First off, it sounds like you're making some serious moves with your network setup, and that's really cool to see. Diving into pfSense for your firewall is a smart choice. It's incredibly robust and flexible, and the parental controls are a big plus, especially with kids around. However, since you've been having internet connectivity issues, it's definitely worth considering whether the issue is with your wireless router or the firewall setup. Your plan to test different routers, like the Netgear Nighthawk and the Asus ZenWifi, is a solid strategy. Each router has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it'll be interesting to see which one gels best with your network environment. Your focus on small board computers and your use of a Banana Pi R3 and a Zimmer board is pretty intriguing. These boards offer a lot of versatility and can be great for specific applications. But remember, they might not always deliver the same level of performance as more conventional setups, especially when handling more demanding tasks or larger networks. It's all about finding the right balance for your specific needs. The Beelink Mini PCs you're incorporating sound like a great addition, especially with their powerful specs like the Intel 12th Gen M100 CPU and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. These should handle pfSense and other network tasks with ease. Regarding your power concerns, switching to a 65W power supply is a smart move for energy efficiency. Not only does it help in reducing the power bill, but it also means less heat generation, which is always a plus in any setup. Speaking of heat, you mentioned the importance of proper cooling and airflow in your video. That's absolutely crucial, especially when you start filling your rack with more equipment. Efficient cooling extends the life of your components and ensures everything runs smoothly. Finally, your interest in repurposing and recycling technology is commendable. It's a sustainable approach and often more cost-effective. Keep experimenting and optimizing your setup. Remember, networking is an ever-evolving field, so there's always something new to learn or a different approach to try. And if you ever decide to explore different firewall options or need to troubleshoot specific pfSense configurations, the community forums and documentation are invaluable resources. Keep up the great work, and looking forward to seeing how your setup evolves!
I've used pfSense now for 6 years, on a Dell Optiplex or some pc. A bit of a learning curve, easier that OpnSense. The one I was working on was one of three firewalls, 2 pfSense and the other is SW. Thanks, so far, it's been stable, I am going to compare the Zima Board to the Beelink see which one is better.
@@terrorpup That's impressive, sticking with pfSense for six years! It speaks volumes about your skill and dedication. You're right about the learning curve; it's definitely there, but once you're over that hump, pfSense becomes such a powerful tool in your arsenal. It's cool to hear you've been managing multiple firewalls too. Balancing different setups can be tricky, but it seems like you've got a solid handle on it. The comparison you're planning between the Zima Board and the Beelink is a great idea. Both have their unique strengths. The Zima Board, with its specific set of features, might offer some specialized advantages in certain scenarios, especially in a more compact or energy-efficient setup. On the other hand, the Beelink, with its robust specs, is likely to excel in handling more demanding tasks. It'll be fascinating to see how they stack up in terms of performance, stability, and overall suitability for your network needs. Since you're deep into this, have you considered documenting these comparisons in a more detailed way? It could be really helpful to others in the community who are weighing similar options. Things like power consumption, heat output, processing capabilities, and even the nuances of setup and configuration can be super valuable to share. Plus, it'd be a great way to reflect on your own findings and maybe even gain new insights from the community feedback. Also, given your extensive experience with pfSense, diving into more advanced features or custom configurations could be a thrilling next step. Exploring VPN setups, advanced traffic shaping, or even setting up a more complex network segmentation might offer you some new challenges and learning opportunities. Keep pushing the boundaries and exploring new possibilities. It's always exciting to see where your curiosity and expertise take you next!
How it's been holding so far? I'm trying to decide if getting this same unit or a fanless one with Intel N6000... And I'm concerned about the fan of this one running 24/7.
Great. No issues with over hearing. It just runs. I am so happy. Plus, with pfSense 2.7.2 coming out, I don't need to do anything crazy to both nics on the Zima Board.
Graat video. Didnt know they even existed. Another option to be aware of. QQ: I've never had to install "Backup", and have been able to do backups/restores of my config. What is the advantage of that package? Good luck and peace to you as well.
It creates a nice back up with all my stuff. I use OpenVPN, and it creates all the configs, certs, and other things. It seem to be a simple tool that works great for me.
I am, I have three vlan in my lab. I am using a Zimaboard 2GB/120GB SSD with 2.5 GB PCI Dual board card, it running pfSense 2.7, I had issues with the nics with 2.6. It works great. I wanted to try the Beelink with the Dual Link. So I can do a side by side comparison of the two, or three. I might load up pfSense on my X1 from Youyeetoo. The Beelink is now for my main vlan that my kids and IoT uses. I have an old SonicWall on my third vlan. Zimaboard is a special vlan that I am trying to only run SBC on. Again, I bought 2GB Zimabard, that replace the 8GB Zimaboard that become my LGMS_, which runs Quake2, Team Fortress2, Minecraft Java, and Minecraft Bedrock. I will point out, that the Zimaboard needs a way so you can make sure the PCI Card that you plug in, is secure. That is the only thing I don't like about.
I've been using Wi-Fi since it was originally brought out; I have yet to see wifi routers / access points that were rated by "people"; every one I've seen is rated by devices connecting to it, and by the time you accumulate 1/2 as many devices as it's rated for, the wifi ap/router tends to start "choking". I am a proponent of over-spec'ing; nowadays a typical person might have 3 to 6 devices, often wifi enabled. As my wifi device count, in the house, is above 40, I recently upgraded to a Netgear WAP, $200'ish, that supports 8 SSID's, VLAN's, and 256 devices (supposedly ) . Still, I segregate my IOT devices because those are WPA2, and ideally, I'd put them on a separate Access Point just to improve performance on the rest of the network. Hopefully terrorpup has changed his wifi routers into access points.. But I'd suggest what he's doing MAKES sense, both network-wise, and fiscally, at least to a degree from what I can observe from his video. Could it be better ? Perhaps; but his needs will be different than mine, and different than yours.
![Eminem - Fuel (feat. JID) [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/t5H_CewqpKA/mqdefault.jpg)
Monoprice Slimrun cables will help clean that up, you might even be able to see the link lights :)
First off, it sounds like you're making some serious moves with your network setup, and that's really cool to see. Diving into pfSense for your firewall is a smart choice. It's incredibly robust and flexible, and the parental controls are a big plus, especially with kids around. However, since you've been having internet connectivity issues, it's definitely worth considering whether the issue is with your wireless router or the firewall setup. Your plan to test different routers, like the Netgear Nighthawk and the Asus ZenWifi, is a solid strategy. Each router has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it'll be interesting to see which one gels best with your network environment.
Your focus on small board computers and your use of a Banana Pi R3 and a Zimmer board is pretty intriguing. These boards offer a lot of versatility and can be great for specific applications. But remember, they might not always deliver the same level of performance as more conventional setups, especially when handling more demanding tasks or larger networks. It's all about finding the right balance for your specific needs. The Beelink Mini PCs you're incorporating sound like a great addition, especially with their powerful specs like the Intel 12th Gen M100 CPU and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. These should handle pfSense and other network tasks with ease.
Regarding your power concerns, switching to a 65W power supply is a smart move for energy efficiency. Not only does it help in reducing the power bill, but it also means less heat generation, which is always a plus in any setup. Speaking of heat, you mentioned the importance of proper cooling and airflow in your video. That's absolutely crucial, especially when you start filling your rack with more equipment. Efficient cooling extends the life of your components and ensures everything runs smoothly.
Finally, your interest in repurposing and recycling technology is commendable. It's a sustainable approach and often more cost-effective. Keep experimenting and optimizing your setup. Remember, networking is an ever-evolving field, so there's always something new to learn or a different approach to try. And if you ever decide to explore different firewall options or need to troubleshoot specific pfSense configurations, the community forums and documentation are invaluable resources. Keep up the great work, and looking forward to seeing how your setup evolves!
I've used pfSense now for 6 years, on a Dell Optiplex or some pc. A bit of a learning curve, easier that OpnSense. The one I was working on was one of three firewalls, 2 pfSense and the other is SW.
Thanks, so far, it's been stable, I am going to compare the Zima Board to the Beelink see which one is better.
@@terrorpup That's impressive, sticking with pfSense for six years! It speaks volumes about your skill and dedication. You're right about the learning curve; it's definitely there, but once you're over that hump, pfSense becomes such a powerful tool in your arsenal. It's cool to hear you've been managing multiple firewalls too. Balancing different setups can be tricky, but it seems like you've got a solid handle on it.
The comparison you're planning between the Zima Board and the Beelink is a great idea. Both have their unique strengths. The Zima Board, with its specific set of features, might offer some specialized advantages in certain scenarios, especially in a more compact or energy-efficient setup. On the other hand, the Beelink, with its robust specs, is likely to excel in handling more demanding tasks. It'll be fascinating to see how they stack up in terms of performance, stability, and overall suitability for your network needs.
Since you're deep into this, have you considered documenting these comparisons in a more detailed way? It could be really helpful to others in the community who are weighing similar options. Things like power consumption, heat output, processing capabilities, and even the nuances of setup and configuration can be super valuable to share. Plus, it'd be a great way to reflect on your own findings and maybe even gain new insights from the community feedback.
Also, given your extensive experience with pfSense, diving into more advanced features or custom configurations could be a thrilling next step. Exploring VPN setups, advanced traffic shaping, or even setting up a more complex network segmentation might offer you some new challenges and learning opportunities.
Keep pushing the boundaries and exploring new possibilities. It's always exciting to see where your curiosity and expertise take you next!
How it's been holding so far? I'm trying to decide if getting this same unit or a fanless one with Intel N6000... And I'm concerned about the fan of this one running 24/7.
Great. No issues with over hearing. It just runs. I am so happy. Plus, with pfSense 2.7.2 coming out, I don't need to do anything crazy to both nics on the Zima Board.
@@terrorpup Excelent! Good to know. Maybe I'm overthinking this too much...
Graat video. Didnt know they even existed. Another option to be aware of.
QQ: I've never had to install "Backup", and have been able to do backups/restores of my config. What is the advantage of that package?
Good luck and peace to you as well.
It creates a nice back up with all my stuff. I use OpenVPN, and it creates all the configs, certs, and other things. It seem to be a simple tool that works great for me.
can it run proxmox and pfsense? or just pfsense
Yes, it can run both. It has a NVMe and SSD slot. Yes, it will work. You will just need a large SSD.
Just curious why not using zimaboard as router?
I am, I have three vlan in my lab. I am using a Zimaboard 2GB/120GB SSD with 2.5 GB PCI Dual board card, it running pfSense 2.7, I had issues with the nics with 2.6. It works great. I wanted to try the Beelink with the Dual Link. So I can do a side by side comparison of the two, or three. I might load up pfSense on my X1 from Youyeetoo. The Beelink is now for my main vlan that my kids and IoT uses. I have an old SonicWall on my third vlan. Zimaboard is a special vlan that I am trying to only run SBC on.
Again, I bought 2GB Zimabard, that replace the 8GB Zimaboard that become my LGMS_, which runs Quake2, Team Fortress2, Minecraft Java, and Minecraft Bedrock.
I will point out, that the Zimaboard needs a way so you can make sure the PCI Card that you plug in, is secure. That is the only thing I don't like about.
you are a nut with all that crap, one wifi is enough for a house hold of 10 people
Then how does one learn, that why I do what I do.
enough? yes? secure? no!
if i had money to spare id totally do something like this
I've been using Wi-Fi since it was originally brought out; I have yet to see wifi routers / access points that were rated by "people"; every one I've seen is rated by devices connecting to it, and by the time you accumulate 1/2 as many devices as it's rated for, the wifi ap/router tends to start "choking". I am a proponent of over-spec'ing; nowadays a typical person might have 3 to 6 devices, often wifi enabled. As my wifi device count, in the house, is above 40, I recently upgraded to a Netgear WAP, $200'ish, that supports 8 SSID's, VLAN's, and 256 devices (supposedly ) . Still, I segregate my IOT devices because those are WPA2, and ideally, I'd put them on a separate Access Point just to improve performance on the rest of the network. Hopefully terrorpup has changed his wifi routers into access points.. But I'd suggest what he's doing MAKES sense, both network-wise, and fiscally, at least to a degree from what I can observe from his video. Could it be better ? Perhaps; but his needs will be different than mine, and different than yours.
what if yuour'e doing it to learn? or do you just leave that up to other people to teach you. yeah nah.