Pfsense - - 64 bit version?
-
Has pfsense been ported to a 64 bit version?
-
Not yet, there are plans for it in the future, though probably still a year out.
-
Honest question- Why? Do you plan on using more than 4GB of RAM (!) with pfSense? Or are there other advantages to using 64 bit in a router?
-
The only thing I could take a wild guess at would be that it might be better if you're doing 100% IPv6.
For IPv4? I would be surprised if there were any advantages at all.
-
I don't have the paper to hand, but some researchers looked at the capabilities of 32bit and 64bit Linux and FreeBSD to handle packet volumes. It turned out that at the moment 32bit performs better (less dropped packets on the same hardware).
-
@Cry:
I don't have the paper to hand, but some researchers looked at the capabilities of 32bit and 64bit Linux and FreeBSD to handle packet volumes. It turned out that at the moment 32bit performs better (less dropped packets on the same hardware).
Doesn't surprise me. I would be very surprised if 64 bit offered any advantages at this point for a firewall or router.
-
Found it:
http://pam2007.info.ucl.ac.be/slides/pam2007slides_schneider.pdf
Slide 19 is the one that mentions that 64 bit drops more packets.
Mind you, the paper also suggests that the problem doesn't become apparent (on their hardware) until over 600 Mb/s. Probably not an issue for the majority of people ;)
