X11SBA-LN4F vs A1SRi-2558F
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@jwt:
The i210 NICs only have 4 rx/tx queues, which is fine for the 4 core SoC (http://ark.intel.com/products/87261/Intel-Pentium-Processor-N3700-2M-Cache-up-to-2_40-GHz), but you'll find that future versions of pfSense have a minimum 4 core requirement (I might make it 8, I've not decided.)
As documented here: http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/datasheets/i210-ethernet-controller-datasheet.pdf , there are only 4 tx and 4 rx queues on an i210.
The SoC is significantly slower than a 4 core Rangeley (1.6GHz on the N3700, 2.4Ghz on the C2558), and this will translate into real-world performance differences. Someone pointed out 6W .vs 15W, and this is why.
Rangeley also has better (i350 .vs i210) NICs. https://twitter.com/gonzopancho/statuses/643443335114424320
I also don't believe in integrated graphics on a standalone networking device.
Does the N3700's Turbo of 2.4GHz help much as the C2558 does not have it?
Of course, this is all to late for me as I am already stuck with it but I appreciate the breakdown.
Base frequency on the 2558 is 2.4GHz. Base frequency on the N3700 is 1.6GHz. You'll find the CPU doesn't spend very long in 'Turbo' (and then only one one core).
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If you want to stress test network interfaces, check out iperf. I'm sure Google will dig up some useful reading material.
iperf will not "stress test" your network. It's useful as a bandwidth / throughput test, and that's about all.
If iperf stresses your network, then you need to think about an upgrade.
https://2015.asiabsdcon.org/timetable.html.en#P10A
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@jwt:
I'm a FreeBSD noob!
this much is obvious.
Everyone has to start somewhere and I'm posting my results in efforts trying to help others. Your smartass comment wasn't necessary. At least I'm willing to take the effort to search before asking and trying to figure it out based on previous posters have done.
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@jwt:
I'm a FreeBSD noob!
this much is obvious.
Everyone has to start somewhere and I'm posting my results in efforts trying to help others. Your smartass comment wasn't necessary. At least I'm willing to take the effort to search before asking and trying to figure it out based on previous posters have done.
I just read through this whole thread, as I am very interested in this board. Despite your troubles, I think I'm going to attempt to put my pfSense build (currently on CentOS VM) on it directly. If the install does awry as it has with you, I will try to install it as a VM on top of CentOS like my lab build.
I probably won't get to buying the hardware for another month, but I'll keep watching this thread.
Thanks for all your updates and time spent working on this project.
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After sending screen shots of the watchdog timeouts (FreeBSD 10.1, FreeBSD 11 and now Ubuntu 15.04) to SuperMicro, they have finally decided that I need to RMA the board. I really hoping I just got a bad board and not a bad design. Too much money in this thing to have a bad design.
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Your board is $300 on Amazon.
This:
http://store.netgate.com/ADI/RCC-VE-4860-board.aspx and is priced at $406.
but it has:
More clockspeed (2.5GHz .vs 1.6Ghz on your board)
8GB ram (your board has 0)
8GB (at least, new ones will be more) storage (emmc) on-board (your board has 0)
More Ethernets (6 .vs 4)
Better Ethernet (4 are i350, 2 are i210, your board has 4 i210)
You'll need an ATX power supply to power your board. The 4860 runs on a simple 12VDC barrel connector. -
@jwt:
Your board is $300 on Amazon.
This:
http://store.netgate.com/ADI/RCC-VE-4860-board.aspx and is priced at $406.
but it has:
More clockspeed (2.5GHz .vs 1.6Ghz on your board)
8GB ram (your board has 0)
8GB (at least, new ones will be more) storage (emmc) on-board (your board has 0)
More Ethernets (6 .vs 4)
Better Ethernet (4 are i350, 2 are i210, your board has 4 i210)
You'll need an ATX power supply to power your board. The 4860 runs on a simple 12VDC barrel connector.And on top it comes together with 1x mSATA and 2x miniPCIe + SIM slots and yours only with 1x Mini-PCIe slot.
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@jwt:
Your board is $300 on Amazon.
This:
http://store.netgate.com/ADI/RCC-VE-4860-board.aspx and is priced at $406.
but it has:
More clockspeed (2.5GHz .vs 1.6Ghz on your board)
8GB ram (your board has 0)
8GB (at least, new ones will be more) storage (emmc) on-board (your board has 0)
More Ethernets (6 .vs 4)
Better Ethernet (4 are i350, 2 are i210, your board has 4 i210)
You'll need an ATX power supply to power your board. The 4860 runs on a simple 12VDC barrel connector.My board cost $216 shipped from Comp Source. I paid less than about $305 for everything in it. I get it - you don't like this damn board and that's your choice. Right now, I don't like it either (because it doesn't work properly) but I have it and am trying to get it to work. Why do you have a hard on over this issue? If this is the way the admin is going to act on this site, I can see why the 'other' folks felt a need to fork off and go a 'different' direction.
@BlueKobold:
And on top it comes together with 1x mSATA and 2x miniPCIe + SIM slots and yours only with 1x Mini-PCIe slot.
That's nice and all….but I need these why?
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If this is the way the admin is going to act on this site, I can see why the 'other' folks felt a need to fork off and go a 'different' direction.
Just to be clear - the user "BlueKobold" is NOT an Admin/Supervisor/Sysop or any other figure of "authority" any more than I am (as far as I know anyway).
Many (most?) of us on this Forum are unpaid volunteers who happen to have invested time and effort into making pfSense what it is today IMHO - YMMV.
Some have better or worse people/language/bedside manners than others.
Many have pet peeves, techniques that should "ALWAYS" be used, others that should "NEVER" be used and everything in between.As always they are (mostly) opinions, and like a**holes - everyones' got one ::)
Remember - it takes all of us to make a planet - and its the only one we've got (so far).
Just my $0.02
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My board cost $216 shipped from Comp Source.
Seems to be $228.33 here:
http://www.compsource.com/pn/MBDX11SBALN4FO/Supermicro-428/X11sbaLn4f-N3700-Fcbga-Pentium–Max8gb-Ddr3-MiniItx-MBDX11SBALN4FO-MBDX11SBALN4FO/
I paid less than about $305 for everything in it.
So you've got $77 to spend for ram, disk, etc.
Now, what is your time worth?
Moreover, what am I to do with the negative reputation you're heaping on pfSense because you're attempting to run it on inferior platforms?
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@jwt:
Moreover, what am I to do with the negative reputation you're heaping on pfSense because you're attempting to run it on inferior platforms?
You show me where I'm giving a negative reputation to pfSense! I've clearly stated that I think this is a hardware issue or driver / BIOS issue at this point. As far as I'm concerned, you can go screw yourself you self absorbed prick. pfSense may be fine, but if you're the face of it or behind any of it, I don't want any part of it.
As far as my time, I did this as a project, not because I NEEDED it. My $99 Asus router works fine but I've heard so many good things about pfSense that I wanted to build a low power, future proof PC based router. Why do you give a care about what I do with my spare time? It's mine, not yours.
Oh, and here's the $216 link since you seem so hellbent against anything to do with me or this board:
http://www.compsource.com/ttechnote.asp?part_no=MBDX11SBALN4FO&vid=428&src=F
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That's nice and all….but I need these why?
I have not told anything about you need it! And I only wrote it because the both boards were compared in price
against each other and I was only thinking that the 2 more miniPCIe slots and the SIM slots would
not be soldered on the board with no cost or for nothing of cost.Just to be clear - the user "BlueKobold" is NOT an Admin/Supervisor/Sysop or any other figure of "authority" any more than I am (as far as I know anyway).
This was written under the Quote from jwt and not under mine, and what we others all are is written under
our names on the left side.I am out of this thread now, it sounds to strange to me.
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Oh, and here's the $216 link since you seem so hellbent against anything to do with me or this board:
http://www.compsource.com/ttechnote.asp?part_no=MBDX11SBALN4FO&vid=428&src=F
Looks like a $228 link.
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Oh, and here's the $216 link since you seem so hellbent against anything to do with me or this board:
http://www.compsource.com/ttechnote.asp?part_no=MBDX11SBALN4FO&vid=428&src=F
Looks like a $228 link.
The search through Google for "Supermicro N3700" and then click on the Shopping link.
or
www.froogle.com and enter "Supermicro N3700" (no quotes). Look for $216.10 price.
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@jwt:
You'll need an ATX power supply to power your board.
Key Features
1. Intel
Pentium Processor N3700,
Socket FCBGA 1170; CPU 6W
~snip~
11. 12V DC or ATXhttp://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/X11/X11SBA-LN4F.cfm
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Oh, and here's the $216 link since you seem so hellbent against anything to do with me or this board:
http://www.compsource.com/ttechnote.asp?part_no=MBDX11SBALN4FO&vid=428&src=F
Looks like a $228 link.
The search through Google for "Supermicro N3700" and then click on the Shopping link.
You must have a coupon code or some other promotional offer saved. There is a small "11% off" tag that displays in the screenshot you posted that is not there when others (myself included) click on the posted link.
Care to share the discount code? ;D
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@jwt:
My board cost $216 shipped from Comp Source.
Seems to be $228.33 here:
http://www.compsource.com/pn/MBDX11SBALN4FO/Supermicro-428/X11sbaLn4f-N3700-Fcbga-Pentium–Max8gb-Ddr3-MiniItx-MBDX11SBALN4FO-MBDX11SBALN4FO/
I paid less than about $305 for everything in it.
So you've got $77 to spend for ram, disk, etc.
Now, what is your time worth?
Moreover, what am I to do with the negative reputation you're heaping on pfSense because you're attempting to run it on inferior platforms?
Somebody definitely pissed in your Cheerios bowl yesterday…
You should applaud the time and effort Engineer put into making this board work, yet all you can come up with is some undeserved negativism.
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To anyone who is interested in this board and the progress on it, please PM me. I'll keep you updated via PM. It's obvious that some of the people, including the powers to be, have an issue with it and/or this posting. I'll no longer update the status in this thead
Please don't let some smart-ass response leave you with such negativity. I've been following this thread very closely, since i was on a quest to build my own pfsense box, and i think you are doing great in contributing to this community with your effort to resolve this issue. Thanks for that.
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I've decided to update this thread because of lots of interest in this board.
After sending the board out via RMA to SuperMicro, they kept it for about 3 weeks or so and ran the tests that I had used to trigger the watchdog timeout. The engineering team came back and said that they had found the issue and had made a hardware change to my board. I have tried to get a better explanation as to whether this was a defect on my board only or ALL of these board but have received nothing back yet.
With that in mind, I tested the board for four days using Ubuntu 15.04 (was still on my drive). Previously, it would not run for more than 30 hours with going down. After the four day test, I installed pfsense and ran the same test. It has been running for two days with no issue so far. I'm not running a WAN but that doesn't matter as I was able to get it to crash previously without a WAN port simply by bombarding it with LAN traffic.
If anyone has any specific questions, I'll try to answer. If the board will run for seven (7) days without crashing the ports, I'll move it back into full WAN service.
