Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:29:47 +0200 From: Paul Schenkeveld <paul@psconsult.nl> To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Subject: Re: looking for gigabit network appliances Message-ID: <20110328172947.GA45413@psconsult.nl> In-Reply-To: <AANLkTikmD1XsLhRSxeXGiuZ1hj9tLQ9kZtj6jcOn16U2@mail.gmail.com> References: <20110327131643.GA36085@psconsult.nl> <AANLkTikmD1XsLhRSxeXGiuZ1hj9tLQ9kZtj6jcOn16U2@mail.gmail.com>
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On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 10:04:11AM -0400, Maxim Khitrov wrote: > On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 9:16 AM, Paul Schenkeveld <freebsd@psconsult.nl> wrote: > > Hi, > > > > I've been happily using many Soekris network appliances for almost 10 > > years now but Soekris is not in a big hurry to come with a gigabit > > platform :( > > > > So I am looking for for a decent network appliance platform to start > > replacing Soekris boxes. On my wish list are: > > > > - Can run FreeBSD >= 8.2 (i386 or amd64). > > - Models with 4 to 8 (or more) network interfaces, at least 4 gigabit > > but all gigabit is better. Preferrably Intel em or igb chips. > > - Preferrably a choice of low power CPUs (Intel Atom D510/D525?) and > > more powerful CPUs (Core 2/Xeon) > > - Bootable from flash or (SATA 2,5") SSD > > - 1U rackmount models available but preferrably also small passively > > cooled desktop boxes. > > - Serial console preferrable over VGA console. > > - IPMI would be a plus but not absolutely required. > > - Distribution channel in Europe. > > > > Any ideas? > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > Paul Schenkeveld > > I spent the past few months looking for the same thing in US. > Unfortunately, I haven't found any existing devices that meet those > criteria. The Soekris net6501 [1] should be out some time this year, > as you may already know, but there has been very little information > about the time frame. > > In the end, I decided to build my own system, which would meet most of > your requirements. The components are listed below: > > Motherboard: Supermicro X7SPA-HF-D525 (Atom D525) > Memory: Crucial CT2KIT25664BC1067 (2x2GB DDR3 1066) > Network Card: Intel E1G44HT (4-port gigabit) > SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G > Enclosure: Thermaltake Element Q VL52021N2U > > The final price for all components was ~$680. I've been looking at Supermicro too, that would solve the problem when no more that 6 interfaces are needed. However I have a number of boxes with 7 (net4801+lan1741) or 8 (net5501+lan1741) interfaces in production and those are the first ones that need replacement. Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience! > I've had no problems setting up FreeBSD 8.2 amd64 on this box. The > system has 6 gigabit ports total (2 em, 4 igb). There is IPMI with > KVM-over-IP on em0. No issues with my choice of SSD, though I've now > added a hot-swap 3.5" enclosure in the 5.25" bay, which will have a > mechanical drive for backup purposes. > > You'll have to look around for a 1U enclosure. My case has a single > fan in the power supply, which I don't mind. It's impossible to hear > and creates a tiny bit of airflow right over the CPU heat sink. If you > don't want any moving parts at all, take a look at picoPSU from > mini-box.com. > > - Max Paul Schenkeveld
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