Fitlet2 J3455 alternative?

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Greetings!
I'm a long time Sophos user looking for both a new appliance to replace my failing one, and strongly considering OPNsense for my next firewall project.

I've been looking for awhile now for what to buy, and cannot seem to find anything readily available that is comparable to the the fitlet2 with the J3455 CPU.  I'm set on an Intel NIC, the prior appliance I had used Realtek, and those have failed...so Realtek is out.

My requirements are a small form factor fanless mini-PC (as it will sit in the living room with my other equipment), dual Intel NICs (I only need 2 as I have an AP with 8 ports that will attach to it), and capable of handling a gigabit fiber connection.  Right now I have 300Mbps service, but can foresee upgrading to full gigabit in couple years, and I'd like to get something that could handle that kind of load.  Family of 5 with multiple phones, FireTV and about 3 computers.  My prior Zotac with the N3150 quad core was never really taxed or impacted throughput, unless I turned on IPS.  The J3455 seems to be the best value cpu that could handle this, maybe even IPS...and the fitlet2 seems to be the best option. I'm just not willing to have it shipped from Israel as Amazon is now out of stock.  I'd like to keep it under $250 for everything if possible.  I have a spare 4Gb DDR3L 1600, so really would just need an SSD I'm thinking.

Would appreciate any recommendations.
Thanks.

[MrB]

Qotom has many (affordable) devices to choose from, so I'd look at those. Many (if not all) of the dual NIC devices are however with Realtek chips, but afaik the 4 port models use Intel NICs. 

Not sure what features you need, but if AES-NI is one of them, be sure to check which cpu they ship with. Many of the basic models come with J1800/J1900 cpus which don't support AES-NI. When in doubt check https://ark.intel.com/

Available through Aliexpress, Ebay, Amazon

[strike]

Thanks for the reply.

I have looked at the Qotom devices, and I guess they are probably the closest competitor. I know there are a lot of varied opinions on this, but I like that the Fitlet2 is not from China.  I'll take a closer look at them again. I just haven't been able to find the right configuration with Qotom/ProtectLI.

Is there a CPU that is pretty close to the J3455? I would like a newer quad core with AES support. What I'm looking for is something that will realistically last 5+ years. I'm not keen on starting off with a 5+ year old CPU.

Perhaps the J3160?
Perhaps the ProtectLI FW4B barebone... (I think you're right, all 2 port Qotoms I have found use Realtek, which is a non-starter)

[marjohn56]

Thanks for the reply.

I have looked at the Qotom devices, and I guess they are probably the closest competitor. I know there are a lot of varied opinions on this, but I like that the Fitlet2 is not from China.  I'll take a closer look at them again. I just haven't been able to find the right configuration with Qotom/ProtectLI.

Is there a CPU that is pretty close to the J3455? I would like a newer quad core with AES support. What I'm looking for is something that will realistically last 5+ years. I'm not keen on starting off with a 5+ year old CPU.

Perhaps the J3160?
Perhaps the ProtectLI FW4B barebone... (I think you're right, all 2 port Qotoms I have found use Realtek, which is a non-starter)

Which is this one...


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fanless-Mini-PC-Support-AES-NI-Firewall-PFsense-Intel-Celeron-J3060-J3160-with-4-LAN-1/32894863848.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.132.76db720abv2Wjg&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_317_10548_10696_10192_10190_453_10084_454_10083_10618_10307_10820_10301_10821_10303_537_536_10059_10884_10887_100031_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_51,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=55688016-e7ae-440b-849c-bf1cc942be54-21&algo_pvid=55688016-e7ae-440b-849c-bf1cc942be54


it's made in China, as are iPhones, most PC motherboards most of everything else these days.


It's a lot cheaper on AliExpress too!

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Thanks! That looks like what I'm looking for.

Yeah, I know about China...just state of things now. Is what it is.

EDIT: looking at the specs of that further, it says it has Realtek NICs.
"4*Realtek 8111E Lan,support wake on lan " down in the Product Specifications.

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FYI: found the Intel NIC one on Aliexpress...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Minisys-4-Gigabit-Intel-Lan-J3160-CPU-Pocket-Mini-Computer-Support-Pfsense-OpenVPN-AES-NI-Barebone/32893735378.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.9.749546b3OAkkCl&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10065_10130_10068_10890_10547_319_10546_317_10548_10545_10696_453_10084_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10059_10884_10887_100031_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_51,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=2d20b77b-0397-49dd-8199-b14a5f287f9b-1&algo_pvid=2d20b77b-0397-49dd-8199-b14a5f287f9b

But it's actually more expensive there then on ebay, and $20 less then ProtectLI.
Either way, confirms my suspicions regarding what is available in comparison to the Fitlet2. I'll see if I can find the Fitlet2 somewhere else, or pull the trigger on the Qotom from one of those places.

[MrB]

Not Celeron J, but older Core i3/5 models seems to be reasonably priced:

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/QOTOM-Mini-PC-with-Core-i3-i5-processor-and-4-Gigabit-NICs-AES-NI-RS232-Fanless/108231_32864883139.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/QOTOM-Fanless-Mini-industrial-PC-with-Core-i5-4200Y-Processor-Dual-core-up-to-1-9/108231_32872407193.html

Those are of course more power hungry, but then again probably quite a bit faster.

[strike]

Your not making this any easier!

When I figure in the RAM and SSD in either situation, it really seems to all come out somewhere between $225 - $250 no matter the Fitlet2 or one of these Qotoms, unless I go cheap and do away with my Zotac. The wifi works on it pretty good on it still, so it is still functional as a Linux desktop...so I'll likely keep the RAM/SSD in it and buy new for the new firewall.

I guess my last question, is somethign like that I3 5005U really going to wipe the flloor with the J3455. Looks comparable in cpu boss, only single core AES it really outshines the Celerons. 

[MrB]

Happy to help 

Anyway, the only use case where I'd consider the 5005U is for better OpenVPN performance, for everything else the J3455 IMHO. Although I might be a bit partial on that one since that's what I'm running

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I do appreciate the insight!  I always over-analyze such types of purchases...

What out of curiousity is your setup if you don't mind me asking?

I've priced everything and it's a $25.00 difference, between the I3-5005U Qotom barebone + a Sandisk 2.5" 120Gb SSD purchased separetly VS the Fitlet2 J3455 barebone from fitpc.com with an on-sale at Newegg 120Gb M.2 2242 SSD purchased separately.  I have 8Gb Crucial DDR3 which I'm going to pull one of the 4Gb sticks and use in either.  I never saw my prior Sophos UTM come close to even using half of it, so figure 4Gb is plenty.  I'm going to start with OPNsense and give it a go!

So basically equivalent systems...coming down to just preference of one vs the other at purchase time likely.

[marjohn56]

Thanks! That looks like what I'm looking for.

Yeah, I know about China...just state of things now. Is what it is.

EDIT: looking at the specs of that further, it says it has Realtek NICs.
"4*Realtek 8111E Lan,support wake on lan " down in the Product Specifications.

That's why I have two Qotom's, one live and one for development when I get time.


 Nivek1612 has at least three at the last count, probably four by now. Lot's of Qotom i3,i5 & i7s running Opnsense.

[MrB]

What out of curiousity is your setup if you don't mind me asking?

It's a home built system based on a Gigabyte GA-J3455N mobo. Initially got it to build a new NAS since the board has 4 SATA ports, but when I got it home and noticed it had 2 LAN ports it became a firewall instead. It will probably get repurposed for its original use at some point and I'll get something else for firewall duty, that's why I've been looking at the Qotoms. As far as cost goes it was ~$200 all in all (board, itx-case w/ 60W PSU, 4GB RAM, 32GB SSD), so pretty much on par with similar ready built systems.

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If either of you have purchased off Aliexpress before, when it arrives do yo have to pay DHL Duty fees? Are they minimal?

The Buyer will be charged import Customs fees (Duty, VAT and others) when the parcel arrives

Was thinking the Qotom with the i3 was my decision (price of 2.5" which Qotom supports vs m.2 SSD with Fitlet2 requires primarily the reason), but just caught this.
But, since the one I'm looking at is $177 barebone, looks like I might be exempt from any fees.

?

[MrB]

It depends on which countries you're importing from/to, best check with local authorities. Here in Finland the tax free limit for outside EU purchases is only 22 euros, but then again only 1/5 parcels I've ordered from Aliexpress has ever got stuck in Customs. But when they do, it could get expensive, eg. for clothes the import duty is 12% and on top that 24% VAT (calculated on total cost incl. shipping & duty)

[strike]

Hmm...not willing to take that gamble right now, and never having ordered something like this from China directly, still a bit hesitant.  I still feel like goods manufactured there to be shipped to and resold by US company probably go through a more thorough QA process.  I've at least been told this more than one time by people that would know...

Right or wrong...think I'm going with either the fitlet2 or the ProtectLI FW4B.
FW4B is $30 more and the Fitlet2 has the higher end J3455.
So probably the Fitlet2.

Thanks for all the insight!