Navigation

    Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Register
    • Login
    • Search
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search

    My Intel Atom System - PfSense 1.2.3 and newer

    Hardware
    7
    12
    11070
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • I
      infinityloop last edited by

      For years i have used an old P2-350MHz to run PfSense. But during the last year i had 3 broken HDD's and its powerconsumtion of 74Watt was not very economical either.

      Thats why i decided that i have to build a better system. :D
      Since i've seen quite a few users asking for a PfSense compatible Intel Atom System, i thought that i might share mine.

      At this is it:
      -MoBo: MSI IM-945GSE-A

      • CPU: Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz

      • Chipset: Intel® 945GSE + ICH7M

      • NIC: 2 x Intel® 82574L GbE LAN

      -RAM: Kingston 1GB DDR2 PC2-4200 non-ECC CL4 soDIMM 533MHz NTB
      -HDD:

      • IDE to CF-Card Reader: Delock 91624

      • CF-Card: SanDisk CompactFlash Card Extreme III 4GB - 30MB/Sec Read and Write

      -Case: Compucase 8K01
      -Total Powerconsumption: 16W right now

      Best thing is that PfSense 1.2.3 is working nicely. I did not expect that. Thought i would need to use 2.0 Beta. :)

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        SecretAsianMan last edited by

        That's a nice system.  I would definitely like to see the power consumption and CPU load figures at your normal load.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • P
          pmb1010 last edited by

          q: you mention CF card "read and write'

          So are you running full install or nanobsd(embedded type) install?

          BTW:
          Thanks for posting your stuff.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • I
            infinityloop last edited by

            @SecretAsianMan:

            I would definitely like to see the power consumption and CPU load figures at your normal load.

            • PPPoE

            • up: 1 MBit

            • down: 8 MBit


            @pmb1010:

            q: you mention CF card "read and write'

            So are you running full install or nanobsd(embedded type) install?

            • downloaded the 1.2.3 Release LiveCD image

            • burned it on a CD

            • started up the system

            • did the basic config (interfaces assignment + LAN IP)

            • and finaly choose "99" install


            @SecretAsianMan:

            Thanks for posting your stuff.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • P
              pmb1010 last edited by

              aren't you worried about the issue of using CF card as read & write, where it "burns itself out" because of limited read/writes they can handle?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • M
                mhab12 last edited by

                The issue of CF wear is not a problem unless logging or packages are enabled/installed.  Even then, with newer CF cards it's not nearly the problem it used to be.  I have seen SLC CF cards popping up on the market recently too…

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • I
                  infinityloop last edited by

                  @pmb1010:

                  aren't you worried about the issue of using CF card as read & write, where it "burns itself out" because of limited read/writes they can handle?

                  Not yet.
                  It can not be worse than 3 dead HDD's in one year + it's a lot cheaper than a new HDD + uses a lot less power (good for electricity bill).
                  So even if i have to replace it once a year, it will cost me less. :D

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • I
                    indesman last edited by

                    I really like your setup and am looking at emulating it for a dual WAN router setup in my home.  Did you choose the CF as a less expensive option to a SSHDD?  Also, how did you install from a CD?  Is there a drive in the case that's not listed in the specs you posted or is it possible to boot from a USB CD drive?

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • I
                      infinityloop last edited by

                      @indesman:

                      I really like your setup and am looking at emulating it for a dual WAN router setup in my home.  Did you choose the CF as a less expensive option to a SSHDD?

                      Sort of.
                      A SSD would be overkill.
                      @indesman:

                      Also, how did you install from a CD?  Is there a drive in the case that's not listed in the specs you posted or is it possible to boot from a USB CD drive?

                      I've connected an ordinary 5,25" DVD drive just for installing - i refused to buy a slim DVD drive "just" for a router. :)

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • E
                        evildave last edited by

                        @infinityloop:

                        For years i have used an old P2-350MHz to run PfSense. But during the last year i had 3 broken HDD's and its powerconsumtion of 74Watt was not very economical either.

                        Thats why i decided that i have to build a better system. :D
                        Since i've seen quite a few users asking for a PfSense compatible Intel Atom System, i thought that i might share mine.

                        At this is it:
                        -MoBo: MSI IM-945GSE-A

                        • CPU: Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz

                        • Chipset: Intel® 945GSE + ICH7M

                        • NIC: 2 x Intel® 82574L GbE LAN

                        -RAM: Kingston 1GB DDR2 PC2-4200 non-ECC CL4 soDIMM 533MHz NTB
                        -HDD:

                        • IDE to CF-Card Reader: Delock 91624

                        • CF-Card: SanDisk CompactFlash Card Extreme III 4GB - 30MB/Sec Read and Write

                        -Case: Compucase 8K01
                        -Total Powerconsumption: 16W right now

                        Best thing is that PfSense 1.2.3 is working nicely. I did not expect that. Thought i would need to use 2.0 Beta. :)

                        The MSI board is an excellent near-embedded platform.  Its a bit hard to find since its not a consumer board and is sold through their embedded/digital-signage channels though.  Given a bit more budget I'd have used one for my home firewall rather than my USD125 project that currently runs it.

                        I have a hard time believing that power figure though.

                        I'm using a D510 CPU (total cpu+northbridge lower than an N270+945G) totally fanless running off a USB memory attached to a pinheader daughtercard, a 'vge' pci ether and nothing else and drawing over 20W (using a picoPSU DC-DC converter running off of a 12VDC regulated input).

                        (The Intel D510MO, as well as the previous generation Intel mini-itx board the 945CGLF2 makes an excellent pfsense platform btw.  Only downside is a single 're' gigabit, but that is loads better than an 'rl' in my book.)

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • I
                          infinityloop last edited by

                          @evildave:

                          Only downside is a single 're' gigabit, but that is loads better than an 'rl' in my book.)

                          Indeed. the MSI IM-945GSE-A was the only mobo i could find where both NICs are Intel and not some realtek junk. :)

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • R
                            reitzmichnicht last edited by

                            I'm also running full install on CF Card. It was an old one 512MB and after 5 years it died. I just bought a new one and everything is ok again. This time 4GB so the wear leveling has more space to allocate new blocks.
                            And I also changed /tmp to RAMDisk, that should help a lot.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • First post
                              Last post

                            Products

                            • Platform Overview
                            • TNSR
                            • pfSense Plus
                            • Appliances

                            Services

                            • Training
                            • Professional Services

                            Support

                            • Subscription Plans
                            • Contact Support
                            • Product Lifecycle
                            • Documentation

                            News

                            • Media Coverage
                            • Press
                            • Events

                            Resources

                            • Blog
                            • FAQ
                            • Find a Partner
                            • Resource Library
                            • Security Information

                            Company

                            • About Us
                            • Careers
                            • Partners
                            • Contact Us
                            • Legal
                            Our Mission

                            We provide leading-edge network security at a fair price - regardless of organizational size or network sophistication. We believe that an open-source security model offers disruptive pricing along with the agility required to quickly address emerging threats.

                            Subscribe to our Newsletter

                            Product information, software announcements, and special offers. See our newsletter archive to sign up for future newsletters and to read past announcements.

                            © 2021 Rubicon Communications, LLC | Privacy Policy