pfSense hardware

thepixelgeek

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Jan 21, 2016
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271
Well, it seems this thread doesn't want to die. What would be the recommendations now, 2 years later?

I'm just now learning about firewalls, security, VPNs, etc. I'm really interested in integrating pfSense into my home network. I recently set up a FreeNas box, check it out here, that will be a Plex server to start. That may lead me into doing other things as I learn more .

I have 600mbps download speeds. I'd like to have VPN into the network while away, and a VPN for outgoing traffic. Possible multiple LANs. I also think I want to run security packages Snort, adblocking, etc.. (still learning).

Realizing some of this stuff my be overkill, but I like to tinker and learn what's possible. Also, I don't mind building computers, etc.. It's fun. And sometimes a pain in the arse.

I was looking at the recommended SuperServer 5018D-FN8T Xeon D Mini 1U. Seems way overkill, and $900. But I really like 1U rackmount chassis style.

Edit: Yes, I've been searching through other forums and reading about hardware req's. Still absorbing.
 
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I've been passively looking for a replacement too and I keep fanboying to an AMD Server 5019D-FTN4 but the prices I've been seeing have been holding me back. I've been running a dell sc1425 for years and the only thing pushing a change (aside from parts getting rare) is the inability to add SFP+
 

thepixelgeek

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Jan 21, 2016
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271
Here's what I'm looking at for hardware options:

1.
Code:
SUPERMICRO MBD-A1SAM-2550F-O uATX Server Motherboard DDR3 1600/1333, Embedded Intel Atom processor C2550- $260
Patriot Signature 4GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz) CL11 DIMM  (PSD34G160082) - Free x 2
Intel DC S3500 SSDSC2BB080G401 2.5" 80GB SATA III MLC Business Solid State Drive - $120
Server power supply - Free
1U (2x 3.5"+2.5" HDD Bay) (Micro-ATX / ITX)(Rackmount Chassis) - $80
Total: $460

2. Newer but CPU doesn't have Turbo Boost Tech. Would that make any difference?
Code:
Supermicro A2SDI-4C-HLN4F-O Motherboard A2SDi-4C-HLN4F Embedded Denverton mITX 4 Core Up to 256GB ECC DDR4-2133MHz, Intel Atom Processor C3558 Single Socket - $300
Crucial 8G DDR4 2133 UDIMM - Free x 2
Intel DC S3500 SSDSC2BB080G401 2.5" 80GB SATA III MLC Business Solid State Drive - $120
Server power supply - Free
iStarUSA D Value D-118V2-ITX 1U Rackmount Mini-ITX Server Chassis - $55
Total: $475
 
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JJT211

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Jul 4, 2014
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Here's what I'm looking at for hardware options:

1.
Code:
SUPERMICRO MBD-A1SAM-2550F-O uATX Server Motherboard DDR3 1600/1333, Embedded Intel Atom processor C2550- $260
Patriot Signature 4GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz) CL11 DIMM  (PSD34G160082) - Free x 2
Intel DC S3500 SSDSC2BB080G401 2.5" 80GB SATA III MLC Business Solid State Drive - $120
Server power supply - Free
1U (2x 3.5"+2.5" HDD Bay) (Micro-ATX / ITX)(Rackmount Chassis) - $80
Total: $460

2. Newer but CPU doesn't have Turbo Boost Tech. Would that make any difference?
Code:
Supermicro A2SDI-4C-HLN4F-O Motherboard A2SDi-4C-HLN4F Embedded Denverton mITX 4 Core Up to 256GB ECC DDR4-2133MHz, Intel Atom Processor C3558 Single Socket - $300
Crucial 8G DDR4 2133 UDIMM - Free x 2
Intel DC S3500 SSDSC2BB080G401 2.5" 80GB SATA III MLC Business Solid State Drive - $120
Server power supply - Free
iStarUSA D Value D-118V2-ITX 1U Rackmount Mini-ITX Server Chassis - $55
Total: $475

I have the second one. Does Turbo tech even make a difference in a firewall?
 

Alecmascot

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Mar 18, 2014
Messages
1,175
All your solutions are a total overkill !
I bought a Dell Optiplex 790, i5-2400 3.10GHz, 4GB for GBP80, added an Intel NIC so there are two.
Runs 3 VPN clients at 350Mbps without breaking sweat and has AES.
Been up for 12 months now.
 

sremick

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Sep 24, 2014
Messages
323
All your solutions are a total overkill !
I bought a Dell Optiplex 790, i5-2400 3.10GHz, 4GB for GBP80, added an Intel NIC so there are two.
Runs 3 VPN clients at 350Mbps without breaking sweat and has AES.
Been up for 12 months now.
Heck, I'm running on a quad-core Celeron N3160 mico-PC with 4GB RAM. It's just a tiny little fanless box, dual RJ45, and supports AES.
 

thepixelgeek

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Jan 21, 2016
Messages
271
All your solutions are a total overkill !
I bought a Dell Optiplex 790, i5-2400 3.10GHz, 4GB for GBP80, added an Intel NIC so there are two.
Runs 3 VPN clients at 350Mbps without breaking sweat and has AES.
Been up for 12 months now.
And here I thought I scaled it back. :p :p :p
 

LVLouisCyphre

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Joined
Dec 22, 2019
Messages
16
I profoundly disagree with this statement. Parameter firewall is critical peace of the network infrastructure and I would never deploy used old PCs.
And I profoundly disagree with you. 20 years ago, I ran a FreeBSD firewall with NAT on an old P54C-90 (socket 5) i430VX chipset with only 16 MB of RAM. I had asymmetrical up/down bandwidth. An SMC 8013 NIC connected directly to my cable modem did the job. The internal interface was an Intel (8461) Pro/100+ Management. A firewall/router was about the only thing that PC was good for. Very low CPU utilization. Since the bandwidth was asymmetric, running a half duplex external interface was not an issue.
That even doesn't make economic sense as old PCs significantly higher electric consumption. The only reason I'm not going to use my old Dell XPS 400 or 420 for my next firewall box is because they sound like a leaf blower and the space they take up. I had enough of that sound from working on my former employer's Cisco chassis based routers and switches.
That's the only statement that makes sense. Old reliably working PCs make decent firewall machines. I wouldn't use an ARM platform because of the it's not a FreeBSD tier 1 architecture; pfSense only supports amd64 now. He'll have to use an older version if he's going to use an i386. I have done quite a bit of very good repurposing and recycling projects with FreeBSD.
 

HolyK

Ninja Turtle
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Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
653
Here's what I'm looking at for hardware options:

1.
Code:
SUPERMICRO MBD-A1SAM-2550F-O uATX Server Motherboard DDR3 1600/1333, Embedded Intel Atom processor C2550- $260
Patriot Signature 4GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz) CL11 DIMM  (PSD34G160082) - Free x 2
Intel DC S3500 SSDSC2BB080G401 2.5" 80GB SATA III MLC Business Solid State Drive - $120
Server power supply - Free
1U (2x 3.5"+2.5" HDD Bay) (Micro-ATX / ITX)(Rackmount Chassis) - $80
Total: $460

2. Newer but CPU doesn't have Turbo Boost Tech. Would that make any difference?
Code:
Supermicro A2SDI-4C-HLN4F-O Motherboard A2SDi-4C-HLN4F Embedded Denverton mITX 4 Core Up to 256GB ECC DDR4-2133MHz, Intel Atom Processor C3558 Single Socket - $300
Crucial 8G DDR4 2133 UDIMM - Free x 2
Intel DC S3500 SSDSC2BB080G401 2.5" 80GB SATA III MLC Business Solid State Drive - $120
Server power supply - Free
iStarUSA D Value D-118V2-ITX 1U Rackmount Mini-ITX Server Chassis - $55
Total: $475

How bout THIS little guy for like $200 ^^
 
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