Hello, I'm new here and I hope to get some advice.
I'm trying to build a mini firewall pfSense PC with unusal setup: two WiFi network cards in one box.
Let's put aside the fact that pfSense is considered very poor for wireless networking due to limited support of wireless cards.
That would be a travel VPN Gateway, so size and weight are both important.
I have a CWWK N100 fanless router box (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005838190783.html)
I installed two WiFi cards in it (one goes to M.2 A/E Key slot, another one to M.2 M Key PCIe/USB NVME with Adapter to A/E Key.
However in such configuration I cannot use SATA SSD, it's not recognized during boot.
I've managed to install OS on SD card and get a working solution. However using SD card is for OS not ideal. Also, the case is bulky and its weight is around 1.3kg.
I also have an old E3845 box (Intel Atom® E3845 4 LAN AES-NI 3G/4G Fanless Firewall Router), it's weight is around 600g and I've used it for four years without any issues. The only problem is that this box seems to have both mini pcie slots in USB mode, which is not widely supported by pfSense, so wireless cards are not recognized.
I'm looking for something small and extendable.
Ideal design would be something like this (as I only need only two LAN ports): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005996538937.html? but I'm not sure it will allow SATA + two m2 ports to work simultaneously, alsothere might not be enough space for 2.5 SSD.
The closest working option is this one: https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/openwrt-wifi-router-topton-n5105-download.44478/ . Downsides are: a bit older CPU with higher TDP, OS is installed on SD card and I'm not sure if SATA SSD would work with both m2 slot occupied.
Are there any good options available?
Thanks!
I'm trying to build a mini firewall pfSense PC with unusal setup: two WiFi network cards in one box.
Let's put aside the fact that pfSense is considered very poor for wireless networking due to limited support of wireless cards.
That would be a travel VPN Gateway, so size and weight are both important.
I have a CWWK N100 fanless router box (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005838190783.html)
I installed two WiFi cards in it (one goes to M.2 A/E Key slot, another one to M.2 M Key PCIe/USB NVME with Adapter to A/E Key.
However in such configuration I cannot use SATA SSD, it's not recognized during boot.
I've managed to install OS on SD card and get a working solution. However using SD card is for OS not ideal. Also, the case is bulky and its weight is around 1.3kg.
I also have an old E3845 box (Intel Atom® E3845 4 LAN AES-NI 3G/4G Fanless Firewall Router), it's weight is around 600g and I've used it for four years without any issues. The only problem is that this box seems to have both mini pcie slots in USB mode, which is not widely supported by pfSense, so wireless cards are not recognized.
I'm looking for something small and extendable.
Ideal design would be something like this (as I only need only two LAN ports): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005996538937.html? but I'm not sure it will allow SATA + two m2 ports to work simultaneously, alsothere might not be enough space for 2.5 SSD.
The closest working option is this one: https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/openwrt-wifi-router-topton-n5105-download.44478/ . Downsides are: a bit older CPU with higher TDP, OS is installed on SD card and I'm not sure if SATA SSD would work with both m2 slot occupied.
Are there any good options available?
Thanks!