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    NIC for PFSense

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
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    • ?
      Guest
      last edited by

      Intel i340-T4 or Intel Pro 1000 PT cards ware really matching well if you are searching some refurbished cards
      and for sure you will be able to get faked once over each available place in the Internet as well as you will be able
      to get server pulled once too or original card from elsewhere. It is a try and error game cross the Internet, but there
      are also well known dealers over amazon.de or.com that are selling since years refurbished products that are tested
      before selling in good conditions and with a really good reputation. So I would be also tend to go over amazon,
      more then eBay in this case.

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      • ?
        Guest
        last edited by

        @BlueKobold:

        Intel i340-T4 or Intel Pro 1000 PT cards ware really matching well if you are searching some refurbished cards
        and for sure you will be able to get faked once over each available place in the Internet as well as you will be able
        to get server pulled once too or original card from elsewhere. It is a try and error game cross the Internet, but there
        are also well known dealers over amazon.de or.com that are selling since years refurbished products that are tested
        before selling in good conditions and with a really good reputation. So I would be also tend to go over amazon,
        more then eBay in this case.

        Also check those WEEE remarking companies. They often have shops on eBay and Amazon and they basically exist purely to recycle server hardware. I think http://www.bargainhardware.co.uk and http://stores.ebay.com/7digitsshop/ are examples, but depending on your country you can probably find local resellers.

        Check this out: http://stores.ebay.com/7digitsshop/Network-Interface-Adapters-/_i.html?_fsub=1396722016 a whole bunch of tested working pulls with warranty, but about 10% of the price of a new one. Now, this is only a third option, and not the cheapest option either, as you can still find I3xx and I2xx series dual and quad port cards elsewhere for as little as $15 but they can be a hit-and-miss deal. With those remarketing/recycling/WEEE companies, at least you know it's tested and warranted.

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        • Raffi_R
          Raffi_
          last edited by

          Not to say this is an issue exclusive to Ebay, but I have seen fake intel cards on Ebay. When I say fake, the circle around the intel logo looked like it was hand drawn. At least the seller was nice enough to zoom in really close on that, so they weren't even trying to hide it. My rule of thumb is to avoid the "brand new" or "new" ones that come directly from China. Ebay has a filter that lets you only see products based in the US. The other giveaway is the low price on a brand new two port Intel nic.

          I just ordered two that were used off Ebay, link below. I might still be getting duped, but I feel better if it's a US based seller, with a description that states pulled from new system never in service. Also, the price is in the ball park of what I would expect to pay for a one port Intel Gigabit NIC.
          https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-EXPI9301CT-CTPL-Gigabit-PCI-e-Network-Adapter-OEM-F3-M/352147586727?epid=1377015223&hash=item51fda1bea7:g:XOIAAOSwvOdZnE8I#rwid

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          • ?
            Guest
            last edited by

            @raffi30:

            Not to say this is an issue exclusive to Ebay, but I have seen fake intel cards on Ebay. When I say fake, the circle around the intel logo looked like it was hand drawn. At least the seller was nice enough to zoom in really close on that, so they weren't even trying to hide it. My rule of thumb is to avoid the "brand new" or "new" ones that come directly from China. Ebay has a filter that lets you only see products based in the US. The other giveaway is the low price on a brand new two port Intel nic.

            I just ordered two that were used off Ebay, link below. I might still be getting duped, but I feel better if it's a US based seller, with a description that states pulled from new system never in service. Also, the price is in the ball park of what I would expect to pay for a one port Intel Gigabit NIC.
            https://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-EXPI9301CT-CTPL-Gigabit-PCI-e-Network-Adapter-OEM-F3-M/352147586727?epid=1377015223&hash=item51fda1bea7:g:XOIAAOSwvOdZnE8I#rwid

            I have never actually bought a card from a USA seller, it's too far away and too expensive. Most of my cards come from the UK and Germany but there have been a few China sellers with good reputation that got me some good working pulls.

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            • H
              Harvy66
              last edited by

              The first thing you do when you get your NIC or other Intel device is check the YottaMark and make sure all of the serial numbers match and Intel has a site to validate serial numbers and YottaMarks.

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              • Raffi_R
                Raffi_
                last edited by

                @Harvy66:

                The first thing you do when you get your NIC or other Intel device is check the YottaMark and make sure all of the serial numbers match and Intel has a site to validate serial numbers and YottaMarks.

                I received my NIC's. They don't have a YottaMark. I think that's normal on the model I have (EXPI9301CT). I couldn't find a place to validate the serial number on the Intel site, so I checked the warranty on it instead. That also requires the serial number. So in case anyone has the same trouble I had validating their Intel NIC, check the warrant info on it. If it's legit, it should come up with some kind of warranty information.

                Another tip, if you purchase a "pulled from OEM system" NIC card on Ebay or elsewhere, check the gold plated fingers for wear. It should have at least a tiny mark on them indicating they were actually in a system at one point. That's actually a good thing in this case! Also, when checking the Intel warranty information, it should state something along the lines of contact the system manufacturer for support. This means it was in fact an OEM card that came with a system.

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                • H
                  Harvy66
                  last edited by

                  It could be because of OEM, but according to https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000007074/network-and-i-o/ethernet-products.html Intel® Gigabit CT NICs should have a yottamark.

                  https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000007074/network-and-i-o/ethernet-products.html

                  This article applies to:
                  Active Products

                  Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T2 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-T2 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-SR2
                  Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-SR1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-QDA1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-LR1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-DA2 Intel® 10 Gigabit AF DA Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit AT2 Server Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit XF SR Server Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit XF SR Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter  Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 CT Network Connection Intel® PRO/1000 CT Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 PM Network Connection Intel® PRO/1000 PM Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I210-T1 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340-F4 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340-T4 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-T2 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-T4 Intel® Gigabit EF Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit ET2 Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit ET Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit ET Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 GT Quad Port Server Adapter

                  The only official way to tell if you have a "Genuine Intel® Network Adapter" is the yottamark, according to their website. There may be exceptions, but their website makes it sound like no yottamark means it's not genuine.

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                  • Raffi_R
                    Raffi_
                    last edited by

                    @Harvy66:

                    It could be because of OEM, but according to https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000007074/network-and-i-o/ethernet-products.html Intel® Gigabit CT NICs should have a yottamark.

                    https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000007074/network-and-i-o/ethernet-products.html

                    This article applies to:
                    Active Products

                    Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T2 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-T2 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-SR2
                    Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-SR1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-QDA1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-LR1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-DA2 Intel® 10 Gigabit AF DA Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit AT2 Server Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit XF SR Server Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit XF SR Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter  Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 CT Network Connection Intel® PRO/1000 CT Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 PM Network Connection Intel® PRO/1000 PM Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I210-T1 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340-F4 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340-T4 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-T2 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-T4 Intel® Gigabit EF Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit ET2 Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit ET Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit ET Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 GT Quad Port Server Adapter

                    The only official way to tell if you have a "Genuine Intel® Network Adapter" is the yottamark, according to their website. There may be exceptions, but their website makes it sound like no yottamark means it's not genuine.

                    Interesting, I actually was a bit worried about not seeing the YottaMark. I did a little more homework though. I had a chat session with an Intel support rep. He said the PBA number I gave him indicated it's a retail card and not an OEM. The seller stated it was pulled from a new system and title stated OEM. It may have been a retail card installed in a system… maybe... who knows, but not according to the Intel rep. He then was nice enough to check an actual EXPI9301CT card he had in his lab. He confirmed it did not have a YottaMark sticker on it. He said they probably started to implement the YottaMark sticker after that model card.
                    I also mentioned to the rep that the warranty information based on the model and serial number checked out as valid, but I found it odd that it had a warranty till 2067. He didn't seem concerned about the 50 year warranty. He said all Intel cards have a lifetime warranty.
                    I also checked a major reseller like Newegg. The same EXPI9301CT retail card shipped and sold by newegg did not have a YottaMark sticker on it. I doubt they would resell fakes. Maybe a third party seller on Newegg might, but not Newegg themselves.

                    I do feel much better about it not having the YottaMark and the fact that the warranty info checked out. FIY, in case anyone else has these concerns.

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                    • H
                      Harvy66
                      last edited by

                      Nice to know. Annoying that Intel lists that NIC as supporting the yottamark when it does not come with one. It's quite confusing.

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                      • Raffi_R
                        Raffi_
                        last edited by

                        @Harvy66:

                        Nice to know. Annoying that Intel lists that NIC as supporting the yottamark when it does not come with one. It's quite confusing.

                        I agree, it was confusing. The page on Intel's site about the Yottamark even shows the "Intel Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter Series" as a model which that article applies to. The EXPI9301CT is one of those. I should have mentioned that to the rep to clear that up on the webpage.

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                        • ?
                          Guest
                          last edited by

                          I ordered a bunch of Intel NICs (actually Desktop PCI adapters) a while back, some had the mark, some didn't, yet they all were identical (except production date).
                          It seems some older cards were produced around the time the YottaMark was introduced and that's why some simply don't have that sticker.

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