USB ethernet interface

Monchi · Jul 9, 2016, 6:22 PM

Hi,

I temporaly need to add one more NIC to my testing pfsense box (version 2.3.1).

I'm trying to get a "StarTech USB 2.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter" (USB21000S2) to work. usb config gives me the following output:

ugen1.2: <usb gigabit="" lan="" ws="">at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (100mA)

bLength = 0x0012
bDescriptorType = 0x0001
bcdUSB = 0x0200
bDeviceClass = 0x00ff
bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
bDeviceProtocol = 0x00ff
bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
idVendor = 0x0424
idProduct = 0x7500
bcdDevice = 0x0100
iManufacturer = 0x0001 <ws>iProduct = 0x0002 <usb gigabit="" lan="">iSerialNumber = 0x0003 <00000006ae>
bNumConfigurations = 0x0001</usb></ws></usb>

The box seems to recognise the device. Nevertheless the interface doesn't show up in the webgui.

I'm no freebsd expert, so I'm stuck at this point. Anyone got an idea what to do?

Thanks in advance
Monchi

P.s.: I'm using a pc engines APU board so adding a PCIe card is not an option :-(

jimp · Jul 19, 2016, 5:43 PM

If it shows as "ugen" that means a network driver didn't attach. It's not supported in FreeBSD.

Managed switch + VLANs is a better path forward when you cannot physically add NICs.

Monchi · Jul 23, 2016, 8:29 PM

damn >:(

But thanks for the info!

Paint · Jul 25, 2016, 2:27 PM

@Monchi:

Hi,

I temporaly need to add one more NIC to my testing pfsense box (version 2.3.1).

I'm trying to get a "StarTech USB 2.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter" (USB21000S2) to work. usb config gives me the following output:

ugen1.2: <usb gigabit="" lan="" ws="">at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (100mA)

bLength = 0x0012
bDescriptorType = 0x0001
bcdUSB = 0x0200
bDeviceClass = 0x00ff
bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
bDeviceProtocol = 0x00ff
bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
idVendor = 0x0424
idProduct = 0x7500
bcdDevice = 0x0100
iManufacturer = 0x0001 <ws>iProduct = 0x0002 <usb gigabit="" lan="">iSerialNumber = 0x0003 <00000006ae>
bNumConfigurations = 0x0001</usb></ws></usb>

The box seems to recognise the device. Nevertheless the interface doesn't show up in the webgui.

I'm no freebsd expert, so I'm stuck at this point. Anyone got an idea what to do?

Thanks in advance
Monchi

P.s.: I'm using a pc engines APU board so adding a PCIe card is not an option :-(

What about MiniPCI? Jetway is the only company producing a Mini-PCI card that has this server based Intel Ethernet chipset - ADMPEIDLB - http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/spec/expansion/ADMPEIDLB.pdf

I was able to speak to someone in their California headquarters (her name was Angel) and purchased this board for $75 shipped! It arrives on Thursday, so I will let everyone know updated Ethernet performance figures in my hardware thread: https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=113610.45

jimp · Jul 25, 2016, 2:34 PM

@Paint:

What about MiniPCI? Jetway is the only company producing a Mini-PCI card that has this server based Intel Ethernet chipset - ADMPEIDLB - http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/spec/expansion/ADMPEIDLB.pdf

a) I wouldn't trust anything from Jetway, ever.

b) You'll have to perform some surgery on the case to get the cables out and find some way to mount the ports.

It may function, but whether or not it's a viable solution is debatable.

Paint · Jul 25, 2016, 2:48 PM

@jimp:

@Paint:

What about MiniPCI? Jetway is the only company producing a Mini-PCI card that has this server based Intel Ethernet chipset - ADMPEIDLB - http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/spec/expansion/ADMPEIDLB.pdf

a) I wouldn't trust anything from Jetway, ever.

b) You'll have to perform some surgery on the case to get the cables out and find some way to mount the ports.

It may function, but whether or not it's a viable solution is debatable.

good to know. Yes, I will have to make a slight modification to the back of my MiniITX fanless case to route the 2 new ethernet ports.

I havent heard anything bad about Jetway…. can you shed some more light on why this is your opinion? Thanks!

jimp · Jul 25, 2016, 2:51 PM

Personally and around the forum you'll find cases where their hardware is dodgy. Some people love it, until it craps out. Others have issues from the start.

We sold one of their units for a hot minute until the returns were overwhelming, and that unit still has issues with FreeBSD 10.x and refuses to run it from CF, due to some issue in the unit's ATA controller. Not to mention it doubled as a space heater.

It's a big roll of the dice. You may be one of the few that has no problems, but more than likely you'll hit something sooner or later.

Paint · Jul 25, 2016, 2:52 PM

@jimp:

Personally and around the forum you'll find cases where their hardware is dodgy. Some people love it, until it craps out. Others have issues from the start.

We sold one of their units for a hot minute until the returns were overwhelming, and that unit still has issues with FreeBSD 10.x and refuses to run it from CF, due to some issue in the unit's ATA controller. Not to mention it doubled as a space heater.

It's a big roll of the dice. You may be one of the few that has no problems, but more than likely you'll hit something sooner or later.

thank you! appreciate the feedback. I guess I will be another reference point in the Jetway study ;)