Hardware preference when using ESF

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We're considering getting a pfSense support subscription for some help getting set up, and we're looking at purchasing new hardware. Am I better off purchasing one of the three models from the pfSense store then? Or does it not really matter?

(FWIW, I emailed info@electricsheepfencing.com a few weeks ago but didn't hear back, which is fine b/c I was asking questions w/o a support contract. Also, I know this forum is not an ESF forum, but I figured that it'd be worth asking if the pfSense store models would be preferred over others before I go buying anything, including the support hours).

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I have a draft reply sitting there that I didn't realize I didn't finish and send yet (that came in right before Christmas, I was traveling for the holidays, and it's not something I could properly address really quickly with the scope of your inquiry). It's more involved and I won't detail any of that here presuming that's not things you want public. I'll finish that reply by the end of the day.

Generally speaking, you're best off with the hardware we sell directly, because that's the only hardware we will extensively test on each release. Sometimes certain combinations of hardware don't play nicely. Sometimes it's fine initially, but you might get hit by some kind of hardware-specific regression in the underlying OS when the next release comes out and you upgrade. Those circumstances are rare, but if you want to be sure to avoid compatibility headaches now or down the road, stick with the hardware we sell.

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That's exactly what I needed to know, thank you!

As for my other questions, they can wait until we've purchased support hours, totally fine. I wrote that email after a frustrating couple of days without much success. We'll catch up on the support portal, thanks again!

[cmb]

Short novel emailed your way.  :)  If you didn't get it, let me know. But yeah we can definitely pick up on all that from there on support.

Thanks!