PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.
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Hello, i was thinking buying this mini computer for a network setup i want to do. As well to run some other unrelated software that i need to run... But this device has to be online 24/7, i was hoping if you guys could guide me what kind of External battery / Powerbank would i need to last at least a couple of hours in case of power outage.
I'm not good with calculating Ampers, volts and watts and all that....
But the device power specs are
Power Consumption:TDP 15W
Power Supply:DC 12VI was wondering if you guys could suggest me and explain me how with the power specifications that i mentioned above i can choose a good power bank? The powerbank has to be able to power the device while is plug in into the AC of the wall, and in case of power outrage, to continue powering the device for a couple of hours.
This is the device i want to buy: Qotom-Q550G6-I5-6200U [link removed]
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@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
As well to run some other unrelated software that i need to run...
What "unrelated software" do you want to run on your FreeBSD based firewall and, for god's sake, why?
CPU load determines current drawn, thus makes it directly related to sizing any sort of backup power supply.Qotom, never respecting Netgate's copyright on pfSense, doesn't get any love here.
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I want to run www.speedify.com Is a software that combines and merge multiple ISP connections and also provides VPN. It works so well for what i'm doing so it has to be that software.
https://www.connectify.me/ is the same company but i was told by their support that i could share the enhanced VPN speedify connection to multiple devices through the Connectify software. That's is why i'm looking for a mini pc with a lot of ethernet ports, so i can share the result of the speedify connection to all the routers of my home.
Forget about the unrelated software, i could run it in another device. It doesn't have to be that one, i just need that device to be 24/7 on all the time. Both speedify and connectify won't loan that much of CPU.
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So not pfSense at all?
15W is the thermal design power of the CPU only on that device. The actual power requirement of the complete system will vary based on the CPU loading.
But... if it is 15W total you need a 30Wh battery to power it for 2hrs.
Steve
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@stephenw10
15W TDP is heat dissipation of the CPU. It's not power drawn. And that's only for the CPU, all the other components onboard are missing from that equation. -
@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
i'm looking for a mini pc with a lot of ethernet ports, so i can share the result of the speedify connection to all the routers of my home.
??? How many routers do you have in one home?
These lots of ethernet ports on a router are router ports, NOT switch ports. Use a switch to distribute ethernet in your home. -
Ok I am confused - your not going to be running this software on pfsense.. So why is your question in pfsense hardware... This should just be moved to general section, cuz for the life of me don't see how this has anything to do with pfsense, or any pfsense hardware.. Are you thinking of using some netgate hardware to run whatever this software is on?
edit: So you want to buy some Qotom-Q550G6-I5-6200U, that is not netgate hardware.. So why are you not their boards if you want to know how much power it draws?
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OP has an idea but no clue how to accomplish that.
We can either smack on his forehead and tell him to ask elsewhere or we guide him to a working solution, probably with pfSense on netgate hardware.
I opt for the latter... -
He is not going to run that software on pfsense ;) He could run it on some netgate hardware sure..
edit: Moving this to General... This has zero to do with pfsense hardware.
What I would do to figure out your powerbank needs is actuall measure the power the device uses - get yourself a little killawatt meter.. Great little device to have in your toolbelt - like 20$.. Run the device for a few days under different load conditions and then see how much power it used..
Then do some math for what kind of ups you would need to keep it running for X hours..
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the *ify.com software runs on "a PC [aka Windows] or MAC, iOS and Android".
I wouldn't run that on netgate hardware but would do so with the main router/firewall. -
@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
combines and merge multiple ISP connections and also provides VPN
You do understand that anything running pfsense can do this right.. Pfsense can load share across multiple isp connections, and provides vpn server, etc. etc..
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Let me explain myself better. I don't need lots of ethernet ports. I just need to find the lowest power consumption as possible device that can run windows enterprise to run these two softwares. I need either 2 ethernet ports and wifi or 3 ethernet ports. And a battery in case of power outrage.
I posted this here because i thought you guy might know. the PFsense mini computers that are sold in amazon looks good for what i want. I just need a battery backup for the computer itself that would allow me to keep powering the device for at least two hours. The device has to be on 24/7.
I need 1 ethernet port to distribute it to a switcher to all my routers in my home.
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@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
the PFsense mini computers that are sold in amazon looks good for what i want.
Those have nothing to do with pfSense, they are cheap (in every way) hardware where the seller misuses the pfSense brand to up his sales. You will not find much love/support for them here.
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You can run windows on a PI, the new PI 4's have little power use, and just use a switch to create more interfaces to connect to your box.. cheap vlan switch (40ish) Pi 4 kit say 100ish... Your looking like 150$ gets you a pc to run your windows on.. And 8 ports to work with..
You could run a switch and a pi for day prob on the cheapest of ups I would bet ;)
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@Grimson said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
the PFsense mini computers that are sold in amazon looks good for what i want.
Those have nothing to do with pfSense, they are cheap (in every way) hardware where the seller misuses the pfSense brand to up his sales. You will not find much love/support for them here.
I didn't even know... i just need to figure out which kind of hardware i need? I was hoping if i could get some technical wisdom or guidance.
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Why are you stuck on this software -- again pfsense can use multiple ISPs for its wan, and share load across them for your clients behind..
Something like a sg1100 for $149 would most likely work, and then vlan capable switch and you would be cooking with gas ;) Very little power use..
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@johnpoz said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
You can run windows on a PI, the new PI 4's have little power use, and just use a switch to create more interfaces to connect to your box.. cheap vlan switch (40ish) Pi 4 kit say 100ish... Your looking like 150$ gets you a pc to run your windows on.. And 8 ports to work with..
You could run a switch and a pi for day prob on the cheapest of ups I would bet ;)
And what kind of battery should i buy for the pi?
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@johnpoz said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
sg1100
It has to be the software i have :( I'm in love with it and I'm paying 50$ a year for it.
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You would buy a ups... Do a google for how much pi4 draws.. Sure there is plenty of info about it.. if not now real soon.. Since they just hit the streets and people posting all kinds of info for them..
Something like a 1350 ups with 50w would give you a run time of over 2 hours for sure... Pi and switch not going to draw half of that... A sg1100 shows it draws 3.48W (Idle), lets say 5 for your switch puts you less than 10w so a 1350 UPS would give you easy hours and hours and hours over your 2 hour requirement.. Look for a ups runtime calc - apc has one, cyberpower has one and wills how you graph at estimated runtime for specific load.
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@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
I'm paying 50$ a year for it.
Pfsense is FREE.. So in 3 years you would pay for the sg1100 ;)
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@johnpoz said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
I'm paying 50$ a year for it.
Pfsense is FREE.. So in 3 years you would pay for the sg1100 ;)
But my software is giving me a VPN for that price a year. PFsense VPN is free?
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@johnpoz said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
You would buy a ups... Do a google for how much pi4 draws.. Sure there is plenty of info about it.. if not now real soon.. Since they just hit the streets and people posting all kinds of info for them..
Something like a 1350 ups with 50w would give you a run time of over 2 hours for sure... Pi and switch not going to draw half of that... A sg1100 shows it draws 3.48W (Idle), lets say 5 for your switch puts you less than 10w so a 1350 UPS would give you easy hours and hours and hours over your 2 hour requirement.. Look for a ups runtime calc - apc has one, cyberpower has one and wills how you graph at estimated runtime for specific load.
Funny thing is that i already have a cyberpower 1500VA, i have my 2 ISP modems connected to it. How much do you think it will last with two modems, and the raspbery PI 4 and a switch?
Edit: Also the pi can run windows enterprise or just windows IoT?
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pfSense can't actually combine connections at that level it can only load balance between them which is not the same thing.
To do that you need something at both ends to split and combine the connections at a packet level. Like MLVPN:
https://mlvpn.readthedocs.io/en/latest/what_is_mlvpn.htmlIf you are really concerned with power usage then you should be looking at some thing that can run at low voltage directly. Converting the battery voltage to high voltage AC only to then convert it back down to 12V or 5V to power some small computer is very inefficient.
Steve
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@stephenw10 said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
pfSense can't actually combine connections at that level it can only load balance between them which is not the same thing.
To do that you need something at both ends to split and combine the connections at a packet level. Like MLVPN:
https://mlvpn.readthedocs.io/en/latest/what_is_mlvpn.htmlIf you are really concerned with power usage then you should be looking at some thing that can run at low voltage directly. Converting the battery voltage to high voltage AC only to then convert it back down to 12V or 5V to power some small computer is very inefficient.
Steve
Speedify does that, it's highly redundant.
"In Redundant Mode, Speedify sends all of your data over every one of your Internet connections at the same time. Whichever packet gets through first, is the one to be delivered. The end result is consistent and reliable Internet access when that’s all you really need."
https://speedify.com/blog/internet-reliability/user-spotlight-redundant-mode/
I love speedify because of that. I won't change softwares
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Then you're stuck running Windows with all the security implications that carries it seems.
Or OSX I guess.
What throughput do you actually need?
Steve
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@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
Edit: Also the pi can run windows enterprise or just windows IoT?
https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-10-enterprise-will-finally-support-arm-with-the-snapdragon-8cx/
Said to be "slow as hell" but could use only one CPU core (on RPi 3).I'd get fired if I ran my main routers/firewalls on Windows OS.
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@jahonix Yep, but how i can run apple OS? I have no choice.
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@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
@jahonix Yep, but how i can run apple OS? I have no choice.
Buy a Mac?
There's always a choice. -
lol no i stick with windows. The internet and devices in my home will be more secure with the VPN provided by speedify anyways. The risk is low. The the device i want to buy, will not be used for anything else. No malware, VPN acts as a DDOS control. So i still think my risk is very limited with windows.
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There is a lot of misinformation about VPNs. Personally I don't think they do either of those things.
Once, many years ago I ran Windows as a router. Never again!
They have Linux code since they have an Android client. It would be much better to run the client on, say, OpenWRT but that's probably not going to happen.
Or host your own bonding server and use OpenMPTCProuter.
Steve
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@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
lol no i stick with windows. The internet and devices in my home will be more secure with the VPN provided by speedify anyways. The risk is low. The the device i want to buy, will not be used for anything else. No malware, VPN acts as a DDOS control. So i still think my risk is very limited with windows.
If i scan the network nothing will prevent me to find your real ip, take advantage of every single hole in windows OS, put inside your lan every malware i can think of or some ransomware. VPN will protect you only from some lame player of some stupid game that want to ddos you. Can't you really think of anything better than a windows router?
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And what you would achieve by that, infecting a windows computer that has only 2 softwares running on it? When all my other computers are mac and linux in my home. If that happens i will just delete the Windows partition AND reinstall Windows and start again .
Well anyways.. i have no other option And spending all that money for a mac laptop is not a option.
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@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
The internet and devices in my home will be more secure with the VPN provided by speedify anyways.
I doubt that "the internet" will be more secure and I cannot see how a VPN protects your devices at home.
@logart said in PFsense mini computer and battery/powerbank questions.:
all my other computers are mac and linux
So you want to put the weakest device at the front gate?
I'd think twice about that. -
well for example i can stole your data, sniff your traffic before it go inside the vpn, use it to load botnet, or only for the sake of it, wan is full of idiots with a lot of time to waste. Just for example one of my clients found the police out of the door, one day, because someone used his server to commit scams on ebay, before asking help to us. The guy before us had put Windows Server 2003 sbe just after the modem without any firewall.
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Yeah. There are many things that someone with access to that box could do and you don't want any of them!
I assume speedify give you a private IP when you connect to them so at least you are not directly accessible that way. If it's behind other routers on the WAN connections it may not have a public IP at all which at least reduces the risk. But...