General discussion
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Topic
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Mini PC ideas – mulitple NICs req’d
LockedWondering if I can put everyone’s collective wisdom and vast experience to bear to source a niche-y system configuration.
I’m looking for a mini PC (think Intel NUC or Lenovo M Series Tiny) that has either 5+ plus embedded (LAN-on-board) GbE NICs or a PCI/e expansion port to install a 4-port GbE card? The idea is to combine a PC with a switch (grouping/assigning the ports using pfSense running on VMware). Would like to keep the cost in the ballpark of an Intel NUC + 8 port managed GbE switch (i.e. Netgear GS108E), so ~$600 CAD ($450 USD).
So far the only hopefuls I have found are Supermicro’s E300-8D @ ~$700 USD, and a bunch of Chinese Schenzhen-made (Iwill, Tometek, etc.) products that 1) don’t inspire confidence given the too-good-to-be-true specs (IBOX-501 N13) and comparative price (~$350 USD) and 2) present an issue with customs when shipping the units internationally (give the recent imposed tariff unpleasantness from various countries).
Here’s the wish list:
– Intel Core i3 preferred (ESXi-compatible Atom series secondary option)
– 16 GB RAM at least
– At least 5x GbE NICs total (5x LOB or 1x LOB + 4x GbE on PCI/e expansion)
– Fanless preferred (like Intel NUC NUC7i3BNHX1) but not a deal-killer if fan-cooled
– Size is a factor; the smaller the better (the E300-8D is pushing it)
– Max budget $500 USD/unit
– Preferrably sourced from a non-tariffed country to avoid shipping/logistics, added cost problems
– Good source/supplier stability/reliability as stock levels would need to meet my demandWhat do you think? Possible?