New Alix board for 2013

torontob

Just a quick question out of curiosity: Is FreeBSD in general a better choice for a firewall/router application? I mean does it provide faster response compared to Linux kernel?

Thanks,

stephenw10

Of course faster isn't necessarily better. ;)
Anecdotally Linux is faster but that does depend on many factors, NICs, system size etc. Currently pfSense (any BSD firewall using PF) is limited to a single cpu core for traffic filtering/forwarding. That should change with the new SMP PF that's coming with FreeBSD 10. I don't beleive Linux has that restriction in IP Tables.
There are other reasons that pfSense is built on FreeBSD:
https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Why_did_you_choose_FreeBSD_instead_of_%27insert_OS_here%27%3F

Steve

router_wang

When will these boards actually be out there for sale?

Crunk_Bass

@router_wang:

When will these boards actually be out there for sale?

I got mine from here: http://store.voyage.hk/ Code: KMPD3a
Note that this is a beta board. I don't know when they will be releasing the final version.

phil.davis

Just for reference, a Fit-PC3 with AMD G-T40N processor in the standard Fit-PC3 fan-less case and running Win Server 2008R2 is showing CPU at 63C and the internal disk shows 32C, sitting in a room that is probably about 18-20C ambient temp.
It is winter now, but in summer here the ambient room temp will get near 40C - so the CPU temp is likely to get around 83C in the Fit-PC3 kit.
It sounds like the PC Engines build will have a similar temp profile.

mbpfsense

The new Alix (apu1c) is expected on 5.3.2014:

http://www.pcengines.ch/order1.php?c=63124

nesense

Worth quoting:

"Compex WLE200NX Atheros 802.11a/b/g/n miniPCI express wireless card - for use with apu board. Not supported by pfSense."

That's the only miniPCI express PC Engines is offering, hopefully pfSense 2.2 will come soon :'(

Applied

@phil.davis:

Just for reference, a Fit-PC3 with AMD G-T40N processor in the standard Fit-PC3 fan-less case and running Win Server 2008R2 is showing CPU at 63C and the internal disk shows 32C, sitting in a room that is probably about 18-20C ambient temp.

PC Engines has switched to using the lower-TDP AMD G-40E on production boards.
Though, on the the other hand, their cooling will presumably be less efficient than the Fit-PC.

RaThek

http://www.pcengines.ch/apu1c.htm - does it work for someone?

mircsicz

http://www.pcengines.ch/apu.htm work's for me…

Note that this is a beta board. I don't know when they will be releasing the final version.

They weren't supposed to be resold.

phil.davis

It looks like the production batch are due for delivery on 5 March 2014.
The new board does not have a CF card slot. But I really like the nanoBSD 2-boot-slice functionality, and don't need a Squid cache etc.
How can these be configured to still use the nanoBSD image? Put a baby SSD in it and flash the nanoBSD image direct onto that? or?

stephenw10

It has an a USB connected SD slot. You should be able to boot Nano from that.

Then again it also claims 2 mini-PCIe slots but the picture clearly shows 3, am I missing something?

Steve

GruensFroeschli

2 miniPCIe slots and one mSATA slot.
PCIe and SATA are electrically the same (thus even the same connector) but run a different protocol.

stephenw10

Ah, of course. I knew I was missing something. Thanks.

Steve

GruensFroeschli

@mbpfsense:

The new Alix (apu1c) is expected on 5.3.2014:

http://www.pcengines.ch/order1.php?c=63124

Seems the entry on the page got removed.
Too bad that tomorrow isn't second christmas. ^^"

mircsicz

@GruensFroeschli:

Seems the entry on the page got removed.
Too bad that tomorrow isn't second christmas. ^^"

according to my german provider, they're still expected this week… Already ordered two for tests! Hope to have em soon...

tirsojrp

Price increased and 4GB version listed:

2GB > 145
4GB > 165

zatoichi

Updated…

stephenw10

You think that crypto card is going to actually accelerate anything on the new board?
More importantly the APU board doesn't have any mini-PCI slots! ;)

Steve