Get beast router VS Get low-end computer

[Trollzarz]

Should I get a beast router or spend a bit more on a low-end computer for a router?

[Hirad123]

old pc+bunch of NIC's+PF sense=Beast router

[Trollzarz]

old pc+bunch of NIC's+PF sense=Beast router

okthx

[LAwLz]

Get a good consumer router. I don't understand why people love pfsense so much. Personally I think an old computer with pfsense is worse than a high end consumer grade router.

[rufee]

Get a good consumer router. I don't understand why people love pfsense so much. Personally I think an old computer with pfsense is worse than a high end consumer grade router.

As in pure routing power no. Less power consumed - yes, Smaller - yes, Easier to set up - yes. Just not powerful.

[LAwLz]

As in pure routing power no. Less power consumed - yes, Smaller - yes, Easier to set up - yes. Just not powerful.

Powerful in what way? A good consumer router will have more than enough throughput to be bottlenecked by for example your HDD and it will have pretty much any feature I can think of that you could need in your home network.

[Ssoele]

Powerful in what way? A good consumer router will have more than enough throughput to be bottlenecked by for example your HDD and it will have pretty much any feature I can think of that you could need in your home network.

 

Some users need a lot more advanced features than even DD-WRT offers.

 

Most consumer routers also can't really handle more than 20 clients at a time.

[LAwLz]

Some users need a lot more advanced features than even DD-WRT offers.

For example? Talking about a home network here, and something OP might need.

[Denned]

For permanent home use, get a good router. Using a pc for router is a fun project for the weekend, unless you actually need the configurability.. atleast in my opinion. And even then I'd most likely go for something like a Cisco 3560cg.

[LAwLz]

For permanent home use, get a good router. Using a pc for router is a fun project for the weekend, unless you actually need the configurability.. atleast in my opinion. And even then I'd most likely go for something like a Cisco 3560cg.

I agree. It's a fun project if you're bored over the weekend, but for 99.9% of people it is better to either get a good consumer grade router or a real enterprise grade router like the Catalyst series.

[looney]

LAwLz, on 12 Aug 2013 - 02:11 AM, said:

I agree. It's a fun project if you're bored over the weekend, but for 99.9% of people it is better to either get a good consumer grade router or a real enterprise grade router like the Catalyst series.

Strictly speaking catalyst series are just switches with some added router capability's and not enterprise grade either.

But I do agree, I need the added functionality of pfsense (currently on DD-WRT which is a pain) but then again I do use roughly 30TB bandwidth every month...., so for most people DD-WRT should be fine.

[LAwLz]

Strictly speaking catalyst series are just switches with some added router capability's and not enterprise grade either.

Oh right, Catalyst is Cisco's switch series. Their routers just have numbers in their name, like the 2811.

 

 

But I do agree, I need the added functionality of pfsense (currently on DD-WRT which is a pain) but then again I do use roughly 30TB bandwidth every month...., so for most people DD-WRT should be fine.

I think even the stock firmware is more than enough for most people. For example on my N56U I don't see any reason to change the firmware since it does everything I need it to, plus a bit more.

[Atomicnerd64]

old pc+bunch of NIC's+PF sense=Beast router

Which one(s) should I buy?

-TP-LINK TF-3200 6€

-TP-LINK TG-3269 8€

-TP-LINK TG-3468 10€

-D-Link DGE-528T 13€

-HP NC112T 26€

-Intel PRO/1000 GT LP 28€

-Intel PRO/1000 GT 29€

[rufee]

Intel pro all the way, though i use 2 DGE-528T's and had no problems with it if you want to cheap out a bit.

[ejm_110]

Get a good consumer router. I don't understand why people love pfsense so much. Personally I think an old computer with pfsense is worse than a high end consumer grade router.

 

Internet Cafe/Computer Rental shops are prevalent in Philippines, owners love pfsense because it allows them to have 2 separate WAN connection/ISP connection and dedicate one for online gaming, another one for surfing. Configured also as fail-over if one ISP fucks up. All in just one pc-router running pfsense.

[LAwLz]

Internet Cafe/Computer Rental shops are prevalent in Philippines, owners love pfsense because it allows them to have 2 separate WAN connection/ISP connection and dedicate one for online gaming, another one for surfing. Configured also as fail-over if one ISP fucks up. All in just one pc-router running pfsense.

Yes and that's possible with enterprise grade equipment as well. Still, we're not talking about a business here, we're talking about someone at home, with his home connection.

 

Still waiting for a reason why everyone on here creams themselves over pfsense.

[ejm_110]

Yes and that's possible with enterprise grade equipment as well. Still, we're not talking about a business here, we're talking about someone at home, with his home connection.

 

Still waiting for a reason why everyone on here creams themselves over pfsense.

 

It can be done on small scale business without buying an expensive enterprise grade equipment because of pfsense.

 

If I have an old pc lying around, old but good enough, a core2duo, core2quad, 1st gen core i3 and install it with pfsense now I have a router with lots of functionality I can use whenever I need it. Saved money and reduced the garbage. After some time, need Gbit, I will just add Gbit NIC now I have Gbit router without buying a new one.

 

Pfsense is not for everyone.

[LAwLz]

It can be done on small scale business without buying an expensive enterprise grade equipment because of pfsense.

That also comes at the expensive of lack of support, no warranty and so on. Even for a small business, it's fairly rare that pfsense is a good option to use.

 

 

If I have an old pc lying around, old but good enough, a core2duo, core2quad, 1st gen core i3 and install it with pfsense now I have a router with lots of functionality I can use whenever I need it. Saved money and reduced the garbage. After some time, need Gbit, I will just add Gbit NIC now I have Gbit router without buying a new one.

Or you could sell the parts and get a very good consumer grade router, which has lots of benefits for home usage. Or, instead of buying extra parts for the old computer (like new NICs and such) you could just spend the money on a decent consumer grade router.

 

Again, I don't understand why everyone on here recommends pfsense as soon as they get the chance. It has a ton of drawbacks, and next to no benefits, compared to a consumer router for home usage (keyword here is home usage).

[Hirad123]

Which one(s) should I buy?

-TP-LINK TF-3200 6€

-TP-LINK TG-3269 8€

-TP-LINK TG-3468 10€

-D-Link DGE-528T 13€

-HP NC112T 26€

-Intel PRO/1000 GT LP 28€

-Intel PRO/1000 GT 29€

intel NICS R da sheet

[parker955]

Intel NICs are great just make sure the chipset is compatible with FreeBSD.

[Broseephus]

Still waiting for a reason why everyone on here creams themselves over pfsense.

 

Because it's a tech forum. It doesn't matter that they don't even know what 90% of the features do. They know they have them and that makes it "better".

 

OP if you want a project and something to learn skills on, or a really configurable firewall, then by all means load up pfsense. If you're just looking for a solution that works, then buy a router.