I'm looking for advice on putting together a minimal, small-form-factor (closer to Mac Mini form-factor rather than Shuttle PC form-factor) mini-ITX or micro-ATX system with at least three ethernet interfaces -- two of which are Gig-E (ideally 3 are Gig-E) and enough CPU horse-power to switch packets at nearly 100 Mbps on two of the interfaces.
I realize PCI bus and other limitations would prevent me from switching 3 x 1 Gpbs or even 2 x 1 Gbps. Instead, I plan on using the Gig-E copper interfaces to connect to Fast-E links: http://www.openbsd.org/faq/pf/perf.html >> For maximum performance, consider using gigabit Ethernet cards, even if not connecting to gigabit networks, as they have much more advanced buffering. << http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/bsd/2004/05/06/pf_developers.html >> Even if you're only dealing with 100Mbit links, using gigabit cards like em(4) or sk(4) will improve performance as these cards are designed to handle much higher numbers of packets per second than 100Mbit cards. << There seem to be a dizzying array of potential choices and configurations and I'm having a hard time evaluating them all. I noticed... Some of the Commell systems are close to what I want, except that I'd really like to have more than one Gig-E: http://www.commell-sys.com/Product/IPC/EMB-564.htm Commell LV-674 has quad-Gig-E, but they're Marvell, which appears to be supported by OpenBSD, but not by pfsense/FreeBSD http://www.commell.com.tw/Product/SBC/LV-674.HTM Phylon C7, with optional 3-port Gigabit sounds promising, except that they're RealTek interfaces: http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/products_id/542 http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/products_id/495 http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/products_id/502 Based on posts in this forum, I'd like to stick to Intel Pro Gigabit interfaces. Mini-ITX with dual Intel Pro 82541 Gig-E Close, but I would still need a third interface (10/100 at a minimum): http://www.bcmcom.com/bcm_product_mx855.htm http://www.tcommate.com.tw/PRODUCT/LV-672.htm If I bought an Intel Pro 1000 MT Quad card (PCI / PCI-X), is there a Mini-ITX or Micro-ATX and appropriate case that could take that card (with the card laying flat, instead of on its edge, to reduce the height of the system)? Any specific recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure someone here already has a system similar to what I'm looking for. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
