Freenas & pfsense in on case - ideas?

Hardware Hub
1

Im looking to build a pfsense and freenas combo case.
Been looking at the http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-MiniXL-DS.html

Im in the US.
Budget is practical considering stable tested harware.

I have been looking at this board as a MITX pfsense router https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/H170I-PRO-CSM/

And this matx board for a freenas build https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/X99M_WS/

I'm posting here to get some feedback on parts or if there's better boards i should be using, i plan on this being atleast a 5+ year lifespan box.

Of processors im more focused on number of cores and pcie lanes and not so focused on clock speed.

Same with other hardware because higher clock just means heat and noise.

There will be no graphics cards but i gota figure out what lsi card ill need for freenas sata3

Yes the itx board was picked for 10gb lan and m.2
I will be running snort and chache plug-ins.

Thanks.

2

I have been thinking along similar lines but in VM's.

As a home user I would never tax a NAS to its limit nor a pfsense router. I dont like the idea of a cheap store bought router either anymore. Thats what I have now in an ADSL2+ modem.

After watching Wendels pfsense video I think it could be done but not sure if its a good idea.

3

could always do a vm, also in general you could configure a *bsd into a router and a nas instead of having them separate, without having to do a vm.(just an option if haven't considered)

um.. there was an azza fusion 4000, which was a more general super tower configuration but could have like mini itx above and a atx below in the same case,

rosewill rsv-r4000 currently onsale at newegg, could just do a stack of 2 of them or some other similar.

but making something yourself might not really be all that bad would probably get a better form factor than using 2 cases, could pickup 5.25" to hotswap bay adaptors and stuff as needed to kit out more drive bays

4

I try to stay away from VM when I'm doing these kind of setups, since this will be my home networks heart.

For reliability sake, memory leaks etc.

I really wanted to find a Dual MATX case and run 2 https://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon/C600/X10SRM-TF.cfm

I know Thermaltake has a case but it's so huge it might as well be a coffee table. http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00002894

5

this thing is pretty cool, though not 10gbe wanted to share

6

Deathright82
That's a descent choice for a remote switch.
I wish the data sheet gave more detailed specifications.
I was looking at similar choices for workstation hubs an entertainment center hookups.

Im shower and crash guys, gotta getup early 12hr 2nd shift, I'll check up on the thread after some sleep.