miniPC for pfSense

[Octopuss]

I'm looking for a small fanless low power box to run pfSense off.
I don't have any special needs and am connected through 200/100Mbit wifi. The only out of the ordinary thing is a torrent seedbox.
I guess it doesn't matter from technical point of view, but since I'm buying a new thing, I'd prefer something that doesn't have a CPU from a decade ago.
Whatever I'll buy has to be available in the EU, or it has to be proven unit from Aliexpress.
I only need two RJ45 ports, but it seems like dual port devices are really basic and low performance. I don't have any plans for doing weird stuff with the network, but some headroom is nice to have.
My limit is €300.
Right now I'm going through Protectli's offerings.
Any tips are welcome.

I don't mind buying second hand stuff if the specs and price are right.
Thanks.

 

[T_Minus]

I have a Protectli device I purchased in 2016. It's been running pfsense since 2016 24\7 non-stop, and been run through dozens of power outages\surges, as well as on generator power for 100hs of hours... 0 issues. BUT, I run it through a battery backup unit the entire time too.

I paid around $280 USD for it ready to go, pricing looks similar on amazon but newer, and 2.5Gig !!

 

[louie1961]

I recently purchased one of these units from Amazon here in the US. You can likely find it cheaper on Aliexpress or elsewhere. CWWK and others make similar units. I really love it. The N100 processor is a beast for this application, while only being 6 watts

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZJB9KX5?r=undefined&th=1

 

[louie1961]

By the way, you really don't need much more than 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage in order to run pfSense, especially given the way you described your environment. You may be able to save money by buying a "barebones" unit (i.e., without memory and storage) and purchasing the memory and storage elsewhere.

 

[Mike9474593]

CWWK X86-P5 might be an option for a 2 port unit. But the case is quite small it can get hot. I somehow won the silicon lottery, mine is quite cool under no load. But still, after 30min full load the case gets quite hot but the unit is still very stable. Others did have less luck. Check the n100 thread for more info.
I'm running it as a linux thinkering box. If you buy it, get it as a barebone and buy your own RAM (using crucial DDR5 here) and a low power SSD.

 

[Octopuss]

By the way, you really don't need much more than 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage in order to run pfSense, especially given the way you described your environment. You may be able to save money by buying a "barebones" unit (i.e., without memory and storage) and purchasing the memory and storage elsewhere.

That's exactly what I want to do!
Most of these boxes come with builtin flash storage already, and pfSense doesn't need much to begin with. I might just buy the smallest SSD I can find to redirect logs there or something.

 

[Octopuss]

CWWK X86-P5 might be an option for a 2 port unit. But the case is quite small it can get hot. I somehow won the silicon lottery, mine is quite cool under no load. But still, after 30min full load the case gets quite hot but the unit is still very stable. Others did have less luck. Check the n100 thread for more info.
I'm running it as a linux thinkering box. If you buy it, get it as a barebone and buy your own RAM (using crucial DDR5 here) and a low power SSD.

Which thread? There are several.

 

[Mike9474593]

Which thread? There are several.

This. Search inside for X86-P5, we discussed a few points about this device.

 

[Octopuss]

Ok, I have plenty to read.
But I checked Aliexpress and the price is just abnormally good. What's the catch?

 

[louie1961]

If you go fanless, get the 4 port box. You will want the extra cooling the larger case provides. I would also consider a 2 port NUC style box, especially if it has a fan.

 

[Octopuss]

No fans allowed in here, lol. The box will sit inside a rack though....

 

[louie1961]

Some of these fan cooled boxes are dead silent. For the money, something like this would serve you very well if you don't need 2.5gbe networking. Its only $129 in the US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2HLRV41?t=undefined&th=1

 

[Octopuss]

I don't know. The box will run 24/7, and a fan eventually goes bad. Also everyone's perception of silence is different

 

[Octopuss]

so I should grab something like this?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006285945928.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.31.4477TVw8TVw8Z5&algo_pvid=5ff956e6-3e7f-49a5-874e-27fd82cdbb8e&algo_exp_id=5ff956e6-3e7f-49a5-874e-27fd82cdbb8e-17&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21CZK%215971.42%214179.97%21%21%21255.13%21178.59%21%402103847817069094098185365efa06%2112000036612334194%21sea%21CZ%212846554367%21&curPageLogUid=GvylsX7oGnMI&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

 

[louie1961]

That looks similar to the one I have, but not exactly the same. I'd probably say its OK

 

[Octopuss]

There seems to be several case variations and I can't really tell if there are any other differences, Aliexpress being what it is

 

[louie1961]

look at the pics of the boards, and make sure it has the connections and sockets you want. M.2 and the like. Mine has DDR5 memory if that is important to you.

 

[Octopuss]

I am so bad at choosing from multiple products, lol.
But at least I know I want anything with N100. Sure I could be happy with anything with the old Celerons, but the bang for the buck on N100 systems is just huge.