Pfsense environment for gigabit-LAN

[nincsneve]

Hi,
I have a pfsense on atom-based Hardware, with PCI-NIC for intranet. I have figured out, that pfsense must be responsible for low transfer rates inside LAN. I tested the cables, the switch, direct connection to the server. Could it be a solution to switch to a mainboard with PCI-Express NIC?

I would buy X7SPE-HF-D525 and use it with an Intel dual-Port-Pci-Express-NIC

http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/atom/ich9/x7spe-hf-d525.cfm

What do you think? - could the problem be caused by PCI and solved by PCI-Express ? - As far as I see in der Web-GUI, cpu is never working hard, Ram-usage (2x2GB DDR3-SO-Dimm) is in idle at ~20%

[wallabybob]

@nincsneve:

I have figured out, that pfsense must be responsible for low transfer rates inside LAN.

Unless there is something you haven't told us about, your "inside LAN" systems should communicate directly with each other, bypassing pfSense.

[nincsneve]

@wallabybob:

@nincsneve:

I have figured out, that pfsense must be responsible for low transfer rates inside LAN.

Unless there is something you haven't told us about, your "inside LAN" systems should communicate directly with each other, bypassing pfSense.

yes, you're right, i forgot to write:

My lan is splitted into clien-lan and server-lan by VLANs, managed by pfsense

[stephenw10]

What speed are you seeing currently? What speed do you expect? What hardware are you using?

Steve

[johnpoz]

So you have 2 interfaces on pfsense - one is your client lan, and other is server lan.  And your routing traffic between these via pfsense.

So per the above questions what speeds are you seeing?  Have you done a simple iperf test between a client and server to verify what speeds your seeing on the wire with HDD speeds taken out of the picture.  And have you done this same test with client and server on the same lan to see what speed is without pfsense in the picture doing firewall and routing between the devices.

[nincsneve]

@johnpoz:

So you have 2 interfaces on pfsense - one is your client lan, and other is server lan.  And your routing traffic between these via pfsense.

So per the above questions what speeds are you seeing?  Have you done a simple iperf test between a client and server to verify what speeds your seeing on the wire with HDD speeds taken out of the picture.  And have you done this same test with client and server on the same lan to see what speed is without pfsense in the picture doing firewall and routing between the devices.

I have 2 interfaces, one for WAN, 1 for LAN and Server, splitted by VLANs

I get only ~300MBit/s

[johnpoz]

So your doing router on a stick - your traffic is all using 1 interface.  So doesn't that cut your bandwidth in half right out of the gate?

Why don't you let the traffic route right on the switch?  Vs going to pfsense if its intervlan traffic?

If me I would add another interface to pfsense if you want to get most bandwidth between the vlans, and use pfsense to firewall/route said traffic.

[nincsneve]

@johnpoz:

So your doing router on a stick - your traffic is all using 1 interface.  So doesn't that cut your bandwidth in half right out of the gate?

Why don't you let the traffic route right on the switch?  Vs going to pfsense if its intervlan traffic?

If me I would add another interface to pfsense if you want to get most bandwidth between the vlans, and use pfsense to firewall/route said traffic.

the problem is, that it is not possible, to add another interface. it is a micro-ATX-board. Don't you think, that the problem could be caused by  the slow PCI-Bus?

[johnpoz]

No not really, routing on a stick is /2 for the line speed of the interface is it not?  So if we say 1000mbit / 2 = 500, which realistically you never actually see that - overhead, etc.  So your what like 400 tops, and your seeing 300 - I would say that pretty much in line.  Lets say it was a bus limitation – your what going to get 400?

Why can you not put in a dual nic card?  Or just do the intervlan on your switch?

[nincsneve]

@johnpoz:

Why can you not put in a dual nic card?  Or just do the intervlan on your switch?

I don't know any PCI-NIC, that has 2 ports. Intervlan-Routing could be an option, that's truw. I will think about :) - I thought, the problem is caused by PCI-Bus

[stephenw10]

You would need a layer 3 switch to route between VLANs.
There are plenty of dual port Pci nics.
This could well be a pci bus restriction. What CPU are you using?

Steve

[nincsneve]

ok, the option with Layer 3 Switch is not really affordable, as my switch is L2 only

[johnpoz]

@nincsneve:

I don't know any PCI-NIC, that has 2 ports.

Here is one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106209

I am sure there are others out there

[nincsneve]

@johnpoz:

@nincsneve:

I don't know any PCI-NIC, that has 2 ports.

Here is one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106209

I am sure there are others out there

Thanks, but I only have PCI-32bit. For this price I can buy the mainboard and use the PCI-express-dual-Nic, I already have :)

[joako]

Assuming there's no obstruction in the motherboard it will fit and work just fine. You can find those 2nd hand for rather reasonable prices

[dreamslacker]

@nincsneve:

Thanks, but I only have PCI-32bit. For this price I can buy the mainboard and use the PCI-express-dual-Nic, I already have :)

You can buy that from Ebay from Hong Kong or China suppliers for USD30 or less with free international shipping.  I bought 2 of those for US$27 each with free shipping couple of years back.