get Windows 7 to install, but I think things are good with the board. I am going to burn it in more and then get a case for it soon. I'll keep on updating so that others might find this helpful. I really do believe that the Celeron will over better performance than the Atom. While I'm not thrilled with a RealTek NIC, I know that for my home environment it'll be decent enough. If all else fails I can go the other route like you stated and find a decent dual or quad nic Intel card.

BobbyB

So I just wanted to update everyone on my progress. The new 1.35volt LPDDR3 Ram did the trick, this board has been rock solid ever since I installed it. I've done multiple tests and everything seems to be good to go. Very impressive speed and the web gui looks and performs fantastic! I'll keep working with this board and post back in a few days after I get my new system built around it. Thanks for all the help that others have given me!