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    PC Engines apu2 experiences

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    • D
      daemonix @Qinn
      last edited by daemonix

      This post is deleted!
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      • D
        daemonix @Qinn
        last edited by

        @Qinn said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

        @daemonix Nope, just install the flashrom like above, then download the latest Mainline from here

        https://pcengines.github.io/
        

        then flash it and reboot, I have switched from Legacy to Mainline months ago and everything works still fine.

        ...and btw you don't need the force option, this is enough

        flashrom -w /tmp/apu2_v4.9.0.7.rom -p internal
        

        Done without a problem!
        I had a serial link to it so I did it from there so I can see the boot sequence.

        Now that I have time to experiment a bit.
        What are the recommended combination of settings that favour performance on a openvpn server nowadays ?

        BSD crypto ON/OFF? CBC/GBC algo? etc..
        I get 40mbit on the apu2 hosted server.

        fireodoF 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • fireodoF
          fireodo @daemonix
          last edited by

          @daemonix said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

          BSD crypto ON/OFF? CBC/GBC algo? etc..
          I get 40mbit on the apu2 hosted server.

          From my knowledge for the APU2-Board the settings should be AES-NI (in CPU).

          Regards,
          fireodo

          Kettop Mi4300YL CPU: i5-4300Y @ 1.60GHz RAM: 8GB Ethernet Ports: 4
          SSD: SanDisk pSSD-S2 16GB (ZFS) WiFi: WLE200NX
          pfsense 2.8.0 CE
          Packages: Apcupsd, Cron, Iftop, Iperf, LCDproc, Nmap, pfBlockerNG, RRD_Summary, Shellcmd, Snort, Speedtest, System_Patches.

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          • QinnQ
            Qinn
            last edited by Qinn

            I agree try AES-NI (in cpu) read this please, especially the reply from "jimp" https://forum.netgate.com/topic/114212/aes-ni-cryptodev-openvpn-help-a-n00b-understand/16

            The setting is in :

            System/Advanced/Miscellaneous
            

            try it and see how it performs.

            Hardeware: Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4125 CPU @ 2.00GHz 102 GB mSATA SSD (ZFS)
            Firmware: Latest-stable-pfSense CE (amd64)
            Packages: pfBlockerNG devel-beta (beta tester) - Avahi - Notes - Ntopng - PIMD/udpbroadcastrelay - Service Watchdog - System Patches

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            • D
              daemonix
              last edited by

              fast-io
              sndbuf 524288
              rcvbuf 524288

              added this, changed my PIA client to GCM (my server was already GCM) and I already had just the hardware acceleration only...
              Gone from 45-sih mbit to 70-70mbit in both PIA and my server!!!

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • K
                kevindd992002
                last edited by

                @Qinn said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                https://pcengines.github.io/

                Does this mean that "AES-NI CPU-based acceleration" is better than the "AES-NI and BSD Crypto Device" option? I'm still confused what the difference between those two are.

                fireodoF 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • fireodoF
                  fireodo @kevindd992002
                  last edited by

                  @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                  Does this mean that "AES-NI CPU-based acceleration" is better than the "AES-NI and BSD Crypto Device" option? I'm still confused what the difference between those two are.

                  Yes! The Apu2 does not have a dedicated Crypto-Device, the Crypto-Functions are integrated in the CPU (much faster). IMHO

                  Kettop Mi4300YL CPU: i5-4300Y @ 1.60GHz RAM: 8GB Ethernet Ports: 4
                  SSD: SanDisk pSSD-S2 16GB (ZFS) WiFi: WLE200NX
                  pfsense 2.8.0 CE
                  Packages: Apcupsd, Cron, Iftop, Iperf, LCDproc, Nmap, pfBlockerNG, RRD_Summary, Shellcmd, Snort, Speedtest, System_Patches.

                  K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • K
                    kevindd992002 @fireodo
                    last edited by

                    @fireodo said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                    @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                    Does this mean that "AES-NI CPU-based acceleration" is better than the "AES-NI and BSD Crypto Device" option? I'm still confused what the difference between those two are.

                    Yes! The Apu2 does not have a dedicated Crypto-Device, the Crypto-Functions are integrated in the CPU (much faster). IMHO

                    I see. But won't it use AES-NI anyway if the latter option is selected?

                    Also, in the OpenVPN settings you should chhose None in the Hardware Acceleration field, correct?

                    fireodoF 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • fireodoF
                      fireodo @kevindd992002
                      last edited by

                      @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                      I see. But won't it use AES-NI anyway if the latter option is selected?

                      Freebsd will look for the Crypto-Device wich is not existent and will not fallback to AES-NI CPU based.

                      Also, in the OpenVPN settings you should chhose None in the Hardware Acceleration field, correct?

                      I admit I dont know. Sorry.

                      Kettop Mi4300YL CPU: i5-4300Y @ 1.60GHz RAM: 8GB Ethernet Ports: 4
                      SSD: SanDisk pSSD-S2 16GB (ZFS) WiFi: WLE200NX
                      pfsense 2.8.0 CE
                      Packages: Apcupsd, Cron, Iftop, Iperf, LCDproc, Nmap, pfBlockerNG, RRD_Summary, Shellcmd, Snort, Speedtest, System_Patches.

                      D 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • D
                        daemonix @fireodo
                        last edited by

                        @fireodo said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                        @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                        I see. But won't it use AES-NI anyway if the latter option is selected?

                        Freebsd will look for the Crypto-Device wich is not existent and will not fallback to AES-NI CPU based.

                        Also, in the OpenVPN settings you should chhose None in the Hardware Acceleration field, correct?

                        I admit I dont know. Sorry.

                        Yes this is it. I did all the possible test combinations.
                        Indeed ONLY AES-NI should be selected

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                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          Yes, the only thing to avoid here is enabling both aes-ni and bsd crypto. Doing that will cause the aes device to register for crypto acceleration via the framework which adds a load of additional steps. It's much faster to use the available CPU instructions directly. As long as it's enabled in the BIOS openssl, and hence openvpn, should use aes-ni.

                          Steve

                          QinnQ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • QinnQ
                            Qinn @stephenw10
                            last edited by

                            @stephenw10 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                            Yes, the only thing to avoid here is enabling both aes-ni and bsd crypto. Doing that will cause the aes device to register for crypto acceleration via the framework which adds a load of additional steps. It's much faster to use the available CPU instructions directly. As long as it's enabled in the BIOS openssl, and hence openvpn, should use aes-ni.

                            Steve

                            So you have to select AES-NI in pfSense and not in OpenVPN, then why is this option (Hardware crypto) present in OpenVPN config within pfSense? Could you please clarify this?

                            Cheers Qinn

                            Hardeware: Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4125 CPU @ 2.00GHz 102 GB mSATA SSD (ZFS)
                            Firmware: Latest-stable-pfSense CE (amd64)
                            Packages: pfBlockerNG devel-beta (beta tester) - Avahi - Notes - Ntopng - PIMD/udpbroadcastrelay - Service Watchdog - System Patches

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                            • stephenw10S
                              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                              last edited by

                              I have personally never used that setting. But I have also never had a device with a specifically supported hardware crypto device which is where I would expect it to apply.
                              In testing I did when we went to OpenVPN 2.4 it was better to leave that set to None in every case.

                              Steve

                              QinnQ jahonixJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • QinnQ
                                Qinn @stephenw10
                                last edited by

                                @stephenw10 kudos for clearing that one up!

                                Hardeware: Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4125 CPU @ 2.00GHz 102 GB mSATA SSD (ZFS)
                                Firmware: Latest-stable-pfSense CE (amd64)
                                Packages: pfBlockerNG devel-beta (beta tester) - Avahi - Notes - Ntopng - PIMD/udpbroadcastrelay - Service Watchdog - System Patches

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                                • jahonixJ
                                  jahonix @stephenw10
                                  last edited by

                                  @stephenw10 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                  But I have also never had a device with a specifically supported hardware crypto device which ...

                                  Don't want to crush this topic (and can't PM you) but lemme ask how far crypto in the SG-1100 has come? Last thing I know is that HW is present and waits for the software to follow. Anything changed in this regard?

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                                  • stephenw10S
                                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                    last edited by

                                    That is still basically the status. I'm not sure how far along that work is, I did see some discussion of it a few days ago.

                                    But that's a good point. On the SG-3100 where the crypto hardware is supported via the CESA driver I am currently running with BSD Crypto device set in both OpenVPN and as the system crypto device.

                                    Steve

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                                    • QinnQ
                                      Qinn
                                      last edited by Qinn

                                      Although it is not downloadable at the moment, did anyone tried the new v4.10.0.0?

                                      https://pcengines.github.io/
                                      

                                      Hardeware: Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4125 CPU @ 2.00GHz 102 GB mSATA SSD (ZFS)
                                      Firmware: Latest-stable-pfSense CE (amd64)
                                      Packages: pfBlockerNG devel-beta (beta tester) - Avahi - Notes - Ntopng - PIMD/udpbroadcastrelay - Service Watchdog - System Patches

                                      fireodoF 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • fireodoF
                                        fireodo @Qinn
                                        last edited by

                                        @Qinn said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                        Although it is not downloadable at the moment, did anyone tried the new v4.10.0.0?

                                        https://pcengines.github.io/
                                        

                                        There isnt any 4.10.0.0 version - look here:
                                        https://3mdeb.com/open-source-firmware/pcengines/

                                        Kettop Mi4300YL CPU: i5-4300Y @ 1.60GHz RAM: 8GB Ethernet Ports: 4
                                        SSD: SanDisk pSSD-S2 16GB (ZFS) WiFi: WLE200NX
                                        pfsense 2.8.0 CE
                                        Packages: Apcupsd, Cron, Iftop, Iperf, LCDproc, Nmap, pfBlockerNG, RRD_Summary, Shellcmd, Snort, Speedtest, System_Patches.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • VeldkornetV
                                          Veldkornet
                                          last edited by Veldkornet

                                          Here it is: https://pcengines.github.io/#mr-25

                                          v4.10.0.0
                                          
                                          Release date: '2019-08-09'
                                          
                                          Fixed/added:
                                          - rebased with official coreboot repository commit 2a20d13
                                          - enable basic ACPI support for GPIOs
                                          
                                          fireodoF 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • fireodoF
                                            fireodo @Veldkornet
                                            last edited by

                                            @Veldkornet said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                            Here it is: https://pcengines.github.io/#mr-25

                                            v4.10.0.0
                                            
                                            Release date: '2019-08-09'
                                            
                                            Fixed/added:
                                            - rebased with official coreboot repository commit 2a20d13
                                            - enable basic ACPI support for GPIOs
                                            

                                            Have you download it?

                                            Kettop Mi4300YL CPU: i5-4300Y @ 1.60GHz RAM: 8GB Ethernet Ports: 4
                                            SSD: SanDisk pSSD-S2 16GB (ZFS) WiFi: WLE200NX
                                            pfsense 2.8.0 CE
                                            Packages: Apcupsd, Cron, Iftop, Iperf, LCDproc, Nmap, pfBlockerNG, RRD_Summary, Shellcmd, Snort, Speedtest, System_Patches.

                                            K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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