DIY clone build, based on pfSense's C2758 1U.
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When it comes to pre-built, I'm currently looking at these three units:
$899
https://store.pfsense.org/SG8860
$699
https://store.pfsense.org/SG4860
$499
https://store.pfsense.org/SG2440
I'd really love to get this, but @1399 it's just too pricey
https://store.pfsense.org/c2758All of the prices don't include currency conversion or postage to my country, no idea what that is yet.
Basic differences outlined here: https://www.pfsense.org/products/
I'm tempted by the ready-built "appliances" pfSense is offering, but I'm not convinced the value proposition is there.Has anyone built exactly the same device as one of these 4 units? I'd be surprised if no-one's done this before.
The chassis & cooling aspects needn't be the same, but ideally the board & most other core specs would be.
A C2758 build interests me most of all, mainly (but not exclusively) because it's geared for a RU form-factor.
But if 8860, 4860, or 2440 components can be shoehorned into a RU for much less, then I'd be similarly interested.
So I guess my main question is: Is there a full parts list for the: C2758, 8860, 4860, & 2440? (in that order of preference)
I'm only asking about components that aren't proprietary, anything proprietary can remain so, not asking folks to hand over trade secrets! :)With that info. I'd then be able to hunt down the best price for every part, & calculate the total cost for each build.
If some parts are proprietary or unknown, then hopefully some folks here are able to point to a non-proprietary equivalent?
Once I know the total cost for the 4 builds, I'd then decide whether or not to go the DIY or pre-built route for one of the 4.
Even if I did go totally DIY route…
I'd still support pfSense "the company" by lodging support queries occasionally, in-fact probably quite often -initially.
I've much to learn about that area actually, so if anyone can fill me in there too, I'd be ever so grateful?!?I realise the priciest models are overkill for my needs, but that's beside the point, I still want to see what I'd be looking at for DIY builds.
If it turns out the C2758, 8860, & 4860 builds are still too pricey for my liking, then I can always settle for a 2440 DIY build.
Furthermore, it may turn out that there's little diff. in total cost for the DIY builds Vs pre-built units, whereupon I may go for one of the pre-builts.
When I upgrade to a far beefier RU NAS soon, I can always satisfy my curiosity for using pfSense on much beefier hw, by chucking it in a VM :)Okay, I think that's all much clearer than originally, so hopefully we have no misunderstanding's this time.
Thank-you.
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The SG systems are all custom designs from ADI Engineering. You aren't likely to find another reseller and as such, what you're asking now, and what you were asking in the other thread, is not possible.
As to the last one, a simple search would tell you that it's this:
http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/1U/5018/SYS-5018A-FTN4.cfm
You can get it for about $500, plus the cost of the RAM ($80) and SSD ($100). A pair of support incidents adds $400. Purchases from the store include assembly, install of pfSense, and a centralized warranty so you don't need to contact individual vendors on your own.
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The SG systems are all custom designs from ADI Engineering.
You aren't likely to find another reseller and as such, what you're asking now is not possible.Are you able to be a bit more specific about which components are custom?
To clarify: is it just the chassis & cooling, the entire board & power-delivery, or literally the entire unit etc?
Based on what you said, I more-or-less assumed the "whole shebang", but it'd be good to know for sure.
If you're not 100% sure that's cool… :)As to the last one, a simple search would tell you that it's this:
http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/1U/5018/SYS-5018A-FTN4.cfm
You can get it for about $500, plus the cost of the RAM ($80) and SSD ($100). A pair of support incidents adds $400. Purchases from the store include assembly, install of pfSense, and a centralized warranty so you don't need to contact individual vendors on your own.Hallelujah, thank-you, thank-you very much kind sir!!!
Apologies in advance if I upset you by asking the same Qn one final time, but just to confirm:
Excluding the RAM/SSD/Support/Assembly/Install/Centralised_Warranty, this is literally exactly the same device?Thanks again.
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Wow.
The main boards are custom designs which is basically the entire product.
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Why the neg? I answered your question (which you updated after I answered it).
You truly don't know how to deal with people.
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Wow.
The main boards are custom designs which is basically the entire product.
Why the neg? I answered your question (which you updated after I answered it).
You truly don't know how to deal with people.
Yes, I clarified the point, I meant to put something like that in earlier but simply forgot, your post reminded me, the post is directed at someone else.
I think you know very well why there was a neg, regardless, I've removed it now, please stop harassing me in every thread. -
The SG systems are all custom designs from ADI Engineering.
You aren't likely to find another reseller and as such, what you're asking now is not possible.Are you able to be a bit more specific about which components are custom?
To clarify: is it just the chassis & cooling, the entire board & power-delivery, or literally the entire unit etc?
Based on what you said, I more-or-less assumed the "whole shebang", but it'd be good to know for sure.
If you're not 100% sure that's cool… :)As to the last one, a simple search would tell you that it's this:
http://www.supermicro.com/products/system/1U/5018/SYS-5018A-FTN4.cfm
You can get it for about $500, plus the cost of the RAM ($80) and SSD ($100). A pair of support incidents adds $400. Purchases from the store include assembly, install of pfSense, and a centralized warranty so you don't need to contact individual vendors on your own.Hallelujah, thank-you, thank-you very much kind sir!!!
Apologies in advance if I upset you by asking the same Qn one final time, but just to confirm:
Excluding the RAM/SSD/Support/Assembly/Install/Centralised_Warranty, this is literally exactly the same device?Thanks again.
The SG systems are designed by ADI with some options (eg. how much onboard flash, which CPU, etc.) spec'd by the VAR at the time of order. The odds of you getting another one like it, without ordering in bulk directly from ADI, is essentially zero.
Yes, the Supermicro box I posted is the same one as in the pfSense store. The prices I gave are approximate for (2) 4GB ECC DDR3 SODIMMs & an 80GB Intel DC S3500 SSD.
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Yes, effectively you cannot make an exact clone of the ADI boxes. Though you could probably make something similar.
The ADI board is only available is large quantities as Jason said. And in fact we have some custom options on there too. Everything is on board so there are no separate parts to order. The case is custom designed and built for us. On the larger units even the heatsink/fan is custom for us.Steve
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Yes, the Supermicro box I posted is the same one as in the pfSense store. The prices I gave are approximate for (2) 4GB ECC DDR3 SODIMMs & an 80GB Intel DC S3500 SSD.
Thanks, main list of parts to be assessed & then bought, is below:
(1)
Any special reason why one might prefer the SSD-DC-S3500 series over anything else at roughly the same price-point ATM?
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/solid-state-drives-dc-s3500-series.html
Deals with WA etc better perhaps?
The two models I list below are more consumer geared IIRC, so perhaps the fw/controller is more optimised for diff. sort of I/O.A)
Evo range still looks pretty decent, but no idea how all these SSD's compare lately:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OBRE5UE/B)
I may have access to an ExtremeII SSD (240GB) that's barely been used:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7006/sandisk-extreme-ii-review-480gb
Doesn't seem to be on Amazon any more, replaced by 480GB revision:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COF7E3K
AFAICT, the ExtremeII range has been superseded by the ExtremePro range:
http://www.sandisk.com/products/ssd/sata/(2)
Also RAM; apart from ECC, the right mem. bandwidth, & whether or not to get 4 or 8GB modules.
Any other characteristics & makes/models I should look out for, or does one not need to be too picky?
This looks okay, but I probably only need 4GB modules (x2), at least for now, not sure:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CUYOGRM(3)
Looking at the no's, the 5018A-FTN4's 200w PSU is plenty decent, but is there better after-market ones worthwhile considering?
(power-efficiency & 24/7 consumption are also really important for this build)
Nvm, after having read through this article (esp. the conclusion), + ~several posts from here onwards;
It def. sounds good enough, I doubt the small improvements gained with an alt. PSU, would be worth the extra expense/time?!(4)
I may also need a few more Gbit ports, 10Gbe I think is overkill from this device to my switch.
So any recommendations there are greatly appreciated too…
Actually probably not needed, 5018A-FTN4 already has 4x Gbit ports…
If need more, will just buy a dedicated 4-8port Gbit+ eth switch, or use the PCIE 2.0 x8 slot for something like this.Any other final components you think may be of use, please advise…
Thanks again.
Peripheral Components:
(i.e. non-core components/parts)Might get one of these, too…
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FYNSUA -
Those cruzer fits (16GB) are what I use in pairs for FreeNAS boot.
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Might want to look at this article. You may run into issues with the supermicro MB.
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Might want to look at this article. You may run into issues with the supermicro MB.
I'm afraid that's not a motherboard issue, but a FreeBSD issue. It's not the only motherboard affected, and it's easily fixable in the OS.
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(1)
Any special reason why one might prefer the SSD-DC-S3500 series over anything else at roughly the same price-point ATM?
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/solid-state-drives-dc-s3500-series.html
Deals with WA etc better perhaps?
The two models I list below are more consumer geared IIRC, so perhaps the fw/controller is more optimised for diff. sort of I/O.A)
Evo range still looks pretty decent, but no idea how all these SSD's compare lately:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OBRE5UE/B)
I may have access to an ExtremeII SSD (240GB) that's barely been used:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7006/sandisk-extreme-ii-review-480gb
Doesn't seem to be on Amazon any more, replaced by 480GB revision:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COF7E3K
AFAICT, the ExtremeII range has been superseded by the ExtremePro range:
http://www.sandisk.com/products/ssd/sata/(2)
Also RAM; apart from ECC, the right mem. bandwidth, & whether or not to get 4 or 8GB modules.
Any other characteristics & makes/models I should look out for, or does one not need to be too picky?
This looks okay, but I probably only need 4GB modules (x2), at least for now, not sure:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CUYOGRMTo answer some of my own outstanding queries…
It clearly makes sense to go for the Extreme_II over the 3500...
The 3500 is worse in most respects when compared to the SSD 730, & even the 730 doesn't perform quite as well as the Extreme_II "overall".
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/838?vs=1141
Compared to an Evo ~240GB it may be a different matter, but as I already have the Extreme_II I'm sticking with it, tis more than good enough.Ditto for the RAM, it's on the recommended list & is about as good as it gets for the type needed, + the vast majority of reviews are very +ve.
I was firmly set on 2x8, but I may yet go back to 2x4, it depends on the total cost of this entire project (this build is just a small part of that).Later, I'll update on a whole bunch of other stuff...
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It clearly makes sense to go for the Extreme_II over the 3500…
The 3500 is worse in most respects when compared to the SSD 730, & even the 730 doesn't perform quite as well as the Extreme_II "overall".
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/838?vs=1141
Compared to an Evo ~240GB it may be a different matter, but as I already have the Extreme_II I'm sticking with it, tis more than good enough.Raw throughput and quoted IOPS on a consumer drive are not factors in a SSD purchase for a server. The DC S3500 is an (entry) enterprise drive and has power loss protection, consistent performance under multi-user workloads, and a higher endurance rating. The first is extremely important for any server, the latter two can have a big impact if you're using something like Squid.
http://www.storagereview.com/intel_ssd_dc_s3500_enterprise_review
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Yes, the last 2 I know, not hugely significant in my situation, the 1st point I'd forgotten about though.
It's definitely worth some consideration… Thanks for your input... -
Yes, I was just going to mention that. The power loss protection on the s3500 makes it a far better drive IMHO, epsecially for use in a pfSense box where drive thoughput is not often a factor.
I am running some older Intel drives for that reason.Steve
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Hope I'm not joining the conersation too late. I built my own c2558 supermicro based pfsense box for about $400.
Build details are here –> http://www.reddit.com/r/PFSENSE/comments/2gpckc/pfsense_aesni_accelerated_ipsec_in_22/cklb8at
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Will you be using disk intensive packages? If not, you could simply use NanoBSD from a USB stick or CF card (via a SATA-CF adapter) and it's gonna outlast any SSD or HDD ever…
That's how I'm deploying two C2758s now. -
The DC S3500 is an (entry) enterprise drive and has power loss protection,<snip>The first is extremely important for any server,</snip>
So consumer grade SSD's like the Extreme_II definitely don't have something like this? I've just started looking but so far I see nothing.
What about the Intel X25-V's? I have 3x 40GB units from ~4yrs back which are barely used…
N.B.
I'll have a UPS rigged-up alongside or inside the 19" rack I'm installing, it's mainly to protect this build & my NAS (+ several other less important things).Hope I'm not joining the conersation too late. I built my own c2558 supermicro based pfsense box for about $400.
Looking at those posts, it was a bit more than $400USD… :)
Thanks, but I'm only interested in a C2758 build, I haven't researched pricing carefully yet.
Best price so far (from Amazon) inc. shipping to my country is ~715USD.
That's for the 2x8GB RAM (which I may drop to 2x4GB) & doesn't include a SSD.
Not decided what I'll do WRT SSD, may use one of the models I already own.Will you be using disk intensive packages?
Quite open to what I'll be doing, I have some fixed stuff, but I don't necessarily want to be locked down to that.
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Most consumer-grade SSDs do not have any kind of power-loss protection, or it's limited (likely guarantees no corruption, but potentially loses data in flight). I think the exception was the Intel 320.
You can use whatever you want in your system, just be aware of the possible consequences. Reinstalling pfSense isn't hard, I've got the Auto Config Backup, and I run CARP, so I really don't care on my machines at work. My system at home, on the other hand, uses a better SSD.
