Hi Logan/Wendell, I watched your INBOX.EXE video on pfSense and then also the how to video and i had a few queries/senarios..
So at the moment i am on my bed in my parents house and they already have a router/modem and 2 switches and access points and so have you and i was wondering in what ways could i benefit from making a router from an old pc with pfSense and could i use it with my parents current configuration, if not what would i need to do? and also WHY is it better, I don't question your reasons for it being better at all but i was just wondering what they are.
The other senario would be when i move out. So let's say i move out to a new house and all it has is a phone line in the wall and i have no internet, all i have is this old pc with some network cards in it. What do i need to do to get internet in the house and to have a bunch of available ethernet ports available and have wireless access points around my house (or one very strong one) available to use.
Bare in mind that at my parents house for internet speed i get 8 down 1 up and in town i could get around 20 down and 5 up.
Cheers!
First, pfsense is more sercure. Just like custom firmware like dd-wrt en such. Because of the many securety holes in most firmwares.
Second, pfsense boxes are more upgradable. You can add whatevery you whant to a pfsensebox. And even merge part of your switch and your Wifi in your pfsense box. Also if you are going to move out. You can create a pfsense box that does everything from switch to Wifi and Routing, DNS, DHCP and such.
Thirt, Lifespawn. I know pfsense boxes that are running for manny years now. And i currenty don't even thinking about replacing them. Because it isn't beneficial. A pfsense box, if you build it correctly, only needs an upgrade if your are going to different main speeds in you network. Like 1 Gigabit 10 Gigabit and such. Or if you are in a professional envoirment and you need more cappacity because of the 10.000 users hammering the hell out of the box.
Conclusion, if you want a easy to manage, long lifespawn and multiverse device. You are best of with a pfsense box. And for now the only reason why I would upgrade your current home network is because of securty and replace your router.