If you bridge NICs and create a switch this way your throughput will be limited by the bus and the CPU. If you use a switchcard like I suggested the switch will take care of the networktraffic between these ports. I get 90 mbit/s with this card between the switchports though the firewall itself is only driven by a pentium 233MMX. Of course, traffic going to other interfaces will be limited by cpu speed and bus capacity. The card that I suggested has 5 autouplink ports. So if a soekris 4801 is fast enough for your needs and you only want to have the switch integrated this is an option to consider.
Holger > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Thompson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 10:57 PM > To: discussion@pfsense.com > Subject: Re: [pfSense-discussion] Embedded hardware > > > Holger Bauer wrote: > > >Sorry, the link is in german but you should get the facts: > http://www.level-one.de/products3.php?sklop=14&id=520056 > >it's a NIC with integrated 5 port switch. If you use a > soekris 4801 you could add such a card to the PCI slot. I use > a similiar card with one of my routers ( > http://routerdesign.com/routers/36/pic02.jpg , > http://routerdesign.com/routers/36/pic04.jpg ). > > > >Holger > > > > > OK, my error. > > here is something similar (if not identical, I can't tell if > it has the > Kendin chip on it or not): http://www.outletpc.com/c3442.html > > But you could still potentially bridge the 5 (or 6) individual > interfaces in pfSense, and get something fairly 'switch > like', too. No? > > Also, using the card you describe, the forwarding rate is going to be > limited when the packets have to pass through over the PCI bus. > > This is more interesting (especially in light of the recent > discussions): > http://www.dssnetworks.com/v3/gigabit_pcie_6468.asp > > > > > > ____________ Virus checked by G DATA AntiVirusKit
