Need Help Finding a Dual or Quad Ethernet NIC for Pfsense / OPNSense

MKBHD on 25/06/2023 - 16:35

I am finding a tough time finding one whi h is relatively new and cheap.

After combing through various forum pages the general consensus is to buy an Intel based fairly newer card eg. i340-T4 or i340-T5 - 1000Mbps is fine for me

This used 4 port HP one from ebay was manufactured in 2014 and it is still $90
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/294735057273?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mk…

Cheapest no-brand 2 port in Amazon US is still $65 (and based on old Intel 82571EB chip?)
https://amzn.asia/d/8w4EDkZ

Ebay and AliExpress seem to be filled with fake ones too making me very confusing.

Any help finding or direct links would be grately appreciated, thanks.

Computing NIC

Comments

  • JimmyF on 25/06/2023 - 17:15

    This used 4 port HP one from ebay was manufactured in 2014 and it is still $90

    Manufactured or designed in 2014? This is a server based card, they don't change the design every few months like consumer based stuff. They make a model and they pump it out for years as that is what businesses want.

    Either way, if the card works the card works.

    • MKBHD on 25/06/2023 - 17:29

      It was manufactured in 2014 sadly.

      • JimmyF on 25/06/2023 - 18:55

        Its server hardware, I don't really see this being an issue.

        In my line of work, I've seen like 1 or 2 failed NICs when dealing with server hardware. These things are just robust and work until the end of time!

        So I think you're over thinking it. If it meets the requirements/budget buy it.

  • jizmo on 25/06/2023 - 17:39
    +2

    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004594717842.html?spm=a2…

    N5105 with 16G ram and 512Hdd more than enough to push Opn/Pf

    You'd be better off getting a dual 2.5G PCI NIC and using that in the PC with Proxmox and Truenas running LAGG

    • nuker on 25/06/2023 - 17:46

      Switch should also support lagg?

      • jizmo on 25/06/2023 - 18:15

        PF Opn both support it. Unmanaged switch will do anything that's configured from the machine.

        If you setup on a PC with a PCI NIC how do you know it's going to find it on install. Something you'd want to check first, and an expensive power hungry way to run a router unless it's a test rig.

        • MKBHD on 25/06/2023 - 18:47

          I already have a Dell Optiplex mini PC with 9th gen CPU running 24/7 for HA on Proxmox, I was thinking of saving on a separate hardware for pF Opn to use the same. I have a midspec Asus router already as a backup if the Optiplex pF setup fails but definitely wanting use pF or Opn going forward as a primary.

          • jizmo on 25/06/2023 - 19:06

            @MKBHD: you can back up both on prox and Opn.
            I've only been using Opn for about 2 -3 months after buying the Asus RT-AX89 and finding out what a bucket of crap it is, never learned so much in 3-4 weekends, and not realizing how vulnerable I was in some things like DDNS.

            Just run it on Proxmox add some virtual NICS to give you a feel, you can run it off Proxmox AFAIK.
            Probably just run the LAN to the Optiplex add virtual nics to a VM and they would work I'd guess.

            • MKBHD on 25/06/2023 - 19:12

              @jizmo: Good job man. Definitely what I want to do, just cannot find a cheap, relatively new intel based 4 port NIC for thr Optiplex hence the post.

            • MKBHD on 26/06/2023 - 07:25

              @jizmo: Actually on another thought, if a decent brand new NIC costs over $200, I'd rather get this as it's similar cost anyway.

              • Shootinputin89 on 20/09/2023 - 19:00

                @MKBHD: Why do you care about new NIC? Many of us server users are rolling with 10GB Mallonex Connect-X3 SFP+ NICs manufactured years ago, but available cheap, and putting out 10GB networking with no effort. Server grade networking hardware doesn't need to be new.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join