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Zenit_IIfx
The system is the solution
Premium Member
join:2012-05-07
Purcellville, VA
·Comcast XFINITY

3 recommendations

Zenit_IIfx

Premium Member

Finally...PFSense is online



Finally decided to go ahead and get PFSense going for my router/firewall - the snow gave me free time to set it all up.

Hardware:
NCS Gemini CK3-A325 minitower PC
2.2ghz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500
Asus P5GZ-MX motherboard with Marvell Gigabit LAN
Intel Pro1000 PT Single Port PCI-E NIC
1gb DDR2-667 RAM (1 stick)
SeaSonic 350w 80 Plus PSU
Chenbro Case

So, I got the hardware cheap from government surplus ($5) + the HDD from eBay ($10). Turns out the P5GZ-MX motherboard has some design flaws. Component quality is fine - Japanese caps, nice layout. The problem is in the PCI-E implementation - the x16 slot is actually an x4 slot and you must disable internal video to use it. You also must use a GPU in that slot...so no Intel dual port PCI-E NIC's can be used.

Of course you still have the option of the 1 onboard Marvell PCI-E NIC + a Intel PT1000 in the 1x slot, this is supported.

There is always the 2 remaining plain PCI slots, but I am unsure as to the throughput capacity here. I ordered a 2 port Intel PCI GigE NIC off of ebay from Hong Kong so we will see...

So, aside from the PCI-e limitation the hardware is really nice. The case is super solid and the fans are whisper quiet. It runs cool (duh, 2.2ghz Core 2 Duo is not exactly a heat generator).

As for PFSense the experience has been pretty good. Its a little iffy with Comcast IPv6 and it takes a dance of resetting the modem and PFSense box to get an address picked up. You also have to disabled Bogon network blocking as the current version of PFSense (2.2) has a bug with the order of default rules which blocks Comcast's IPv6 DHCP system if you block Bogon networks on the WAN....

Performance is excellent and has reduced my ping time very slightly when compared with the Asus RT-N66U. The addition of a real IPS system and the ability to block wide blocks of IP addresses based on location is a huge plus.

The 2.2ghz Core 2 Duo is barely stressed with a 105mbps connection, even with Snort running. Average load is 3%!
Kiwi88
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Bryant, AR

2 recommendations

Kiwi88

Premium Member

Constitution and corporations

I'm often left wondering how many Americans understand the Constitution and the associated amendments, I know it's really too late and has been since the very early 1990's. However, it seems the old concept of removing the cancer has been replaced by constant talk, which it seems is the new American paradigm; talk a lot complain and expect somebody else to do something.

It's like the dislike for broadband ISP's -Bitch and complain and think talk will change a thing, the corporate animal is NOT human, it's a money machine and the game continues to play out with Americans as the pawns.

Inept and the over privileged pandemic of nepotism and chronisim is and will be the order of the day, for now and the foreseeable future.

Many middle class citizens are leaving, the very bread and butter of support for the Country. Given that the tax load for the rich has dropped sufficiently that they no longer have an impact on American finances, just their own pocket. We have moved from a Democratic Republic, based on Capitalism to a heavy handed extortion of this Countries future. I doubt there is any future left for the next generation as this one has squandered principals and ethics in order to line their own pockets. The original signers of the Constitution would roll awkwardly in their graves in how this Country has neglected it's duties.

Just a sad reflection, wondering how many others might realize how things have changed and not for the best interests of the Country. It's hard to find anybody that does not realize Politicians are essentially legalized criminals, many go before courts and save their benefits while real Americans suffer the consequence of those representatives.