DEC740 v2 - Pre-Sales Questions

[h3zwe]

I tried contacting sales@opnsense.com but have yet to get a reply, so am assuming they are either very busy, or not interested in answering these kinds of questions. To be fair, it's only been 1-2 days, but my current router is about to die and I am urgently looking for a replacement

I have used UI (and the occasional OpenWrt box) in the past, but am looking to make the switch to OPNsense, at least on the router side. I would like to set myself up for an 'easy' start, so am going with officially supported hardware. Plus, buying from the shop helps the project.

I have a few questions re the DEC740 v2, and was hoping somebody more knowledgeable than me is able to answer them:

• How hot does this unit get in a closed (small) closet? I live in a warm climate (30+ degrees Celsius ambient), will I need to add some kind of fan given the passive cooling?
• Will the unit be able to cope with 2Gbps Internet (not symmetrical), 2x 2.5Gbps WiFi Access Points, half a dozen VLANs, a reasonable (GeoIP) Firewall list, Zenarmor, Adguard, CrowdSec, and a Wireguard-enabled network? Or is a faster processor needed for this?
• Given this is an 'official' product, is there any significant amount of testing done before OTA releases are made available?

Would be much appreciated if someone could help me answer these, thanks!

[meyergru]

The unit does not get that hot, you can always touch it. I would say, 30°C above ambient.

The 750 would suffice for routing 2Gbps, but if you plan to use it at that speed including VPN and Zenarmor, I would opt for one of the bigger models, like the 850. The VPN speed is noted below the product pictures on Deciso's pages. The 750 is specified at 1.2 Gbps, the 850 has 2.5 Gbps.

When you use the OpnSense business edition, you will get updates a little later than with the community edition, so they should be less error-prone. Keep in mind that the business edition is only included for one free year.

[h3zwe]

Thanks! I might just go with the 740 and add more RAM. If only the VPN routing will be 'slow', this will be OK. I was more worried about the standard routing experience

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Mind that upgrades by the user are not officially supported. The devices even come with the familiar "warranty void if broken" seals. That's the single downside I have found with Deciso's offers so far.

[h3zwe]

I am planning to run this unit for at least 5-10 years, so the initial warranty period is the least of my worries.

I am also not entirely sure how enforceable those 'warranty void' stickers really are, see https://www.ifixit.com/News/74736/warranty-void-stickers-are-illegal-in-the-us-what-about-elsewhere

[passeri]

The question about heat is what you do with it. You refer to a "closed (small) cabinet". How closed is that? How insulated?

I too live in a climate where it goes well into the 30s, with my router (and a UPS) necessarily high in a cupboard in an unconditioned room. I suggest trying to log temperatures, or just the peak, if you are equipped with a suitable thermometer. You should not need a lot of air flow, but you need some, with entry and exit not on the same side.

There are very quiet, low power, and thermostatically controlled, fans available, but in a fully closed box these would only add to heat so think about where the air is getting in and out. Slits or holes can be surprisingly small if properly arranged, with only low fan speeds needed if convection does not hold a stable temperature within equipment parameters. You are not driving a big amplifier.

[h3zwe]

The closet is about 2m in height, 50cm wide and 15cm deep. There is _zero_ airflow.

My current UI Edgerouter does not have any issues with this, though I realise the CPU is not comparable to the one in the 740. I don't have exact numbers as 'Temperatures are not supported on this platform', but it's barely warm to the touch under full 1Gbps load.

Switches etc are in another room.

[passeri]

Not even any leakage around the door? Is it an old refrigerator?

While the size of the cabinet appears to allow good surface area for thermal transfer out, small silicone pads at the closure point can be used to add a couple of mm of gap non-obviously, and some cabinets have hinges which allow offset adjustment so the door can stand a couple of mm further out yet remain symmetrical to its frame.

My main message is to measure the air in the cabinet rather than studying the temperature of the router. If ambient (in-cabinet) air remains within product specification, the rest will invariably look after itself.

[h3zwe]

OK, fine, not _zero_  airflow. There is a small gap at the bottom of the cabinet

I'll see if I can measure it somehow, good call-out.