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    No I am going slow here trying to get the best deal on the hardware which will be a micro PC with 4 network ports on it. Baby steps right now looking for interest for a group purchase direct from MFG.

    Thank you for your interest Billy.

    Currently my PFSense box is using 6 Intel Gb NICs. I have two for WAN (2nd WAN is failover) and 4 for LAN (physically separate networks - plus VLANs here).

    The PFSense box is in the server rack. Server rack is in "server room" which separate section/room.

    Putting the PFSense box in the Leviton 42" can would complete my new all telco / network can here.
    Last edited by Pete; July 23, 2017, 10:42 AM.
    - Pete

    Auto mator
    Homeseer 3 Pro - 3.0.0.548 (Linux) - Ubuntu 18.04/W7e 64 bit Intel Haswell CPU 16Gb
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      Hi Pete,

      I got my pfsense box up and running yesterday. What I found was giving me the most trouble and also made the system unstable was the Realtek NIC cards. Last week I ordered the recommended Intel based dual port NIC card and that made all of the difference. I recommend that, if at all possible, find a box with Intel NIC chipsets. Just my opinion.

      Bob

      Comment


        Originally posted by Bob_Linux_User View Post
        Hi Pete,

        I got my pfsense box up and running yesterday. What I found was giving me the most trouble and also made the system unstable was the Realtek NIC cards. Last week I ordered the recommended Intel based dual port NIC card and that made all of the difference. I recommend that, if at all possible, find a box with Intel NIC chipsets. Just my opinion.

        Bob
        Can we get a link for that Intel NIC?
        Thanks!

        Comment


          Can we get a link for that Intel NIC?
          The link below is the one I purchased. There are several sellers on Ebay.

          Bob

          http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-NC360T-Du...53.m2749.l2649

          Comment


            Pete, put me on the list please.

            Kinda curious, would one of these boxes be good for Windows 7 & HS3? Someday my HS1.7 box will die, lol.

            Comment


              Pete,

              I've been looking on ebay and aliexpress and have not found anything with the components you specify even close to the $100 target you set. The least cost I found was about $120 USD (plus $25 shipping) for no memory and no ssd. Were you planning on a buy with no memory or ssd as a way to meet the $100 target?

              I ask this since I am serious about installing a pfSense firewall and want to get started soon. It might be that the config you will settle on might not be right for everyone since you are having to optimize on both features and cost. I'd like to understand sooner rather than later if I need to go my own way.

              Can you provide a link to the system that most closely fits what you think you want to buy?

              Thanks.

              Robert

              Comment


                Well relating to the J1900 those are getting cheaper by the month. The Celeron replacement that I have seen is actually slower than the J1900 CPU.

                I am trying to get a complete PC with memory (target is 8G but 4 will do) and at least a 32Gb SSD for around $100.

                Only way to do this is a direct contact maybe with the Manufacturer owner and not through Amazon or Ali Express.

                IE: I purchased my 8 drive NAS case directly from the MFG in China.

                For a while here was purchased CCTV motherboards for my tinkering experiments directly from MFG in China. I have had issues though when the MFGs set up shipping from the US....very slow...
                - Pete

                Auto mator
                Homeseer 3 Pro - 3.0.0.548 (Linux) - Ubuntu 18.04/W7e 64 bit Intel Haswell CPU 16Gb
                Homeseer Zee2 (Lite) - 3.0.0.548 (Linux) - Ubuntu 18.04/W7e - CherryTrail x5-Z8350 BeeLink 4Gb BT3 Pro
                HS4 Lite - Ubuntu 22.04 / Lenovo Tiny M900 / 32Gb Ram

                HS4 Pro - V4.1.18.1 - Ubuntu 22.04 / Lenova Tiny M900 / 32Gb Ram
                HSTouch on Intel tabletop tablets (Jogglers) - Asus AIO - Windows 11

                X10, UPB, Zigbee, ZWave and Wifi MQTT automation-Tasmota-Espurna. OmniPro 2, Russound zoned audio, Alexa, Cheaper RFID, W800 and Home Assistant

                Comment


                  Kinda curious, would one of these boxes be good for Windows 7 & HS3? Someday my HS1.7 box will die, lol.

                  If Intel based yes. Arm probably not.

                  I personally would prefer an Intel CPU. That is me.
                  - Pete

                  Auto mator
                  Homeseer 3 Pro - 3.0.0.548 (Linux) - Ubuntu 18.04/W7e 64 bit Intel Haswell CPU 16Gb
                  Homeseer Zee2 (Lite) - 3.0.0.548 (Linux) - Ubuntu 18.04/W7e - CherryTrail x5-Z8350 BeeLink 4Gb BT3 Pro
                  HS4 Lite - Ubuntu 22.04 / Lenovo Tiny M900 / 32Gb Ram

                  HS4 Pro - V4.1.18.1 - Ubuntu 22.04 / Lenova Tiny M900 / 32Gb Ram
                  HSTouch on Intel tabletop tablets (Jogglers) - Asus AIO - Windows 11

                  X10, UPB, Zigbee, ZWave and Wifi MQTT automation-Tasmota-Espurna. OmniPro 2, Russound zoned audio, Alexa, Cheaper RFID, W800 and Home Assistant

                  Comment


                    Pete, please count me in. I'm running PFSense as a VM but just testing. Was going to build a 1U PFsense box but can't beat this for a ~$100 and this community of future PFSense specialists.

                    Comment


                      Originally posted by Pete View Post
                      Well relating to the J1900 those are getting cheaper by the month. The Celeron replacement that I have seen is actually slower than the J1900 CPU.

                      I am trying to get a complete PC with memory (target is 8G but 4 will do) and at least a 32Gb SSD for around $100.

                      Only way to do this is a direct contact maybe with the Manufacturer owner and not through Amazon or Ali Express.

                      IE: I purchased my 8 drive NAS case directly from the MFG in China.

                      For a while here was purchased CCTV motherboards for my tinkering experiments directly from MFG in China. I have had issues though when the MFGs set up shipping from the US....very slow...
                      I'd guess that Aliexpress is about as close as you can get to an off shore manufacturer other than talking to them direct. Who knows what margin ali gets but I wouldn't expect more than 10% (that's generally what ebay takes).

                      Looking on ali for a J1900, 4GB of memory, no wifi, thick profile, and 32GB SSD the general price I am seeing is about $190. Your $100 price target is certainly attractive but it is equally optimistic. With these new channels that are nearly direct and have small cost to use (ebay, ali, amzn), there is just not a lot of margin on the table to be gained trying to go direct. Hopefully you know some tricks I don't.

                      Comment


                        add me to the list as well. Thanks

                        Comment


                          Pete

                          I am leaning towards a slight heavier duty spec with an i3 or i5 chip that supports AES-NI. I appreciate that it isn't required now, but I'd like to be ready for pfSense v 2.5 (whenever it comes out). Looks like this will run me about $300. Thank you for kicking this off, but I am going to pull out of the group purchase at this point.

                          Cheers
                          James
                          cheeryfool

                          Comment


                            http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-T620-Quad...e/222565419660

                            Comment


                              I have also been looking at available pfsense appliances for this cause. I have found two possible candidates. One refurbished and one new. Also different price points.

                              The first is a refurbished micro without a HDD or SSD but the same seller has the same box with pfsense preloaded and a 2GB SSD for a few dollars more. This box has dual Intel NIC ports. It also only has 2GB RAM which would work fine if you do not plan to use Squid (Proxy Server). It is not AES-NI capable.

                              http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Intel-A...3D322595456533

                              The second is a really good choice and has every thing in a small package but is $349.00 plus shipping. It is an Intel i5 with AES-NI and has dual Intel NIC ports. This would be a good long term appliance.

                              http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-i...oAAOSw7ThUg-j4

                              Bob

                              Comment


                                Just heard back from the eBay seller. He has about 25 of them. For an order for 20, he said he could do $200 each including shipping.

                                @Bob_Linux_User, I know you have been searching too so you have seen a lot of what is available. Could you give us your opinion of the machine and the deal?

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