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    GB-BSi3HAL-6100 (dual Intel ports) Mini-PC has anyone tried this with Pfsense?

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    • R
      rekd0514
      last edited by

      That looks like a perfect small box for pfsense. Nice find!

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      • H
        haykong
        last edited by

        Forgot to include a link:
        http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5872#ov

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        • P
          Paint
          last edited by

          looks like the next generation of the machine I built:
          pfSense i7-4510U + 2x Intel 82574 + 2x Intel i350 (miniPCIE) Mini-ITX Build
          https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=113610.0

          pfSense i5-4590
          940/880 mbit Fiber Internet from FiOS
          BROCADE ICX6450 48Port L3-Managed Switch w/4x 10GB ports
          Netgear R8000 AP (DD-WRT)

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          • R
            RAND0M1ZER
            last edited by

            Anyone try it yet? I am probably going to get one within the next few weeks to go with my new gigabit connection.

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            • S
              Spencer1990
              last edited by

              I just ordered the i5 6200u version of this for my first pfsense build. So I will let you know how it goes once I receive it and set it up.

              http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5871#ov

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              • R
                RAND0M1ZER
                last edited by

                @Spencer1990:

                I just ordered the i5 6200u version of this for my first pfsense build. So I will let you know how it goes once I receive it and set it up.

                http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5871#ov

                Awesome, thanks I would appreciate that

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                • S
                  sojjan
                  last edited by

                  +1

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                  • G
                    gcu_greyarea
                    last edited by

                    Also interested to hear how pfSense will run on GB-BSi5HAL.

                    Slightly off topic:
                    The i5 appears to be quite powerful for home use. It may make sense to share resources and run a virtual instance of pfSense.
                    The Brix has 1 X intel i210AT and 1 X intel i219LM

                    Does anyone run ESXi on the GB-BSi5HAL ?

                    Can the i210AT or i219LM be passed through to a pfSense VM? (Vt-d)

                    I'd prefer to pass through the i210AT as WAN port for a pfSense VM and use the i219LM for LAN/VM Network.

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                    • S
                      Spencer1990
                      last edited by

                      Hi there just wanted to update you guys on this build.

                      First thing after an hour or so of frustration I found out that you have to use pfsense 2.4 because it has uefi bios support.
                      After that everything installs easily. I setup openvpn using aes256cbc and sha256 and I'm able to hit my max line speeds 150/150 using around 45% cpu.
                      The form factor is great too and very easy to open and install your ssd and ram of choice. I would definitely recommend this mini pc.

                      Thanks
                      Spencer

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                      • M
                        mauroman33
                        last edited by

                        @Spencer1990:

                        Hi there just wanted to update you guys on this build.

                        First thing after an hour or so of frustration I found out that you have to use pfsense 2.4 because it has uefi bios support.
                        After that everything installs easily. I setup openvpn using aes256cbc and sha256 and I'm able to hit my max line speeds 150/150 using around 45% cpu.
                        The form factor is great too and very easy to open and install your ssd and ram of choice. I would definitely recommend this mini pc.

                        Thanks
                        Spencer

                        Ciao,
                        did you used snort during that test?
                        I'm curious because it has a huge impact on the cpu usage.

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                        • J
                          jalyst
                          last edited by

                          I've been looking at this, ya'll reckon it's massive overkill, or could it be worthwhile in the right circumstances?
                          http://www.anandtech.com/show/10689/gigabyte-gbbsi7hal6500-dual-lan-skylake-brix-review
                          https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FX8TXUQ

                          Pretty sure the fastest link (before any load-balancing/aggregation) we can get via Cable is ~105/5 (must double-check).
                          We will probably use VPN quite heavily…

                          I have plans for an entirely separate NAS/jack-of-all build, which will be much more powerful.
                          So I don't want to use this build as the platform for anything but a Fw/Router etc.

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                          • S
                            sojjan
                            last edited by

                            Cool!

                            Gonna get the GB-BSi5HAL-6200 real soon.

                            But isn't the latest version 2.3.2? Where do i find ver 2.4?

                            :P

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                            • G
                              gcu_greyarea
                              last edited by

                              @jalyst

                              For the price of the i7 Brix you might as well get one of these:

                              http://www.wiredzone.com/supermicro-servers-compact-embedded-processor-sys-e300-8d-10026325?urlsource=tinkertry

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                              • J
                                jalyst
                                last edited by

                                Interesting thanks, how do they compare IYO, in other words;
                                Why would you say it's a much better offering, for the intended application?
                                Might be best to respond in my thread, so we don't derail this one:
                                https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=93616.30

                                BR.

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                                • ?
                                  Guest
                                  last edited by

                                  @gcu_greyarea:

                                  @jalyst

                                  For the price of the i7 Brix you might as well get one of these:

                                  http://www.wiredzone.com/supermicro-servers-compact-embedded-processor-sys-e300-8d-10026325?urlsource=tinkertry

                                  And the SYS-E300-D8 is more powerful in my eyes as the Supermicro C2758 and there fore you must
                                  pay something around 800 € and this is for ~755 € here in Germany!

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                                  • J
                                    jalyst
                                    last edited by

                                    Huh? Can you please clarify your point.  ???

                                    Also note the SmallNetBuilder thread I linked earlier in my thread;
                                    https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=93616.msg657157#msg657157
                                    See the discussion we had there, before I settled on the C series.

                                    So as to avoid derailing this thread…
                                    It might be best for you to quote this post, & respond in my thread.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • S
                                      Spencer1990
                                      last edited by

                                      @Spencer1990:

                                      Hi there just wanted to update you guys on this build.

                                      First thing after an hour or so of frustration I found out that you have to use pfsense 2.4 because it has uefi bios support.
                                      After that everything installs easily. I setup openvpn using aes256cbc and sha256 and I'm able to hit my max line speeds 150/150 using around 45% cpu.
                                      The form factor is great too and very easy to open and install your ssd and ram of choice. I would definitely recommend this mini pc.

                                      Thanks
                                      Spencer

                                      Hi there a little update on the cpu usage I had my info wrong. The max I have seen is 15% cpu usage and load average of 0.7 while maxing my 150Mbps connection on openvpn using aes256cbc and sha256. I was only maxing the download so I imagine if I maxed the upload too at the same time it would max out at 30% cpu usage. Thanks

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                                      • D
                                        dingdong
                                        last edited by

                                        Hi,

                                        I bought the i5 Version. And it is possible to run 2.3.2 on this hardware. The installation took a little bit more time but it worked. Both network adapters are recognized. After work I will test more.

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                                        • S
                                          Spencer1990
                                          last edited by

                                          @dingdong:

                                          Hi,

                                          I bought the i5 Version. And it is possible to run 2.3.2 on this hardware. The installation took a little bit more time but it worked. Both network adapters are recognized. After work I will test more.

                                          Really? How long did the install take because when I tried to install 2.3.2 it was stuck on loading boot/kernel after clicking enter to install and I waited at least 5-10 mins. Thanks

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                                          • D
                                            dingdong
                                            last edited by

                                            Hi  Spencer,

                                            in the Bios/UEFI set the "OS type" to Windows 7. The boot time till the install screen appear take about 10 -15 min. After that the install went fast.
                                            Yesterday I configured all I needed and everything worked fine (Including VPN 50Mbit/5% CPU Usage).

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