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    Help with the AMD FM2 router build

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    • Z
      Zb1R
      last edited by

      Hello

      I have finally made a HTPC with a FM 2 MSI board ,the FM2-A75MA-E35 ,that has an on-board nic with the Realtek 8111E.
      Linux detects it as 8168/8111E.
      This is the board http://www.msi.com/product/mb/FM2-A75MA-E35.html

      I have installed on it an AMD APU 5300 dual core and 2 Intel Gigabit Desktop CT network cards.

      Practically my project should be a all in one box.A router + a media player + a FTP server.

      After some Zentyal on Ubuntu and Open SUSE 12.2 tests i have got to the point of installing pfSense ,as i am not satisfied with the network options available for a linux beginner.
      This linuxes detect all the network cards while the pfSense doesn t see the on-board.

      What i want to do is practically install pfSense along one of the distributions making the machine a dual boot.pfSense being totally network dedicated ,the others doing both ,but with the cost of no bandwidth shaping and higher latencies while gaming.

      My questions are :

      -Will a newer version than 2.0.1 ,that i ve tested on a usb stick and didn t saw the onboard, be able to detect the on-board ?!
      -If not will an IBM dual port network card  work ?!This one seems to be based on a Broadcom chip.
      -Is pfSense able to work as a wireless router too along the wired and if yes what chip/brand (Atheros/Broadcom/Ralink/etc) would be recommended ?!

      -Will i be able to run with no problems pfSense along Zentyal or OpenSUSE or they will brake each other?
      While installing pfSense on the USB stick i did not had the HDD attached ,i was afraid not to brake the OpenSuse install.
      Could you recommend me how to partition the HDD for PfSense while in manual mode ,what are the minimum required partitions and how many?!

      LE: The network should  practically consist of  pppoe(ISP)->pfSense ->|->PC1 wired
                                                                                                     |->PC2 wired
                                                                                                     |->IP Camera wired or wireless(it does it both)

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      • N
        n2qcn
        last edited by

        -Will a newer version than 2.0.1
        2.1 will see the RTL8111E Ethernet, but I don't know about the sata ports.. infact I'd
        be interested in knowing if the sata ports are seen.

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        • Z
          Zb1R
          last edited by

          It s good news if the on-board nic will be detected.

          Yes the SATA ports are detected ,in fact i use IDE Mode in the BIOS to avoid potential issues.
          I have installed pfSense 2.0.1 from the CD to the USB stick so as it detected the DVD+RW unit ,it should detect the HDD too.

          Even though the USB install broke at a restart it worked enough to see the potential of pfSense.
          Excellent latency while gaming.
          I will not regret ditching my WRT 3500L to replace it with this HTPC The WRT 3500L is an expensive gigabit SOHO that cuts 15 Mb from my upload speed  on wired what to say about the wireless range and so on :).
          To bad i can t use the USB stick as installation support for long term usage.

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          • N
            n2qcn
            last edited by

            IDE Mode in the BIOS

            pls use AHCI mode. buss disconnect and NCQ are a big deal.

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            • Z
              Zb1R
              last edited by

              I may try AHCI too ,but having in mind the Seagate junk HDD that i have i am not sure will mean anything.It s some Seagate SATA 3 but with issues and runs at SATA 1 speeds ,some replacement for a RMA-ed drive. :)

              I am installing now the beta 2.1 on a USB stick and indeed is detecting the on-board nic.
              I have observed that it doesn t see USB sticks in the USB 3 ports though.

              Also it seems that it doesn t allow for dual boot though version 2.0.1 seemed to allow or maybe i am confusing the installation to the FreeBSD install i ve tried. :)

              So what wireless chip could work properly?!
              I really want to add a wireless card too.

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              • W
                wallabybob
                last edited by

                @Zb1R:

                So what wireless chip could work properly?!
                I really want to add a wireless card too.

                See http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,59376.msg319147.html#msg319147 for a recent report from a reader who got a WiFi card working.

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