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

    Pfsense - - 64 bit version?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    7 Posts 5 Posters 9.1k 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.
    • R
      Rich_C
      last edited by

      Has pfsense been ported to a 64 bit version?

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

        Not yet, there are plans for it in the future, though probably still a year out.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • A
          ab0tj
          last edited by

          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?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • K
            Kris.J
            last edited by

            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 did it for the lulz.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Cry HavokC
              Cry Havok
              last edited by

              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).

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

                @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.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Cry HavokC
                  Cry Havok
                  last edited by

                  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 ;)

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