Topics

1

Hardware and Performance / Realtek 8168C

« on: August 30, 2018, 12:20:53 am »

Hello,

I got a Dell Optiplex 780 USFF (like https://www.amazon.com/Dell-OptiPlex-780-Desktop-32-Bit/dp/B00OI78CWO)  and I was planning to play around with it and put OpnSense on it.
It has an onboard Intel 82567LM nic and I was considering adding another one like this on the pcie mini card port it has on the board.
Something like: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B524102/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
The chipset on this is a Realtek 8168C.
Has anyone experienced with this pc before and/or with this nic?
I cannot find a similar nic with an Intel chipset...

Thoughts?
Thanks,
R. Rod

2

Hardware and Performance / Home Gigabit Setup - Best value hardware recommendation

« on: August 06, 2018, 03:59:53 pm »

Hello,

After moving from a consumer grade all-in-one router to a Ubiquity Edgerouter in the last year, I'm not considering exploring one of the available open source router solutions and OpnSense is in the top of my list.

I would like to find the right hardware that better balances

• Power
• Power efficiency
• Cost

While cost is always important I'm willing to stretch my budget for the right hardware if it checks the first 2 items.
Ideally I want to buy something that I can play with and use for a few years to come; so having some room to grow is important.

These are the features I'll be shooting for:

• Future: VPN Client (Maximize bandwidth on a 1Gbps link)
• Future: VPN Server
• Future: IDS
• QoS

... and these are some of my preferences

• Small form factor (mini/micro ITX?)
• Passive cooling is preferred
• Dual nic is fine (3-4 would be nice to have)
• Intel nics
• Ability to handle 1Gpbs w/o maxing-out resources (future proof)
• Power efficient (not sure about what I should be shooting for here in terms of power consumption while idling vs full load, etc).
• Processor supports AES-NI

I have been watching those Qotom boxes but I'm not sure if there is anything else worth considering, especially when it comes to putting together a build on my own.

I would really appreciate any recommendations you have based on your own experiences.

Thanks in advance!
R. Rod