XG-7100 - Should I buy it?

Mats

This page might help a bitbhttps://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/xg-7100/switch-overview.html

MacUsers

@Mats said in XG-7100 - Should I buy it?:

This page might help a bitbhttps://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/xg-7100/switch-overview.html

That's the page is the basis of my question(s) really. I actually almost bought it, when I found that page just before; then found a number of people asked the similar type of questions but no such direct answer. I was thinking whilst this device is a seeming doesn't-make-any-sense design but probably there are some reason behind it and wanted to check with Netgate people about my option(s).

-S

MacUsers

So, should I take the answer as "NO" - it cannot be done on $999 networking device? No point buying it if's actually not usable.
-S

Mats

Well, in the link it clearly states that all eight ports can be configured to work as individual ports. It also says that it can do vlans on them.

it doesn't give a clear example of a multi interface link though

dotdash

If slicing up the switch ports into internal vlans seems too complicated, you could get a 5100 for cheaper, which has 6 traditional interfaces.

stephenw10

Yeah, you can address the switch ports individually using VLANs but on your previous thread you showed those links to be laggs. You can only use load-balance laggs to the switch ports on the XG-7100, no link redundancy. You would be better off using an SG-5100 in that application.
Though I'm still insure what you're trying to do there is valid. Bridging the two laggs to get both on the same subnet would be better served using a switch.

Steve

MacUsers

@dotdash said in XG-7100 - Should I buy it?:

If slicing up the switch ports into internal vlans seems too complicated, you could get a 5100 for cheaper, which has 6 traditional interfaces.

Slicing may or may not that complicated but that's not the same thing as having physical ports, right? And clearly I don't wanna do that, especially on a device when it comes with 8 physical ports. Thanks for the suggestion for 5100.

-S

techpro2004

Sorry if I am late to the game. My recommendation is to look on amazon for a dell t30. They are excellent systems I have 2 of them running pfsense at different locations and they work great. Plus with the t40 hitting the market the price is sure to drop on the t30

MacUsers

@techpro2004 said in XG-7100 - Should I buy it?:

Sorry if I am late to the game.

It's never late
I need some rack-mounted and using a PE R210 anyway atm. It's probably bit overkill for pfSense but it's short-depth and runs almost silently but one big issue is the cooling fans are getting defective every often, which is becoming a headache to source and expensive to replace. Hence was my quest to look for something sleek, purpose built and short in depth.

BTW, I finally decided to go with this: {removed}, which seems very sensible and reasonably priced. I haven't order it yet but doing this weekend.

-S

techpro2004

I would be really careful with that unit. Realtek NICs are known to be low quality and fail much faster than intel. Also, I do not know where you will find a decent dual port pcie x1 intel nic. I think they are all x4. I would go with the netgate box over that.

stephenw10

Please don't post links to our direct competitors, especially in the Netgate Hardware section.

Steve

MacUsers

@stephenw10 said in XG-7100 - Should I buy it?:

Please don't post links to our direct competitors, especially in the Netgate Hardware section.

Steve

Sorry about that. Didn't think about that. Really sorry!
But, can they actually be the direct competitors? Isn't Netgate is purpose build networking device and that's more of a generic server?

-S

techpro2004

I was thinking about it overnight. If you want to save money, build your own. How about something like this (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077Y8JR1R/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1JJPPPLBAC13R&psc=1) with a asrock combo board in it like this one (https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-J4005B-ITX-2-7GHz-Mini-ITX-Motherboard/dp/B079GFD84R/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=asrock+combo+board+mini+itx&qid=1581686651&sr=8-3) It will allow you to use a pcie intel 2 or 4 port nic