USB Ethernet Adapters that Support ALTQ for pfSense
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I originally posted this question here:
https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/16214/Does there exist a USB network adapter that supports ALTQ for pfSense?
We've already purchased Netgate equipment to address this need, but I'm still curious if there is a USB Ethernet Adapter that does indeed support ALTQ for pfSense. Such a device would be handy in lab and for adding additional ports to our existing Netgate equipment.
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@lonnie I'd steer clear of USB adapters for many reasons, but the primary would be throughput -- they're absolutely hit/miss (and mostly miss) when it comes through coming anywhere near throughput speeds in BSD.
Also they tend to load in a different order in the system and may result in needing to reassign the interfaces associated with it after a reboot.
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@rcoleman-netgate I believe your advise 100%. Still, though, I'd like to purchase the most compatible USB Ethernet device possible for pfSense.
In light of what you've said, I'd have no aspirations of using it for performance, but I still think it would be handy for lab and for other limited use situations.
So, if there are any known brands/models that can do ALQ, I'd like to purchase one. I figure, if I'm going to keep one of these things in my bag anyway, it may as well be one that also plays nice with pfSense.
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@lonnie Anything that runs an Intel or Broadcom chipset will have the most compatibility. RealTek chips (which are by far the most common) have had a poor history of driver support in BSD.
Beyond the hardware compatibility piece the support you want is almost certainly in the drivers and the above info should help lead you to the right thing.
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Quite a few are capable (theoretically!). As well as the driver being capable the pfSense gui must recognise them as such:
https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/master/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc#L7045So aue(4) and axe(4). But not rue(4) or ure(4).
Steve
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@stephenw10 As I've looked through these so far, it looks like I may have to settle for USB2 100mb instead of USB3 1000mb. Thanks for the help.
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Well you'll probably at least see 100Mbps through that.
I have seen reports of adapters using the axe driver that got close to 1G with USB3. But far more reports of woefully lower results!
Steve
