Kitz Forum

Broadband Related => Broadband Hardware => Topic started by: hushcoden on February 23, 2022, 11:27:51 AM

Title: New router for OPNsense
Post by: hushcoden on February 23, 2022, 11:27:51 AM
While searching for a new x86 router for OPNsense, I saw on the AliExpress website quite a few interesting offers: has anyone ever bought from there and can share any positive experience?

Tia.
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: skyeci on February 23, 2022, 11:43:33 AM
Have used qotoms for 3 years. i5's and i7's. Not had any issues hardware wise. Have 4 in operation  all good and purchased from qotom via aliexpress.
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: hushcoden on February 23, 2022, 12:12:55 PM
Thanks, and did you have to pay any additional custom/import taxes ?
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: skyeci on February 23, 2022, 01:10:21 PM
I did once but the other times the seller covered it as a promotion....ping them a message through aliexpress
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: Alex Atkin UK on February 23, 2022, 04:36:19 PM
I've bought both of mine from Amazon (seller never said they were Qotom devices but they clearly are, link is in my signature), but that might be more expensive.
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: hushcoden on February 23, 2022, 06:38:58 PM
And should I bother to go for the one with 2.5Gb Ethernet ports? I read that OPNsense support for the i225 is not mature yet...  :(
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: Alex Atkin UK on February 23, 2022, 06:53:35 PM
Depends on how future proof you want it to be.

The model I have is supposed to be able to do OpenVPN up to around Gigabit I believe, I will be testing it out on Gigabit FTTP balanced with 500Mbit 5G using two Gigabit ports bonded to the switch (which likely wont consistently let me balance the load as that's just how LAG works).

I will be keeping an eye on the 2.5Gbit support going forward. 
https://github.com/pfsense/FreeBSD-src/commit/402cb8c4ab502887dc8b8651646890b8e047dd17
https://forum.netgate.com/topic/159994/intel-ethernet-controller-i225-lm-support/141

It seems the Qotom Q1000X isn't in stock on Aliexpress at the moment, probably for the best as I'd be tempted.
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: hushcoden on February 23, 2022, 09:40:41 PM
And for what I understood, the i225-LM is a 'better' model than the i225-V - and the former seems already working with both OPNsense and pfSense.

As for the new router, I will probably stick with 1 Gbe port (I may still find some device with i210).
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: Chrysalis on February 24, 2022, 04:17:00 PM
I would research the cpu spec and try to prioritise single core performance, the reason been pppoe which is really common in the UK I think is still single core bound on opnsense.  Which could be a problem on the top FTTP packages. (welcome to be corrected if its fixed).
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: hushcoden on May 29, 2022, 12:58:34 PM
Update:-
Eventually I got my new appliance with 2.5 Gb/s LAN ports and likely it works flawlessly with OPNsense !

I'm using an mSATA SSD and there is also a mini PCIE slot, see picture, so my question: since I  have a second identical mSATA SSD, I should be able to use it by installing an adapter like this one, is that right?
Code: [Select]
https://www.amazon.co.uk/JMT-3x5cm-mSATA-Adapter-Converter/dp/B0817PW5DN/ref=sr_1_69?crid=257JK1PY06R2G&keywords=mini+PCIE+to+msata&sprefix=mini+pcie+to+msata%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-69
or
Code: [Select]
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bewinner1-Adapter-3x5cm-Converter-Laptop-default/dp/B086TT6PYC/ref=sr_1_8?crid=257JK1PY06R2G&keywords=mini+PCIE+to+msata&sprefix=mini+pcie+to+msata%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-8
My concern is that both those adapters description mention Asus laptops ??
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: Alex Atkin UK on May 29, 2022, 05:22:02 PM
Pretty sure only one slot is SATA enabled, the other will be PCIe only.

There are mSATA to 2.5" SATA caddies though.
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: hushcoden on May 29, 2022, 05:33:12 PM
Pretty sure only one slot is SATA enabled, the other will be PCIe only.
Are you saying I can't use at the same time both mSATA and mini PCIE slot ?
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: Alex Atkin UK on May 29, 2022, 07:00:36 PM
Are you saying I can't use at the same time both mSATA and mini PCIE slot ?

You said a second identical SSD which made me think you wanted to use two, usually those units one slot has PCIe & SATA, the other has PCIe & USB (for WiFi cards).
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: hushcoden on May 29, 2022, 07:42:55 PM
Yes, I'd like to use two SSDs, one in the mSATA slot (already in use) and a second one in the mini PCIE slot, do you think it's feasible ?
Title: Re: New router for OPNsense
Post by: Alex Atkin UK on May 30, 2022, 07:37:13 AM
Yes, I'd like to use two SSDs, one in the mSATA slot (already in use) and a second one in the mini PCIE slot, do you think it's feasible ?

No, it only has two SATA ports - the mSATA slot and the one for a 2.5".