From owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Mar 28 17:29:54 2011 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A3485106566C for ; Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:29:54 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from paul@psconsult.nl) Received: from mx1.psconsult.nl (unknown [IPv6:2001:7b8:30f:e0::5059:ee8a]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 575078FC08 for ; Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:29:54 +0000 (UTC) Received: from mx1.psconsult.nl (psc11.adsl.iaf.nl [80.89.238.138]) by mx1.psconsult.nl (8.14.4/8.14.4) with ESMTP id p2SHTlEm045476 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NO) for ; Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:29:53 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from paul@psconsult.nl) Received: (from paul@localhost) by mx1.psconsult.nl (8.14.4/8.14.4/Submit) id p2SHTlZH045475 for freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org; Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:29:47 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from paul@psconsult.nl) X-Authentication-Warning: mx1.psconsult.nl: paul set sender to paul@psconsult.nl using -f Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:29:47 +0200 From: Paul Schenkeveld To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20110328172947.GA45413@psconsult.nl> References: <20110327131643.GA36085@psconsult.nl> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.21 (2010-09-15) Subject: Re: looking for gigabit network appliances X-BeenThere: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion of FreeBSD hardware List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:29:54 -0000 On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 10:04:11AM -0400, Maxim Khitrov wrote: > On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 9:16 AM, Paul Schenkeveld 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