Cheap SFF PC with 2 network interfaces
reddit / selfhosted

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Entrapped_Fox · 2023-11-30 17:43

Hi, I don't know if it's appropriate place to ask, but I do not know
much about SFF PCs market and am quite disoriented.

I got interested in Network Security lately and was recommended to try
Sophos XG Home as it's free. I was said it needs 2 network interfaces
and x86 CPU.
I've an experience with RaspberryPi, but here it cannot be applied.
I came up with idea of searching local e-commerce platform to search
for used Dell OptiPlex SFF PCs. I've viewed quite a lot offers but
they all have only one Ethernet port.
It's specs were good enough and the price was cheap (~70$).
What would you recommend? Is it possible to buy something applicable
in such price?

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Raithmir · 2023-11-30 18:59

Beelink EQ12 have two 2.5gbps interfaces.

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Entrapped_Fox · 2023-11-30 19:03

Thanks for your help, but it costs ~180$, so way too much for me. It
also is far too powerful for my needs. I don't need 2.5Gbps, 1Gbps
will be fine. Can you recommend any older devices that can be bought
for ~100$.

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berrmal64 · 2023-11-30 20:12

Just get whatever SFF you want and separately buy a NIC card.

I put a 2x 1Gbps card with Intel chipset in my optiplex sff last year,
I think it was $20 +shipping from a server surplus website, works
perfectly.  Singles are super cheap even new.  Now I've got 3x NICs,
one for the host and two to pass through to a router VM, allows for
all kinds of interesting and useful setups.

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Entrapped_Fox · 2023-11-30 21:49

Don't know it's true, but I got an info that this soft do not support
external NIC (over USB).
Thanks for help.

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berrmal64 · 2023-11-30 22:05

I don't mean external USB, I mean internal pcie.

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[deleted] · 2023-11-30 22:31

[removed]

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acbadam42 · 2023-12-01 00:50

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255186968611?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-
127632-2357-0&ssspo=IZv0H-
iASTG&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=eU8ddMwoTRq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=CO
PY

I use this exact computer it is 10% off as well. I added a dual port
nic. I have one at work and one at home and they both run PFsense and
have open VPN installed.

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rcm_rx7 · 2023-12-01 03:23

Look at the cheap Intel atom based pfsense/opnsense boxes on
AliExpress. I got my 2.5gbps router with 4 separate network interfaces
for like $130 a few months ago. I had to add storage and some RAM I
already had on hand, but there are cheaper options.

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Entrapped_Fox · 2023-12-06 12:49

Hey, can such an internal PCIe Ethernet slot be applied to Dell
OptiPlex 3050 6th gen?

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berrmal64 · 2023-12-06 19:28

I can't say for certain, but I think it should, on the tower and SFF
models, micro perhaps not but IDK about that.

I have optiplex 9020 SFF and it had a space for pcie NIC, fit with no
problems.

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raymonvdm · 2023-12-08 23:00

Use a mff with a vlan capable switch or use the mff which can hold an
pci-e nic