I have two systems that I need to replace. One is my backup server, which runs FreeBSD and uses some USB attached drives. Really that could be done with anything that is like a Pi, except amd64/x86.
The other is my pfSense router. It is having some hardware issue, which isn’t surprising, I pulled parts out of my scrap pile to make it. For that, I need something that can take an pcie card for my dual 10g network card. Does anyone have any ITX or smallish machines they like? Actual smallness doesn’t matter so much as not being expensive.
How do people go about finding things these days? I used to use newegg, but mostly now it seems to be a trap of accidentally ordering parts from the moon. Amazon is fine if you know exactly what you want already. Pcpartspicker works well, if you are building a full system from parts (which I do for bigger machines) but I don’t know where to get barebones boxes.
Wait you are unclear. Is expensive a problem?
I don’t use PFSense anymore. But I do use opnsense. And while I have iterated through all sorts of appliances, including back to PFSense when I used it and from an atom box, to a I5 base setup to another super micro mini box etc etc.
For the last two years I have been using a DEC 750 from deciso for opnsense. It’s pretty solid.not cheap tho.
Expensive is a little bit a problem. Mostly I don’t want to spend money.
I’m going to try a Zimaboard for the backup server. It should be fine. I might need a USB hub but whatever, performance isn’t a wiggle there.
I’m a pretty big fan of the super micro super servers
Like the e200 and e300 systems.
https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/embedded/compact-edge-systems
I’ve always considered one for a router. In fact my last one was an e200-8d for a while. Wont do 10 Gb or even 1 gb with Suricata/snort tho and they are still way too pricey.
I do have a rando dell SFF/mini tower I use in a pinch.