Can i install pfsense on a macmini
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@bdenham My curiosity about the capabilities of the 2010 Mac mini in regards to the VPN is jumping up and down. Since it only takes about 15min to install PFSense, I would definitely try it as well. I mean, for nerdgeek purposes...meaning my interest. My 2014, fully loaded and running a VPN has yet to hit 5% CPU utilization. My vote is to try it! lol
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Cool! I’ll do it and post results here tomorrow.
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So I want to be Mr. Super-Overkill.
I have a 2013 Mac Pro that's not doing anything so I'd like to try installing pfSense on it.
Does anyone know if it will work with USB or TB2 2.5G network dongles?I just upgraded my internet to 2.5G fiber and want to get full use of the bandwidth without buying a new $400+ router.
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@tknospdr if I were trying to use pfSense on such a high perf box, I would look at Thunderbolt to 10 gig ethernet adapters. Sonnet Technology makes some.
As for myself, I was experimenting with pfSense on a 2011 model Mac mini with a 2.5 GHz i5. I swapped in 8 gigs of memory and a 120 gig SSD and originally was trying it out with an Apple Thunderbolt to gigabit adapter. I was reading on the forums here that the Broadcom chips in the mini and the adapter aren't the best and that Intel cards are the shiznit for use with pfSense. I also wanted to set up a DMZ network and there was no way to add enough ports for that. Then I remembered that I had an Intel four port gigabit card in my spare hardware pile and I found a decent deal on a Sonnet Xmac Mini Server enclosure. That's a 1u chassis that mounts a mini and contains a hardware module that connects two PCIe expansion slots via Thunderbolt. I put the mini and Intel card in the chassis and I cut over to it from my old Cisco Small Business router a week ago. It has worked great since.
That said, I don't want to sound like I'm plugging Sonnet so much. They make good hardware, but their prices are horrendous. All of their stuff that I own was procured secondhand.
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@Shack I've used Sonnet stuff over the years, agreed. It's good quality but pricey. Been using Apple for over 30 years now.
Will the TB2 to 10G auto negotiate speeds?
I max out at 2.5G on the network right now. I can use USB right now to save money and still not saturate the bus unless the 10G aren't ridiculously more expensive and auto negotiate. I know most SFP+ ports only do 10 or 1 and will not work at 5 or 2.5.Edit: Just looked at the Sonnet website, their TB to 10G adapters are for TB3, the Mac Pro only has TB2 ports.
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@tknospdr FWIW I checked ebay and found Promise SANLink2 E2002t adapters that do Thunderbolt 2 and have two SFP ports for a not so bad price. Might be worth looking at.
As far as Apple stuff goes, I first used one in 1982. An Apple ][ plus with 48k of memory and a single floppy drive. My that was primitive.