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    Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?

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    • A
      AR15USR
      last edited by AR15USR

      A friend of mine want to run pfSense on this refurbished Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF. Also needs to add a network card.

      His use case will be this:
      •Typical home setup
      •Streaming TV services, Netflix/Hulu/Apple TV/Disney etc
      •3-5 desktop stations
      •3-5 iPhones, 3+ iPads
      •3 Smart TVs
      •2 baby cameras
      •1 file server
      •Ring Doorbell
      •OpenVPN - 2 remote connex max
      •Snort
      •2-3 VLANS
      •pfblockerng

      The machine has these specs
      Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF
      Intel Core i5 4570 3.2GHz Processor
      16GB DDR3-1600 RAM
      512GB SSD
      Intel HD Graphics 4600

      He will need to add a network card as well, if I read it correctly this will work, correct?
      Intel EXPI9301CT Gigabit PCIe X1 Adapter

      Would prefer a network card with at least 2 ethernet ports to have the capability of direct connect a server at future point, can you recommend another option?

      Appreciate the help..
      He has a Netgear R7000 which he will put in AP Mode and use as his Wifi AP. Not really going to be hard wiring anything at this point.


      2.6.0-RELEASE

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      • johnpozJ
        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
        last edited by johnpoz

        @AR15USR said in Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?:

        He has a Netgear R7000 which he will put in Bridge Mode and use as his Wifi AP

        How exactly is that going to work? You mean he is going to use it as a AP? Not really bridge mode.. Bridge mode is when you put your isp gateway device into bridge (modem only) vs nat router.

        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
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        • A
          AR15USR
          last edited by

          Sorry, yes it will be used as an AP in AP mode.


          2.6.0-RELEASE

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          • johnpozJ
            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
            last edited by

            Ok that makes more sense ;) hehehe

            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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            • johnpozJ
              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
              last edited by

              @AR15USR said in Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?:

              •2-3 VLANS

              How is that going to work? I doubt the r7000 supports vlans - is it going to be running 3rd party firmware?

              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                What bandwidth is the WAN connection? Will he need to use a VPN and if so what bandwidth does that need to pass?

                Steve

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                • A
                  AR15USR
                  last edited by

                  @johnpoz said in Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?:

                  @AR15USR said in Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?:

                  •2-3 VLANS

                  How is that going to work? I doubt the r7000 supports vlans - is it going to be running 3rd party firmware?

                  OK good question, will have to look into that. Suggestions? DD-WRT? (website says its compatible)

                  @stephenw10 said in Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?:

                  What bandwidth is the WAN connection? Will he need to use a VPN and if so what bandwidth does that need to pass?

                  Steve

                  400Mbit/s down, 50 up. Will only be using a VPN to connect in remotely and check his camera occasionally from his phone. Doesn't require much bandwidth.


                  2.6.0-RELEASE

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    Should be no problem them, that hardware will barely be troubled by that. 😉

                    Steve

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                    • A
                      AR15USR @johnpoz
                      last edited by

                      @johnpoz said in Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?:

                      @AR15USR said in Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?:

                      •2-3 VLANS

                      How is that going to work? I doubt the r7000 supports vlans - is it going to be running 3rd party firmware?

                      Decided to use DD-WRT fyi...

                      .
                      @stephenw10 said in Will this Dell Optiplex be a good Home pfSense option?:

                      Should be no problem them, that hardware will barely be troubled by that. 😉

                      Steve

                      Thanks for the confirmation...


                      2.6.0-RELEASE

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