(:: (:: Multiple Port(Dual/Quad/Hex) LAN Card Support ::) ::)

[anoopch]

Hi,
Anyone used LAN cards with Multiple LAN RJ45 Ports? I came across a few cards. Will they work as normal LAN cards in pfSense?

Here are the Links to those:

Broadcom NetXtreme II 5709 BCM (4 Port) http://www.dell.com/us/enterprise/p/broadcom-netxtremeii-5709-bcm/pd.aspx

Intel Gigabit ET Quad Port Server Adapter (4 Port)
http://www.dell.com/us/enterprise/p/intel-1gb-et-4/pd
4-Port 10/100Mbps PCI Router Card RealTek RTL8139D (1MAC + HUB in PCI)
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=A-3905&cat=NET
three quad LAN from HP.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/nc364t/index.html
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/nc365t/index.html
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/nc375t/index.html

Will i be able to connect 4 Different Modems from 4 Different ISPs using any of these cards? Is there any other cheaper/alternative option available for multi-WAN setup?

Are there NICs with more than 4 LAN ? Can they be used with pfSense?

Found a 6 NIC LAN Card…
http://www.small-tree.com/6_Port_Twinaxial_82599_PCIe_10_Gb_Adapter_p/petg6nda.htm
http://flexcomm.en.alibaba.com/product/433251720-210776234/NFP_3240_based_PCIe_6_x_1000Mbps_Gigabit_Ethernet_Port_Network_Adapter_for_High_Performance_Application_Server.html

Thank you.

[anoopch]

Found a Few Similar Posts:
Thought of Organizing them Together:

Intel i340 Quad port NIC Working (VLAN's included)?
http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,39579.0.html

Quad port network card  (Read 303 times)
http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,39220.0.html

Dual Port PCIe NIC suggestions?
http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,37940.0.html

Also i am not constraint to Gigabit cards.. a 10/100M card would suffice the needs. 10 would be congested but 100 would be ideal.
Suggestions are most welcome.

[Metu69salemi]

@anoopch:

Will i be able to connect 4 Different Modems from 4 Different ISPs using any of these cards? Is there any other cheaper/alternative option available for multi-WAN setup?

Why would you not?

[anoopch]

@Metu69salemi:

@anoopch:

Will i be able to connect 4 Different Modems from 4 Different ISPs using any of these cards? Is there any other cheaper/alternative option available for multi-WAN setup?

Why would you not?

Several Questions had been posted in this forums about multi NIC LAN Cards.. The issues :
Some connecting issues (may be wrong configurations)
some about driver issues (compiling drivers)
some about length of the cards (new cabinets)
some even the card's interface bit (32/64bit). (!!!!)

I am confused.

[ericab]

http://www.freebsd.org/releases/7.2R/hardware.html#ETHERNET

expect more compatibility with pfSense 2.0

[anoopch]

@ericab:

http://www.freebsd.org/releases/7.2R/hardware.html#ETHERNET

expect more compatibility with pfSense 2.0

Thanks for the reply…
I took a look at it... Quite a LOOOONG List....

[wallabybob]

The use of a VLAN capable switch to provide additional ports on a pfSense box has been discussed a number of times in the forums including http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,39604.0.html.

[anoopch]

@wallabybob:

The use of a VLAN capable switch to provide additional ports on a pfSense box has been discussed a number of times in the forums including http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,39604.0.html.

To be frank, I don't know what a VLAN is. VLAN capable switch, that sounds interesting. I will research a bit now…

[Metu69salemi]

VLAN = Virtual LAN

with one physical interface you're capable to run multiple interfaces divided to vlans. vlan capable switch can connect firewall and clients together

[jasonlitka]

Either get a VLAN-capable switch or go get an Intel Quad PT on eBay.