Which should I go with- multiple Commercial wireless APs, or consumer-grade wifi mesh kit?

[Mach3.2]

My take. Hope the guys here don’t flame or egg me. I will go with a bare-metal (main) pfSense set up.

Wanna test, play and mess around with VMs, do it at your homelab layer (mine operates at L3)

Run all your POC, VMs and containers (or just fun) on a dedicated hypervisor rig. Your family members will thank me later.

Just to be clear……I love VMs too.​

Yup, just do what you're comfortable with. Don't forget about the spouse/family approval factor.

 

[astones153]

Yes it makes sense to run J4125 pfSense bare metal. Only issue is how stable the pfSense with the I225. I do not see the mentioning of I225 support in the changelog of pfSense 2.6.0.
Ref: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/releases/22-01_2-6-0.html

If you decide to go with the Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G -- that is very powerful and you should be fine.

So if I went with the J4125 baremetal like this one, what's the likelihood of it not working at all with pfsense? Cuz otherwise I might just go with 1gbe box, dunno how much of a change it will be compared to my current Archer AX73.

 

[TanKianW]

So if I went with the J4125 baremetal like this one, what's the likelihood of it not working at all with pfsense? Cuz otherwise I might just go with 1gbe box, dunno how much of a change it will be compared to my current Archer AX73.

Can consider the units recommended by @DarthGW too. He also went with the 1G units recently.​

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...-for-new-users.6390714/page-49#post-140369136

 

[astones153]

Can consider the units recommended by @DarthGW too. He also went with the 1G units recently.​

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...-for-new-users.6390714/page-49#post-140369136

oh yea LAGG can be done with pfsense in the event my family decides to go up to 2x1gbps internet or dual isp plan. I'll look into those.

 

[Mach3.2]

Intel i225 should work since those are used in Netgate 6100 as well.

 

[nephilim]

So if I went with the J4125 baremetal like this one, what's the likelihood of it not working at all with pfsense? Cuz otherwise I might just go with 1gbe box, dunno how much of a change it will be compared to my current Archer AX73.

I'm running pfsense (actually opnsense now) baremetal on a J4125 with Realtek RTL8125B 2.5G which I bought last year (yeah should've gone with intel nics ...).

So far these are the problems I've encountered:

1) no interface detected during initial install - rectified by downloading realtek freebsd driver and copying/installing it via usb drive.
2) major updates (involving a change of freebsd version) will fail as the existing driver will need to be updated to match the new freebsd version. I ended up reinstalling so I'm not sure if a simple pkg install of the driver before updating would have prevented this.

Otherwise pfsense/opnsense runs totally fine and I can get 2.5G speeds. Wondering if intel i225 will have the same driver issues?

 

[firesong]

Yup, just do what you're comfortable with. Don't forget about the spouse/family approval factor.

Upset the spouse, and you don't need to turn on the aircon. It'll be cold, cold, cold at home...

 

[xiaofan]

So if I went with the J4125 baremetal like this one, what's the likelihood of it not working at all with pfsense? Cuz otherwise I might just go with 1gbe box, dunno how much of a change it will be compared to my current Archer AX73.

You need to make sure the Intel I225 is of the B3 Stepping, if not there are silicon bugs which will make it not working very well.

Intel I225 B3 stepping is said to be working fine under pfSense 2.6.0 version as per the following article.
https://www.servethehome.com/inexpe...firewall-box-review-intel-j4125-i225-pfsense/

 

[xiaofan]

Otherwise pfsense/opnsense runs totally fine and I can get 2.5G speeds. Wondering if intel i225 will have the same driver issues?

The old version of Intel I225 chip itself is problematic. The B3 stepping solves the issue. But pfSense 2.5.2 does not support it well.

WIth the latest pfSense 2.6.0 version, it is said the driver is stable now. OPNsense latest version also supports the I225 B3 NICs.

 

[nephilim]

The old version of Intel I225 chip itself is problematic. The B3 stepping solves the issue. But pfSense 2.5.2 does not support it well.

WIth the latest pfSense 2.6.0 version, it is said the driver is stable now. OPNsense latest version also supports the I225 B3 NICs.

From your link, the B3 chip seems to be the I225-V correct?

 

[xiaofan]

From your link, the B3 chip seems to be the I225-V correct?

Correct, I225-V chip needs to be of B3 stepping. I tend to believe the latest offersings are using the B3 stepping version (released by Intel in late 2020) but you may want to double confirm.

Ref: https://wccftech.com/intel-foxville...ng-issues-persist-z490-motherboards-affected/

 

[firesong]

I would like to get used office gear, but I have no connections or any bearing as to how to get in touch with offices that are closing down haha, just a Uni dropout here.

Dropped you a PM.

 

[Mach3.2]

Dropped you a PM.

Do you happen to have anything with QSFP+ uplink, 24* 1GbE ports, at least 2 SFP+ cages and 802.3af/at?

Those Brocade ICX6610 from the States are asking for 100+USD on shipping alone

 

[firesong]

Do you happen to have anything with QSFP+ uplink, 24* 1GbE ports, at least 2 SFP+ cages and 802.3af/at?

Those Brocade ICX6610 from the States are asking for 100+USD on shipping alone

Haha no la. I happened to see an ad online so I linked OP. I have no connections myself now as I'm not in the industry.

Am studying to get into another industry altogether.

 

[astones153]

Anyone got recommendations on a 2.5gbe switch, maybe with poe+, that isn't ridiculously expensive, or am I just SOL and gotta wait for mass adoption next year?

 

[firesong]

Anyone got recommendations on a 2.5gbe switch, maybe with poe+, that isn't ridiculously expensive, or am I just SOL and gotta wait for mass adoption next year?

PoE+, already not a cheap option. Even PoE adds some cost to a basic switch, but going from 802.3af to 802.3at/bt isn't as commonplace.
2.5Gbps, another not cheap option.
And all this assuming unmanaged switches. If you include management features, the available options are greatly reduced as you move from L2 to L3 capabilities.

Many PoE+ switches still remain in active deployment because they are more than capable of powering existing equipment. Some enterprises might be releasing PoE switches because their power requirements go up so they need PoE+, or the switches are just too old. Or they are not Gigabit (ie, in active deployment for more than 10-15 years for smaller companies who don't do tech refreshes as often).

Might be easier asking for a unicorn.

As for adoption of 2.5Gbps, I think next year might still be a bit too soon for prices to come down to the levels Gigabit switches are at today - it may take a few more years for it to become more mainstream.

 

[astones153]

PoE+, already not a cheap option. Even PoE adds some cost to a basic switch, but going from 802.3af to 802.3at/bt isn't as commonplace.
2.5Gbps, another not cheap option.
And all this assuming unmanaged switches. If you include management features, the available options are greatly reduced as you move from L2 to L3 capabilities.

Might be easier asking for a unicorn.

Yea rn my options are either a 2.5gbe poe+ switch or just get 2.5gbe switch with poe injector. Its a real PITA because my house doesnt have a lot of places to mount AP on ceilings (a lot of it is false ceiling), and the places I can mount APs are pretty much in the center of the house. Therefore my solution is to just get a powerful AP and place it in the middle of the house, but the more powerful APs (AX3000~3600) use 2.5gbe ethernet ports. Here's hoping wifi 6E will incentivise faster 2.5gbe adoption.

 

[firesong]

Yea rn my options are either a 2.5gbe poe+ switch or just get 2.5gbe switch with poe injector. Its a real PITA because my house doesnt have a lot of places to mount AP on ceilings (a lot of it is false ceiling), and the places I can mount APs are pretty much in the center of the house. Therefore my solution is to just get a powerful AP and place it in the middle of the house, but the more powerful APs (AX3000~3600) use 2.5gbe ethernet ports.

It's easy to mount APs on false ceilings, and wire runs are even easier since it's all concealed. Just to get an idea, the instructions for mounting on the ceiling tile should be similar. If you can't get through access, then consider other options that you would mount other things on false ceilings -usually with some form of reinforcing plug that gives additional surface behind the plasterboard.


Far easier to get a good switch and use injectors. You can use multiple port injectors like these (it's a random google image):
https://bigamart.com/product/ws-poe...MIm5LI9dfg9gIV-IJLBR1IUADNEAQYAiABEgKsPPD_BwEOf course, these are always on, so if your device is not PoE capable, it will be very wise not to plug it in after the injector. Just connect those devices direct to switch, and use the injectors only for devices that need PoE.

 

[astones153]

It's easy to mount APs on false ceilings, and wire runs are even easier since it's all concealed. Just to get an idea, the instructions for mounting on the ceiling tile should be similar. If you can't get through access, then consider other options that you would mount other things on false ceilings -usually with some form of reinforcing plug that gives additional surface behind the plasterboard.


Far easier to get a good switch and use injectors. You can use multiple port injectors like these (it's a random google image):
https://bigamart.com/product/ws-poe...MIm5LI9dfg9gIV-IJLBR1IUADNEAQYAiABEgKsPPD_BwEOf course, these are always on, so if your device is not PoE capable, it will be very wise not to plug it in after the injector. Just connect those devices direct to switch, and use the injectors only for devices that need PoE.

Ah my house false ceilings aren't exactly tiled plasterboard, its more like this gypsum kind. I'm still living with my parents and they would rather drill into concrete to mount on ceiling. A lot of hoops to jump through

 

[Mach3.2]

Anyone got recommendations on a 2.5gbe switch, maybe with poe+, that isn't ridiculously expensive, or am I just SOL and gotta wait for mass adoption next year?

Must be 2.5GbE?

If you can do without 10GbE SFP+ uplink and 2.5GbE RJ45 ports, this Aruba switch is pretty decent value imo.
https://www.lazada.sg/products/arub...w-switch-jl813a-i2239062310-s12879420567.html