Low-power hardware for pfsense router

[Tremelune]

I've done some calcumalations, and it looks like my current router (pfsense running on a Pentium 4 system) will cost me almost $200/yr to run in power. Knowing that, I'd like to replace it with something cheap and efficient. The trickiest requirement is that it must have 2 Ethernet ports (onboard or expansion card is fine).

I found the NetGate m1n1wall:

http://store.netgate.com/Netgate-m1n1wall-2D3-2D13-Black-P216.aspx


There is also the Soekris 4501, but it has much more modest specs for similar money:

http://soekris.com/products/net4501-1/net4501.html


Another option is to get any Atom board and a small case, but when add up all the components, it starts getting closer to $300...

 

[occamsrazor]

How about a Fit-PC2I?

http://www.fit-pc.com/web/fit-pc/fit-pc2i-specifications/

I always wanted one to play around with as a router, but in the end never got one. They have some other models with 2 ethernet ports too I believe.

 

[Tremelune]

Those are sweet, but the dual-Ethernet model starts at $400 with no RAM...It'd take me years to recoup the investment, and I lack foresight.

 

[occamsrazor]

Don't know your network but curious what functionality from pfsense you need that can't be achieved with a "normal" router eg a Linksys/Asus flashed with a 3rd party firmware such as Tomato. You may well have a need for advanced functionality, am just wondering...,

 

[Tremelune]

That's a fair question, and I'm finding it harder to answer than expected. When I got my WNDR3700, I ditched my WRTG Tomato router. The WNDR3700 firmware proved less than stellar (at the time), and at some point I wound up falling into a Cisco E4200. It was taking the DD-WRT folks a while to get things set up on that machine, and it occurred to me that I didn't want to mess around with some custom firmware whenever I upgraded my router.

I probably should have kept the Tomato machine, and used the other routers in WAP mode. It's about this time when someone gave me an old computer, and I liked the thought of putting it to use, so I installed pfsense. It has been rock rock solid.

I don't need 90% of the features, but there are a couple that are rather nice (like external to internal forwarding on a different port). I like that pfsense is open, free, and constantly improved. I also like that it runs on commodity hardware. To that end, maybe I should just find one of those tiny old Dells...

I would be open to going back to custom firmware on a SOHO router, but I haven't kept up with which ones are "good", and I've lost track of the state of Tomato and DD-WRT/OpenWRT. I also wonder if it a real cheap router would be able to handle my 50mbps down connection.

 

[Tremelune]

Heh, the Dell Zino:

http://www.anandtech.com/Show/Index...t=0&page=11&slug=dell-zino-hd-410-htpc-review

These things are dirt cheap and plentiful, but an average 30W draw isn't amazing for a router. That said, when I started my search for new hardware, I thought my Pentium 4 system was averaging about 150W...After pulling a Kill A Watt on it, it's more like 65W average. Not as much gain to be had by replacing hardware as I had initially thought.

Edit: Bummer. No expansion slots on the Dell Zino.

 

[jdabbs]

I've had an Alix board (what the m1n1wall is based on) for a few years now. I can measure power draw if you want. Generally satisfied. If I replace it, it would probably be with an ASA.

Caveats:
10/100 Ports
Mini-PCI interface: If you want anything faster than 11b/g, you'll be adding a discrete AP to your network.

 

[occamsrazor]

I don't need 90% of the features, but there are a couple that are rather nice (like external to internal forwarding on a different port)

Pretty certain you can do that in Tomato....

I would be open to going back to custom firmware on a SOHO router, but I haven't kept up with which ones are "good", and I've lost track of the state of Tomato and DD-WRT/OpenWRT. I also wonder if it a real cheap router would be able to handle my 50mbps down connection.

Yes it's hard to stay on top of all the different flavors of firmware. For tomato, I would say the Shibby mod is probably the most full-featured and updated.

http://tomato.groov.pl/

This page will give you an idea of what routers are supported:

http://tomato.groov.pl/?page_id=69

As for throughput, I can't comment as am using mine with the world's most rubbish 3G connection. But you can probably find the answer somewhere here:

http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?forums/tomato-firmware.33/

Not trying to push you one way or the other, just that firmwares are so great these days it takes quite a specific need to require a full-fledged PC router...