Hi everyone,
I recently got a Firewall Mini PC with the following specs:
- CPU: Intel N150
- Ports: 2x 10G SFP+ and 3x 2.5G (i226-V)
- RAM: DDR5
- Storage: NVMe
- OS: OPNsense (latest)
I'm looking to use the 10G SFP+ ports with a 10GBASE-T RJ45 Copper module instead of fiber or DAC, since I need to connect to standard Cat6a ethernet.
I know the official OPNsense compatibility list only covers their own hardware (axgbe-based appliances), and my device uses a different SFP+ controller.
Has anyone used a 10GBASE-T RJ45 SFP+ copper transceiver on a similar Mini PC setup running OPNsense?
Specifically I'd love to know:
1. Which module did you use? (brand/model)
2. Did it work out of the box or did it require any configuration?
3. Any issues with heat since the device is fanless?
Thanks in advance!
Many of the "china boxes" use the Intel 82559 variants. Most SFP(+) modules should work in those, they use the ix driver.
It may be neccessary to disable ASPM if you experience link drops, by using hw.pci.enable_aspm=0 and dev.ix.0.fc=0 if you see packet drops. There is also hw.ix.unsupported_sfp, which can be set to 1 in order to enable some otherwise unsupported models.
The slot itself can only accommodate 1 and 10 Gbps, no NBase-T intermediate speeds. Some SFP+ modules can adapt NBase-T speeds to 10 GBps, but you cannot use GPON adapters at SGMII speeds.
That being said, 10 GbE SFP+ modules tend to get very hot, especially if you plan to use two in adjacent positions, you may need active cooling. I gave up on these in favor of DAC cables that use virtually no power at all, so I cannot recommend any specific brand or model.
IIRC, the ix in kernel tree lists specific models of hardware, much of it being Intel stuff.
I would at least try and use an item that is specifically listed (some hardware has variants, so using, as example, 85523-v may not work if 85523 is listed), and, buy from a vendor that does not have questionable supply chain. The gold rule still applies, but low cost questionable stuff means higher probability of issues creeping out.
Quote from: BrandyWine on May 07, 2026, 08:00:26 PMIIRC, the ix in kernel tree lists specific models of hardware, much of it being Intel stuff.[...]
I wouldn't expect third-party Atom-based devices to have network interfaces with a vendor-locked NVM... but you never can tell. My one actual Intel 82599 (= x520) is not, but most (but not all) of my x710s are. So as you pointed out, a recommended device is a safe bet. Before Patrick chimes in, there's always fs.com for compatibles.