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

    Advice on Dual LAN mobo

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    16 Posts 7 Posters 7.9k 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.
    • C
      craveness
      last edited by

      Hi everyone,

      I'm looking for some advice on a dual LAN motherboard (mini-ITX or other small form factor) with at least 1 PCI slot (that will be used for another NIC). I'm thinking of a Core i3 capable of at least 4GB RAM.  Of course, I'm looking to spend as least as possible :)  Any help / pointer would really be appreciated!!

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

        Intel DQ77KB seems to be well liked. I haven't tried it personally though. It has a PCI-e not PCI but that shouldn't be a problem.

        Steve

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • F
          fragged
          last edited by

          A similar "server" board from Intel, http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/motherboards/server-motherboards/server-board-s1200kp.html has worked fine for me from 2.0.1 -> 2.1 so far. If you have a large enough case, you can put a pci-e NIC on either one. I kind of wish I could fit one into the Antek ISK110 VESA.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • C
            craveness
            last edited by

            Thanks for the responses guys, the DQ77KB does seem to be low cost and fits my needs!

            EDIT: However, I'm now looking at the Gigabyte (just not sure how to power it)
            http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-1155-Intel-Motherboard-GA-H77N-WIFI/dp/B009JDTWVC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • F
              fragged
              last edited by

              If you don't need the WiFi card, I would go with one of the Intel motherboards for the Intel NIC's. To power either one you need a standard ATX power supply or preferably a DC-DC power supply (like: this and a 12 volt AC-DC adapter (Maybe: this?). One possibility is also to go with a case that integrates a DC-DC power supply and comes with the 12 volt brick too, but most I think are mini-itx and wont fit the PCI-E NIC.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GruensFroeschliG
                GruensFroeschli
                last edited by

                @craveness:

                Thanks for the responses guys, the DQ77KB does seem to be low cost and fits my needs!

                EDIT: However, I'm now looking at the Gigabyte (just not sure how to power it)
                http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-1155-Intel-Motherboard-GA-H77N-WIFI/dp/B009JDTWVC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

                I run this board in my home setup with an i3-3220T
                To power it i use a 150W pico PSU ( http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-150-XT ) together with an old external Dell i had lying around ( this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-AC-Power-Supply-Adapter-Dell-Optiplex-SX270-SX270N-3R160-12V-150W-NEW-/110834720162 )

                If you don't intend to run it full time. Be aware, that this board does not support WOL…

                We do what we must, because we can.

                Asking questions the smart way: http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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

                  One of the things people like about that Intel board is that it has a dc-dc power supply built in so you only need an external power brick. Check the specs.

                  Steve

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • C
                    craveness
                    last edited by

                    Thanks Steve, I didn't see that DC-DC power supply on the Intel board.  So, that makes it more appealing and would cost less than the Gigabyte overall. I have an old 90W Dell power brick that I'll use. I'm looking at the Core i3 2100 for this but can't find a good price :\

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

                      Do you actually need an i3? What are hoping to do?
                      You can start out with some lesser CPU that is cheaper. The G620 and G530 have been used by other forum members to achieve high throughput. If it turns out you really do need something more powerful you can always upgrade later down the line.

                      If you already have the Dell power brick then you may as well try it but be aware that many Dells have an unusual 3 pin arrangement (the third connection inside the central pin) that may or may not affect matters.

                      Steve

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • T
                        thermo
                        last edited by

                        What's your budget?
                        I bought a few of these at USD $638.4, not for pfsense, but the requirement that they be fanless, and with no mechanical disk. They use the DQ77KB and a streacom case which acts as a heatsink.
                        http://aleutia.com/relia-fanless-industrial-server

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • C
                          craveness
                          last edited by

                          I don't have a need now for the i3 but reading through the forums it seemed like people prefer that (like your most http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,48229.msg254473.html#msg254473).  I guess I need to research it some more. There will be two 25Mbit uplinks for about 200 users and I'm planning on using Squid and Captivate eventually.

                          BTW, thanks for the critical thinking!

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

                            Hmm, perhaps I should have engaged more brain when I wrote that.  ::)
                            Really I meant any Sandy Bridge processor compares favourably with an Atom D525. I gave i3 as an example but even the lowliest Celeron is still way faster and needn't be any more expensive to buy or run if you do it right. Though the very low end Celerons have a tiny cache size which restricts them a lot.

                            The G530 will NAT/firewall >1Gbps. Throw Squid into the mix and it will slow down but even so 2x25Mb connections will be well within it's capability.

                            Have look at this thread: http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,45439.0.html

                            Steve

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

                              I just bought the Gigabyte H77N-wifi and was wondering if the Mini PCIe Intel Centrino 2230 is supported by pfsense.
                              Can you confirm this works? or do I need to swap out the Mini PCIe card with a compatible one?

                              I was looking at the hardware compatible list but couldn't figure it out. Google searches came up with nothing too.

                              Thanks…

                              @GruensFroeschli:

                              @craveness:

                              Thanks for the responses guys, the DQ77KB does seem to be low cost and fits my needs!

                              EDIT: However, I'm now looking at the Gigabyte (just not sure how to power it)
                              http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-1155-Intel-Motherboard-GA-H77N-WIFI/dp/B009JDTWVC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

                              I run this board in my home setup with an i3-3220T
                              To power it i use a 150W pico PSU ( http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-150-XT ) together with an old external Dell i had lying around ( this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-AC-Power-Supply-Adapter-Dell-Optiplex-SX270-SX270N-3R160-12V-150W-NEW-/110834720162 )

                              If you don't intend to run it full time. Be aware, that this board does not support WOL…

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

                                It's not supported. I don't think its supported even in the most recent FreeBSD code yet.
                                The most complete and up to date source of wifi card informtion is here:
                                https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AojFUXcbH0ROdHgwYkFHbkRUdV9hVWljVWl5SXkxbFE&hl=en

                                Steve

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

                                  Steve,

                                  Thanks for the great spreadsheet! It seems Atheros Cards are the most compatible but it doesn't identify any specific models or chipsets. I found a linux vendor selling a Mini PCI-e half height card with Atheros AR9285, then Amazon has a bunch different Atheros options. Anybody know which chipset to go with?

                                  Thanks in advance.

                                  @stephenw10:

                                  It's not supported. I don't think its supported even in the most recent FreeBSD code yet.
                                  The most complete and up to date source of wifi card informtion is here:
                                  https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AojFUXcbH0ROdHgwYkFHbkRUdV9hVWljVWl5SXkxbFE&hl=en

                                  Steve

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

                                    A search of the wireless forum for ar9285 showed a number of entries reporting experience with different cards using that chipset.

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