Messages

Hardware : Minisforum MS-A2, bare metal install.

Problem : After adding ANY plugin the system hangs on framebuffer.

This started happening after an update a few versions back (I don't recall which).
Since then I can only run a stable install if NOTHING gets added.
I tried to install something first, before config. Nope.
Configuring a working system, then installing an extra. Nope.
Tried dvd and vga images.

It also does not seem to matter what I install.
ANY of the, even official plugins is enough to cause this.
I have found a wild variety of similar posts on the internet some older then others but none that really seem to fix it.

So this is my last stop before I order a ubiquiti that just works.

Edit : Had to compress image.
Update : a bios update (with seemingly no changes of relevance) seems to have fixed it.

I went with minisforum but, the one I have does draw 100TDP (I have metered it) whilst far from max load.
I will play with the settings.

Prices for barebones, compareable setup. (2x2.5 instead of 4 for the 355)

Model                   #	Single core benchmark #	TDP #	Price #
355	2215	15	239.98€
i5-1335u	3302	15	502.5
155h	3446	28	830.7
minisforum ms-a2	4378	100	884

Minisforum a2 is a beast though.
There is a setting to limit TDP on the minisforum.

@pfry No, i don't have temp constraints. The hardware is spread out.

@Seismus thanks for pointing out, it indeed seems to be for the higher tiers and and thus not affordable.
Are there good alternatives to Zenarmor?
Or are there better solutions offering this kind of configuration.
A dream machine pro max also has 5G with ids. And thats not even per core it seems on first glance.

Would you suggest the i5 1335u (1334u was a typo).
They also have a H155 (6P+8E+2le cores).

Yes the prices are insane. Everything is. Ram is becoming super expensive.

Or should I dedicate my minisforum ms-a2 to it? Then I need a second one. But thats an energy sucker.

Or otherwise put, knowing what I am looking for, what would you advice? (Does not has to be on this list.)

That would be big news so I asume they don't.
But lets anticipate they eventually might do so.

I do want that IDS/IPS.

CWWK also has these other boards.
Based on a i5 1335u wich should run at 15W.
And a i7 155h at 28W. I find this a bit much but "maybe ok" it also has a 4x sfp+/4x 2.5G.

Pricewise that 155h starts to move up to that of a minisforum a2 but the latter draws 100W.

 

[2]

Soon we will make the swith to a 8,5G fiber connection.
The main switch is a Mikrotik 10G
Behind it are 2 more 1G switches.
Connected to the network that are :
2 servers (10G), 8 workstations (Mix of 10G, 2.5G, 1G), 6 mobile devices, 16 iot devices (1G,100M).
Split in 3 vlans.

I am now looking to run opnsense with zenarmor on a baremetal (I ran it on my PE homeserver but thats 100W) to sit between the modem and the main switch.
The main purpose is ofcourse FW/IDS.
But if its "capable" of having more bells and whistles then thats just better.

I have been browseing around and keep coming across these N150/N355 devices.
Most of these devices(CWWK/MNBOXCONET..) have 2x sfp+ and 2x2.5G connections.
But I also came across ROUAFWIT which seems to have 2x2SFP+ and 4x2.5G. I have seen these boxes with other hardware aswell.

I have listed these with 32Gb ram + 1T ssd:
N150 (+-450€)
N355 (+-560€)
N355 (+-704€) <- the one with 4x2.5G instead of 2x.
i5 1334U (850€) 4x2.5G, 20pci lanes vs 9.

Ofcourse I now have a few questions.

1. Are aforementioned devices capable of functioning as desired (throughput wise etc?
2. With the 4x2.5G one I would add 2 extra ports to my cabinet and I might move the 2 switches that are connected to the main swith to this device directly. Another would temporary serve for the current modem (copper) and one for admin.
3. Any advice with does and dont's?
4. Good alternate devices that are within given budgets with similar or better punch?

Ty.