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    [SOLVED] Help me choose: ALIX 2 or 3 port?

    General pfSense Questions
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    • S
      senser last edited by

      Hi, I'm new here,

      I am about to get a PC Engines ALIX board for use with pfSense to check and control the traffic of my home network to and from my DSL Modem (everything is connected to a switch). Should I choose the three port version (ALIX.2D3) or the two port version (ALIX.2D2)? What are the benefits of having a third port? Certainly two ports are enough (modem <-port1 firewall port2-> switch)?

      Thank you so much!

      We use the mighty pf, we cannot be fooled.

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      • M
        Metu69salemi last edited by

        Two reasons, what i can think of right away for three port version

        1. Two different subnets w/o vlan's
        2. Filtering bridge is possible with management interface

        But i think that you don't need those at all

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        • stephenw10
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator last edited by

          You could use the third interface to segregate a home server or provide a wifi connection that's isolated from the rest of your network.

          Steve

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          • P
            phil.davis last edited by

            If you want to go "all out" you can also buy a WiFi card/kit for the Alix. That is more expensive than a cheap home WiFi box, but on the up-side you can have fun configuring, filtering…

            As the Greek philosopher Isosceles used to say, "There are 3 sides to every triangle."
            If I helped you, then help someone else - buy someone a gift from the INF catalog http://secure.inf.org/gifts/usd/

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            • M
              monowallboy last edited by

              I have tried ALIX and its amazing piece of HW but in terms of performance you'll recognize its not the best if you want to use all benefits of pfSense.

              I'm using alix  2D3 with monowall, http://pcengines.ch/alix2d3.htm. Power consumption is about 12W with CF card. I was experimenting lot with Intel ATOM boards and in terms of power consumption vs. performace i'm having best experience with D2700 http://ark.intel.com/products/59683/Intel-Atom-Processor-D2700-1M-Cache-2_13-GHz.

              I have test SSD drives vs. SATA and you'll save ~3W not more. In this moment my ATOM box consume about 34W. In terms of size, you can buy very small case for ATOM boards, its not so big if comparing with ALIX.

              If you are building Wirelles AP ALIX is good choice, but for more powerfull system go for ATOM.

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              • dotdash
                dotdash last edited by

                Unless you have a connection that will saturate 100 mb ethernet, or want to run intensive packages an Alix should be fine. The cost is pretty small to get the third port and it gives you future options.

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                • S
                  senser last edited by

                  I'll take the 3 ports! It's just 2 euros more and offers some cool options indeed - thanks for the hints! I like the idea of an open, seperate AP for example. Always wanted to do that - just to see what people are going to use it for. :)

                  We use the mighty pf, we cannot be fooled.

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