Pfsense/opnsense box with AX88U Merlin firmware

[Quoc Huynh]

Did you set a static IP, or use DHCP? If DHCP, you should find the lease IP under Services / ISC DHCPv4 / Leases.

Thank you @dave14305, I use DHCP for the LAN. I will try that when returning home.

 

[coxhaus]

Ah okay. Was just curious what kind of cpu specs you were looking for around 35 watts.

I am currently running an Intel 6100T for my Pfsense CPU for home.

 

[Spud]

Thanks all.

I tried proxmox with opnsense on my minipc and had a couple of issues with the pc freezing up. Switched to bare metal opnsense and no issue since.

I'm a bit late to read your post, but a number of Proxmox users have fixed similar issues by updating their CPU microcode.

Tteck has a microcode script under Proxmox VE Tools here:
https://tteck.github.io/Proxmox/#proxmox-ve-tools

 

[Spud]

The main hurdle is home routers with no VLAN support as APs. You may not be able to create simple isolated Guest Network. This is what I usually warn folks going x86 appliance way with ideas to reuse the home routers. To get it going it's okay, but limits the configuration options down the road. This is the reason I'm interested in 3.0.0.6 firmware and if it works properly in AP Mode to VLAN capable router. May be a good low cost option.

I have a pair of Asus EBM68s as AiMesh APs. Amazon has these for about half the list price.

The bad first... The new ExpertWiFi interface looks good but it needs more work. It can be pretty laggy and seems to hate some browsers, especially Safari.

Once set up, performance is very solid. I've added three VLAN SSIDs (EBM68s support five SSIDs). The physical ports on either unit can be assigned to any VLAN in Access or Trunking modes.

What I can't do is disable broadcast for the VLAN SSIDs. It's minor, but I hope Asus adds this at some point.

I went for these for the tri-band WiFi 6. The two units are quite small and neat. I live in a Victorian terrace, and they work well over 30-40ft with several walls in between: 1gb speed at the front and 400mbit at the back.

I have OPNsense on Proxmox, since I run various Docker containers on the same machine.

With EBM68s, if OPNsense goes belly up, then each is a router too, so I can get back into Proxmox or set them up as a mesh router system. A pair of simple APs would have cost around the same, so Asus has an edge here.

 

[jata]

I’m about one month running my minipc with opnsesne and I finally have my network working perfectly. There was something about ASUS and Apple home kit (mdns related) that was so frustrating and unsolvable. Not any more! 100% perfect all the time. The time I spent trying with my ASUS kit could have funded 50 mini pcs

I have the following all working brilliantly on opnsense:

Traffic shaping with FQ at close to gbit speed
Upnp but locked down
Ddns
Adguard + unbound
2x vlans on seperate ssids (only on my UniFi AP as I don’t really want to run scripts for the vlans on my ASUS kit)
WireGuard outbound for uk vpn linked to a vlan
WireGuard inbound for remote access
Apple kit and HomePods all playing nice
No reboots or troubleshooting.

It’s a bit boring but family happy

 

[Tech9]

I have a pair of Asus EBM68s as AiMesh APs. Amazon has these for about half the list price.

Amazon Canada - CAD800 (USD580). Thanks, but there are much better options out there for this price.

 

[Spud]

Amazon Canada - CAD800 (USD580). Thanks, but there are much better options out there for this price.

I'm in the UK. The Amazon price for two dipped to £320 (US$400), and even £280 from a third party. They're now over £400.

 

[Spud]

I’m about one month running my minipc with opnsesne and I finally have my network working perfectly. There was something about ASUS and Apple home kit (mdns related) that was so frustrating and unsolvable. Not any more! 100% perfect all the time. The time I spent trying with my ASUS kit could have funded 50 mini pcs

I have the following all working brilliantly on opnsense:

Traffic shaping with FQ at close to gbit speed
Upnp but locked down
Ddns
Adguard + unbound
2x vlans on seperate ssids (only on my UniFi AP as I don’t really want to run scripts for the vlans on my ASUS kit)
WireGuard outbound for uk vpn linked to a vlan
WireGuard inbound for remote access
Apple kit and HomePods all playing nice
No reboots or troubleshooting.

It’s a bit boring but family happy

Very similar here. So happy not to be asked if the Internet's down several times a day. I must touch some wood.