Help Building PFSense Router

4Qman

4Qman

4Qman

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UK
Hello,

I am putting together a PFSense router and hope to get some advice on any parts that i should i should not use for the build. I have the following on my shortlist.

H81M-S2H Intel S1150 Gigabyte Micro ATX Motherboard
Intel G3258 Pentium K Anniversary Socket 1150 Dual Core Processor (Haswell) Overclock to 4.5Ghz*
Corsair Memory XMS3 Classic 4GB DDR3 1333 Mhz CAS 9 Dual Channel Desktop
Intel Pro 1000 PT PCI Express Gigabit Dual Gigabit Port Server Adaptor Low Profile
CiT 500W Micro-ATX PSU with Quiet 80mm Fan
Core V21 Cube mATX PC Gaming Case from Thermaltake

Does anyone have any recommendations.
 
I'm curious what application needs a 4.5ghz overclock for routing and firewalling TCP-IP packets.

Intel network cards generally work fine with pfSense, smoothwall, ClearOS etc. so I think that's a good choice.
 
Sounds like an absolute Wattage hog for a network appliance.

Go for an Intel Rangeley/Avoton Atom or similar. Which is a dedicated communications processor which includes AES hardware acceleration and a low power footprint.

Gaming case seems silly, as does a 500watt PSU.

I'll be building a pfSense box soon to handle 1Gbit WAN <> LAN including NAT and Firewalling. I'll be looking at a proper CPU for the job.

Also, look at some of the shelf products for a comparison. While not available yet the upcoming boards from ADI Engineering (RCC-DFF 2220 etc) look absolutely bang on for the money.

If you do not want to go down the dedicated microserver route then I would suggest looking at a Haswell i3 platform.
 
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stulid said:
One recommendation is not to use a cheap CIT PSU, go for a known named brand.

This Antec is made by Delta Electronics - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-234-AN&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=2462
Click to expand...

Thanks, will do.

skyripper said:
I'm curious what application needs a 4.5ghz overclock for routing and firewalling TCP-IP packets.

Intel network cards generally work fine with pfSense, smoothwall, ClearOS etc. so I think that's a good choice.
Click to expand...

I was trying to build using new parts, its about the cheapest i can fine.


Sin_Chase said:
Sounds like an absolute Wattage hog for a network appliance.

Go for an Intel Rangeley/Avoton Atom or similar. Which is a dedicated communications processor which includes AES hardware acceleration and a low power footprint.

Gaming case seems silly, as does a 500watt PSU.

I'll be building a pfSense box soon to handle 1Gbit WAN <> LAN including NAT and Firewalling. I'll be looking at a proper CPU for the job.

Also, look at some of the shelf products for a comparison. While not available yet the upcoming boards from ADI Engineering (RCC-DFF 2220 etc) look absolutely bang on for the money.

If you do not want to go down the dedicated microserver route then I would suggest looking at a Haswell i3 platform.
Click to expand...

I am stuck as to where i can get these parts new. I was hoping to build something using new parts that would remain reliable and have longetitvity in mind.

Does OCUK have any hardware that could build a cheap pfsense router?
 
OcUk does not stock much (if any) microserver/appliance grade hardware for this sort of thing.

This sort of area is where you need nano/micro ITX enclosures, Pico-PSUs and similar supporting hardware. It's a very specialist area.

Whilst you can build a desktop that is suitable to run pfSense, there are better options in the non-desktop area of hardware.
 
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I bought a Jetway JBC373, dual-core Athlon, 4x gigabit ports, completely silent and fanless to make my ClearOs firewall/router.

About the size of 3 DVD cases stacked. It can do wireless with a mini-pci card too.

Smoothwall didn't like it - the build didn't have the drivers needed for the NICs and I don't do much Linux. Can't remember if pfSense got on with it. ClearOS just worked and did its thing.
 
Hi Skyripper,

I looked at that setup, im looking at a miniitx ;) i hadnt looked at a dedicated website for such components.

do you reocmmend that setup for pfesnse, or any other options.
 
Get on the pfsense forums and do some research.

You've not even stated your requirements yet.

Intra LAN, Site to Site
WAN <> LAN

Do you require NAT, Packet Inspection, VPN? Do you need VLANNING? Do you need QoS? Layer7 filtering? Squid? Caching?

What speed does it need to operate at? Do you need redundancy? How many users?

I could spec you a Raspberry Pi pfSense appliance. But that's rather useless if you need simultaneous 1Gbit Up and Down with Packet Filtering and NAT on a 1Gbit/1Gbit Fibre Wan Connection.
 
4Qman said:
Hi Skyripper,

I looked at that setup, im looking at a miniitx ;) i hadnt looked at a dedicated website for such components.

do you reocmmend that setup for pfesnse, or any other options.
Click to expand...

Do I recommend it for pfSense? No, but only because I don't use pfSense on it. I was going to use Smoothwall, couldn't get it to work, so tried others. ClearOS was the first one I tried that worked first time, and I liked it.

On the other hand, the kit itself is just like an appliance, so its plugged in, powered on, and only needs a web browser for occasional admin.

I think Sin_Chase has hit the nail on the head - post some requirements then you'll know what kit to buy.
 
Perhaps intel network cards and error correcting ram, then minimise wattage. There are a few boards out there, m-itx or smaller, which look ideal.

PFsense is trivial to set up - if you're looking for a project, it'll be a very short one! Beyond that, we do rather need to know what task you have in mind for it.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I am looking for a project, this being my main aim. I really want to setup the home network to remain stable but above all secure.

The home network will consist of the following.
Server - This will have Wiindows Server 2012 (File hosting)
CCTV System - This will run blue iris software managing 4 IP Camera 1080p
Media PC Main Room - This will stream TRUE HD
Laptop - This is Work laptop running Ubuntun
Gaming PC

The connection at the moment is only ADSL :mad: - The connection is being updated to BT Fibre, the option is having FFTP 330mb/s

I need to securly loging to the home network via VPN. I will have owncloud setup and several devices syncing/backing up.

I have found the following system
Jetway JBC311 WiFi Fanless NUC Form Factor PC with Intel N2930 Quad Core CPU and Dual Intel LAN
 
Unless these need to be in physically separate locations, you could get HP Microserver, stick a dual NIC card in, and do the firewall/router, fileserver and CCTV all on one box.
Load it with VMware ESXi and install as needed.

My microserver is built this way. The only reason I'm using something separate for firewall/router, is I have to run cables under carpets, the place is rented, and its such a pig to do.

Its another option.
 
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