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

    Pfsense environment for gigabit-LAN

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    16 Posts 6 Posters 6.1k Views
    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.
    • N
      nincsneve
      last edited by

      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%

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • W
        wallabybob
        last edited by

        @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.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • N
          nincsneve
          last edited by

          @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

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • stephenw10S
            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
            last edited by

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

            Steve

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • johnpozJ
              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
              last edited by

              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.

              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • N
                nincsneve
                last edited by

                @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

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • johnpozJ
                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                  last edited by

                  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.

                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • N
                    nincsneve
                    last edited by

                    @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?

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • johnpozJ
                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                      last edited by

                      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?

                      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • N
                        nincsneve
                        last edited by

                        @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

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          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

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • N
                            nincsneve
                            last edited by

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

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • johnpozJ
                              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                              last edited by

                              @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

                              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • N
                                nincsneve
                                last edited by

                                @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 :)

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • J
                                  joako
                                  last edited by

                                  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

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • D
                                    dreamslacker
                                    last edited by

                                    @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.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • First post
                                      Last post
                                    Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.