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

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

RAND0M1ZER

@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

sojjan

+1

gcu_greyarea

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.

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

mauroman33

@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.

jalyst

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.

sojjan

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

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

jalyst

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.

Guest

@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!

jalyst

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.

Spencer1990

@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

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.

Spencer1990

@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

dingdong

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).

Deepcuts

Weird that 15W max they state given that i3-6100T has 35W TDP http://ark.intel.com/products/90734/Intel-Core-i3-6100T-Processor-3M-Cache-3_20-GHz

haykong

@Deepcuts:

Weird that 15W max they state given that i3-6100T has 35W TDP http://ark.intel.com/products/90734/Intel-Core-i3-6100T-Processor-3M-Cache-3_20-GHz

What's weird? the 15w is for the 6100u or "u" line of processors which is the ultra lower mobile processors. The "T" line of processors (desktop line) has a TDP of 35w which is still lower than my 2nd Gen i7 Quad Core Mobile processor (TDP 45w) for socket G2 on a jetway motherboard.

haykong

For those that have the GB-BSi5HAL, is it possible to configure it to 7.5w TDP? Is it via BIOS? I know the U line of processors according to Intel is suppose to be configurable.

futzl

I built a pfsense router using this hardware today (8gb ram and M2 - really easy build). As noted above, set OS in BIOS to Windows 7 and then run through normal install. It does take quite a while to install so be patient but once installed booting very quick. The BIOS btw. is from yesteryear. I understand that these SFF PCs are supposed to be foolproof so not much to configure but the BIOS is shockingly bare and as far as I can see no way to update BIOS except via Windows (maybe possible via UEFI shell but I couldn't find any howtos).
This is a very small compact unit with 2 intel NICs, can't hear the fan at all, very nice system indeed.
Will be running some VPN tests in the coming days to test bandwidth and will update.