Pfsense mini PC
- Thread starter hogan1
- Start date
Soldato
Have you looked at the new Mikrotik RB750Gr2 as it uses a very capable firmware comparable to Pfsense.
Alternatively, you would need to look into what a certain build your own spec could achieve in for instance LAN to WAN throughput and see whether the cost is justifiable.
Also, if you had dual LAN you could add extra ports by adding a separate network switch so the Pfsense router is just doing the routing. In this case there are a few more mobo's to choose from but I also think you need to pay attention to the LAN chipset vendor as some I think are supported in Pfsense and others may not be.
Jenway are a mobo manufacturer that can be looked at too as they do some small mobo's and some they do a daughter board to add 4 extra LAN ports. Sometimes these mobo's are the ones where the CPU comes already attached to the mobo so these are at the lower end of the CPU range which is where the performance might not stack up against simply opting for the Mikrotik route to start with at substantially less cost.
Alternatively, you would need to look into what a certain build your own spec could achieve in for instance LAN to WAN throughput and see whether the cost is justifiable.
Also, if you had dual LAN you could add extra ports by adding a separate network switch so the Pfsense router is just doing the routing. In this case there are a few more mobo's to choose from but I also think you need to pay attention to the LAN chipset vendor as some I think are supported in Pfsense and others may not be.
Jenway are a mobo manufacturer that can be looked at too as they do some small mobo's and some they do a daughter board to add 4 extra LAN ports. Sometimes these mobo's are the ones where the CPU comes already attached to the mobo so these are at the lower end of the CPU range which is where the performance might not stack up against simply opting for the Mikrotik route to start with at substantially less cost.
Permabanned
Most motherboards and nics will be supported to be honest.
The only major support issue you will have is with WIFI which has recently been improved to support wireless n.
I use a full atx motherboard with my pfsense as i used my old desktop motherboard, but if i could buy from scratch i would build a micro atx board and just stick some additional network cards in.
If you have the money you could buy a prebuilt device but that will run embedded and you won't get the same resource capabilities that you could get from using a full size motherboard. but will have the added benefit of being small and neat.
http://store.pfsense.org/SG-2440/
I am currently using a D-Link DWA-556 for wifi and recommend this card.
My current pfsense is a
core 2 duo 2.6ghz
4gb ddr 800 ram
60gb ssd.
400w psu
The only major support issue you will have is with WIFI which has recently been improved to support wireless n.
I use a full atx motherboard with my pfsense as i used my old desktop motherboard, but if i could buy from scratch i would build a micro atx board and just stick some additional network cards in.
If you have the money you could buy a prebuilt device but that will run embedded and you won't get the same resource capabilities that you could get from using a full size motherboard. but will have the added benefit of being small and neat.
http://store.pfsense.org/SG-2440/
I am currently using a D-Link DWA-556 for wifi and recommend this card.
My current pfsense is a
core 2 duo 2.6ghz
4gb ddr 800 ram
60gb ssd.
400w psu
Soldato
PC Engines Alix PC's are good for pfSense installs. You won't get 4 LAN ports but get one with 2, then you can have 1 WAN and a LAN that can connect to a switch.
Otherwise +1 for Mikrotik.
Otherwise +1 for Mikrotik.