Recommendations on embedded device for GUI reporting of visited URLs?

[ttblum]

Hello,

I'm looking for an embedded firewall for a small office that would give the office manager GUI access to reports of websites that the users there have visited.  I don't expect the users to use more than 10Mbps in either direction.  Is squid + lightsquid the only way to do this, and would I need a hard drive?  What firmware / OS should I use?  Is there anything available for less than US$500?

Thanks,

Todd

[jimp]

With that kind of budget you don't need to go embedded.

You could get a nice atom-based 1U rackmount server (Supermicro has some nice ones, check newegg.com) that could run squid, squidguard, and lightsquid, which would get you URL reporting transparently, at least for HTTP.

For HTTPS, you'd have to configure PCs to use the proxy directly.

[ttblum]

Hi,

OK, thanks.

On a 1U server, can anyone recommend a way to minimize the impact of the hard drive failing, such as booting off of flash and using the HD only for squid caching and logging?

Thanks,

Todd

[jimp]

Get 2 drives and setup a mirror.

Right now there is no way in the GUI to add secondary storage like that. (Might be a good idea for 2.1…)

[ttblum]

Hi,

OK, thanks.

Is it possible to use CARP to failover from an HD version of pfSense to another device running a flash version?

Thanks,

Todd

[jimp]

Sure. As long as you aren't running any packages that require the full version.