From owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Mar 28 18:00:38 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 110681065761 for ; Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:00:38 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from Rick@fawo.nl) Received: from smtp-vbr11.xs4all.nl (smtp-vbr11.xs4all.nl [194.109.24.31]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9B1ED8FC26 for ; Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:00:37 +0000 (UTC) Received: from opteron.localnet (wolph.fawo.nl [83.160.125.220]) (authenticated bits=0) by smtp-vbr11.xs4all.nl (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id p2SHksEp017155 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NO); Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:46:59 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from Rick@fawo.nl) From: Rick van Hattem To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:46:47 +0200 User-Agent: KMail/1.13.5 (Linux/2.6.35-28-generic-pae; KDE/4.5.95; i686; ; ) References: <20110327131643.GA36085@psconsult.nl> <20110328172947.GA45413@psconsult.nl> In-Reply-To: <20110328172947.GA45413@psconsult.nl> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Message-Id: <201103281946.47938.Rick@fawo.nl> X-Virus-Scanned: by XS4ALL Virus Scanner Cc: Paul Schenkeveld 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 18:00:38 -0000 On Monday 28 March 2011 19:29:47 Paul Schenkeveld wrote: > On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 10:04:11AM -0400, Maxim Khitrov wrote: > > On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 9:16 AM, Paul Schenkeveld =20 wrote: > > > Hi, > > >=20 > > > 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 :( > > >=20 > > > So I am looking for for a decent network appliance platform to start > > > replacing Soekris boxes. =C2 On my wish list are: > > >=20 > > > =C2 - Can run FreeBSD >=3D 8.2 (i386 or amd64). > > > =C2 - Models with 4 to 8 (or more) network interfaces, at least 4 gig= abit > > > =C2 =C2 but all gigabit is better. =C2 Preferrably Intel em or igb c= hips. > > > =C2 - Preferrably a choice of low power CPUs (Intel Atom D510/D525?) = and > > > =C2 =C2 more powerful CPUs (Core 2/Xeon) > > > =C2 - Bootable from flash or (SATA 2,5") SSD > > > =C2 - 1U rackmount models available but preferrably also small passiv= ely > > > =C2 =C2 cooled desktop boxes. > > > =C2 - Serial console preferrable over VGA console. > > > =C2 - IPMI would be a plus but not absolutely required. > > > =C2 - Distribution channel in Europe. > > >=20 > > > Any ideas? > > >=20 > > > Thanks in advance, > > >=20 > > > Paul Schenkeveld > >=20 > > 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. > >=20 > > In the end, I decided to build my own system, which would meet most of > > your requirements. The components are listed below: > >=20 > > 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 > >=20 > > The final price for all components was ~$680. >=20 > 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! Perhaps a device like that in combination with a managed switch can be an=20 option? Assuming that you don't expect to fill all gbit ports simultaneousl= y=20 ofcourse. Just trunk a few connections with LACP and use 802.11Q to give every switch= =20 connection a separate interface on the box and you've got a system that eas= ily=20 supports 24 gigabit ports. You can use a Procurve 1810G-8 which is only ~$80 in addition to just about= =20 any machine with one (or a couple) of gigabit ports. Rick van Hattem