Atom C3758 - Supermicro A2SDi-8C-HLN4F - PFsense?

iormangund · Oct 13, 2017, 12:59 AM

So my A2SDi-4C-HLN4F arrived today, there is no legacy boot so you will need pfsense using FreeBSD 11, current snapshot "pfSense-CE-memstick-2.4.0-RC-amd64-latest.img.gz" boots and installs without any major issues.

The main issue is support for the NIC. Looking around for solutions, I ordered the board almost two months ago and at the time I assumed there would be support by the time I got it. Seems I misjudged that. Debating whether to keep trying, wait for support or just return/sell it.

Have to say though, it's a lovely piece of kit :D

Oct 13, 2017, 4:47 AM

So my A2SDi-4C-HLN4F arrived today, there is no legacy boot so you will need pfsense using FreeBSD 11, current snapshot "pfSense-CE-memstick-2.4.0-RC-amd64-latest.img.gz" boots and installs without any major issues.

Cool to know this, thnx for that information! I am glad to hear this.

The main issue is support for the NIC.

Not really! There are different C3000 (Denverton) based mainboards from Supermicro out there, some came with
SoC integrated NICs, running over an own PHY chip on that board, both can be occurring the problem or lag of
right matching drivers. And the other ones are coming also with a C3000 SoC, but the NICs are well known and
supported such the Intel i210/i211 or i350/i354 as I am right informed.

Looking around for solutions,

From where should this solution comes from? Perhaps you may install something likes FreeBSD 11.0 or FreeBSD 11.1,
this is important, and you compile there your own drivers matching to that mainboard or you will be waiting until Intel
is serve drivers for that SoC and their bounded NICs! Your Board is not on listed under the supported OS list as
compatible! Supermicro Denverton OS compatibility list

I ordered the board almost two months ago and at the time I assumed there would be support by the time I got it. Seems I misjudged that. Debating whether to keep trying, wait for support or just return/sell it.

This is a good question, if no driver will be there in pfSense and FreeBSD you will be on the dead end
but if so you only must waiting to get the drivers and that only the developers will be able to answer!

Have to say though, it's a lovely piece of kit :D

For sure it is looking pretty good.

You could also buy an additional dual or quad NIC likes the Intel i210/211 or i340/i350/i354
that is well supported by FreeBSD and pfSense. Not really good but able to go with, or am I wrong with this?

iormangund · Oct 13, 2017, 7:23 AM

Simply put, the nic is X553, so far it's not supported yet on FreeBSD, therefore not on pfsense. It is in the works for freebsd, no eta.

As for pfsense, I would have thought it will get done as the rumour mill suggests the next batch of pfsense own hardware might be denverton based.

Until driver's supported, I'll just sling a couple of usb gigabit adapters I have lying around on it (which I actually already did, works fine). Obviously wont be as good but will do for now plus lets me play and test it all while I wait.

Edit: Possible FreeBSD will have support for X553 by end of month, maybe(?), source: https://lwn.net/Articles/735126/

Oct 13, 2017, 9:35 PM

Simply put, the nic is X553, so far it's not supported yet on FreeBSD, therefore not on pfsense.

The SoC integrated NICs will be X553 (1 GBit/s) and X557 (10 GBit/s) and yes both are under construction!
For FreeBSD and also for pfSense, likes shown under the following links here;
Netgate on Twitter
Denverton thread
Post on reddit

It is in the works for freebsd, no eta.

The first Denverton (C3000) board from Supermicro was announced for August 2017 and I think
it is only a pretty bit to fast to imagine that there are drivers out now!

As for pfsense, I would have thought it will get done as the rumour mill suggests the next batch of pfsense own hardware might be denverton based.

Under the twitter link (above) they are showing up one small board (nano-itx) and were talking over a greater
and stronger (more powerful) board based on that C3000 chip.

Until driver's supported, I'll just sling a couple of usb gigabit adapters I have lying around on it (which I actually already did, works fine). Obviously wont be as good but will do for now plus lets me play and test it all while I wait.

For sure this board are looking awesome there are some rally interesting boards that could turn it all inside.
Supermicro A2SDi-TP8F
Quad LAN with Intel C3000 SoC
2x 10 GbE RJ45 ports over C3000 SoC (X557)
2x 10GBit/s SFP+ Ports over C3000 SoC (X557)
Quad LAN with Intel Ethernet Controller I350-AM4
4x 1 GBit/s RJ45 over Intel i350-AM4

Supermicro A2SDi-LN4F
Intel Ethernet Controller I350-AM4
4x 1 GBit/s RJ45 over Intel i350-AM4

This both are offering NICs that are supported out of the box and one of them for future 10 GbE Ports too!
As said all is given here, what the nerd heart will be loving,

M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4
much and fast RAM
miniPCIe slot for a WiFi card

Edit: Possible FreeBSD will have support for X553 by end of month, maybe(?), source: https://lwn.net/Articles/735126/

I hope so for you and others thart are willing to buy or use that Intel C3000 SoC, I personally will waiting
until the Xeon D-15x3N platform will be launched and then I must really decide if I go with the D-15x3N or the
Supermicro A2SDi-TP8F.

jwt · Oct 14, 2017, 6:29 AM

C3000 is already running in the lab.

iormangund · Oct 18, 2017, 3:05 AM

@jwt:

C3000 is already running in the lab.

What does that mean? That it's working in closed beta?

Oct 19, 2017, 11:47 PM

What does that mean? That it's working in closed beta?

It means they are testing it and have to wait like all others that the FreeBSD drivers will be out there!
Be patient….

zeux · Jan 3, 2019, 3:02 PM

Some news about pfSense and Intel Atom 3858 ?

Thank you

MarvinFS · Jan 9, 2018, 1:24 PM

Guys any news on X553 driver?
It's still not working on 2.4.2_1 and it'a January already.
I've bought 6 pcs SYS-E200-9A with A2SDi-4C-HLN4F boards.
It's perfect all in all even Windows 2016 server works perfectly there, but not pfsense.
Any updates of manually putting FreeBSD drivers in there?
disabling virtualization or VT-d in BIOS does nothing for pfsense and NIC detection.

FreeMindedCH · Jun 30, 2018, 3:29 PM

I just installed the latest Devel Version (pfSense-CE-memstick-2.4.4-DEVELOPMENT-amd64-latest) on a SuperServer 5019A-FTN4 and the network interfaces are working.

R3Z3N · Nov 9, 2018, 6:25 PM

Working fine here. The only oddity with the board was it did not like a bunch of USB disks, would not let me choose to boot them or see them in the UEFI. Thought I had a bum mobo because of this. Just edited the XML backup with the new ix0-ix4 NICs and imported the backup just fine.

ozlecz · Jan 3, 2019, 3:02 PM

@zeux are you okay with your 3558...i have installed 2.4.4_p1 and it all goes well..the thing is iam having problem with internet DL...normaly i have 25dl/25ul mbps...but with pfsense in between ima getting 2dl/25ul....note that UL is not affected

R3Z3N · Jan 3, 2019, 8:57 PM

@ozlecz I am getting 300dl/30ul using a 5 way round robin PIA VPN outgoing setup. Using PIA's high encryption I get 150dl/30ul which may be a limitation on their end.