Reddit reviews QOTOM-Q320G4 Barebone Industrial PC Gateway Router for pfSense - Intel Celeron 3805U 4 Gigabit NICs

• Intel j1900 x86 quad core 2-2.4GHz
  
• Memory 1 SO-DIMM DDR3L 1333 up to 8GB
  
• 1 SATA III
  
• 1 mini-PCI (Wifi optional)
  
• 1 mSata (mSata disk optional)
  
• 4 Intel WG 82583 NICs/lan/ethernet 10/100/1000
  
• Watchdog Timer 256 Level, Programmable
  
• 1 VGA
  
• 2 USB 2.0 ports
  
• Size: 134mm 126mm 36mm
  
• Fanless (the aluminium alloy case is the heatsink)
  
• 2 or 4 available holes for antennas/jacks/..., power button, 2 leds
  
• Chipset ? (waiting for answer)
  
• UEFI AMI BIOS MX25U6435FM2I-10G (appears to be supported by flashrom ctrl+f MX25U6435E/F )
  
• 10W
  
• DC 12v
  
• 1 CPU fan connector (PWM?)
  
• 1 SATA power connector (4 pins, needs adapter)
  
• Audio ALC662 (no, according to reseller)
  
• GPIO (no, according to reseller)
  
  The aluminium alloy case serves as the CPU heatsink, I've seen this design before and it works pretty well. See also https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-scooter-computer/ for a similar design.
  
  Found it on aliexpress, took the risk and ordered one. Should arrive soon.
  
  If there is any interest I'll update and post a review of it.
  
  If I really really like it and there is interest I may organize a group buying (to buy from the manufacturer and ship at lower cost).
  
  
  Bought it from http://www.aliexpress.com/item/WAP-Cheapest-mini-computer-wholesale-high-quality-min-pc-industrial-4-LAN/32591339399.html (cheapest I could find, without ram/wifi/disk)
  
  Available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/products-barebone-J1900-Industrial-computer/dp/B019Z8T9J0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457891371&sr=8-1&keywords=qotom
  
  Available on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/12v-mini-pc-windows-7-QOTOM-mini-pc-with-4-NIC-port-J1900-mini-pc-2G-1T-8G-SSD-/262293070861?hash=item3d11e2a40d:g:~NMAAOSwCQNWgkUS

PFsense
.

https://www.amazon.com/Qotom-Q190G4-Celeron-Processor-Barebone/dp/B019Z8T9J0/ref=pd_sbs_147_5/143-2671636-0541201?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B019Z8T9J0&pd_rd_r=XMGVWW8ANATWM8Q7BSVP&pd_rd_w=Zt2iy&pd_rd_wg=gy1xM&psc=1&refRID=XMGVWW8ANATWM8Q7BSVP

or...

Load PF sense on a Dell R210 with a quad core cpu, 8GB ram and a four port nic (6-1gb nic's total)
As small or as big as you need. I LOVE PFsense

Something like this would fit the use case: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019Z8T9J0/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1500226539&sr=8-14&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=fanless+mini+pc

If you're up for a challenge and you dig low power draw low cost, you could try espressobin (just google it). The toughest part is finding a case; I had to order one from a vendor that prints from designs on thingiverse. (I'd advise going with ABS plastic, not PLA, if you go this route.) By the time you buy espressobin, a 32G sdcard, a power supply, and a case, you're out about 135 or 140 bucks.

I actually just bought the espressobin + bits and pieces myself; everything's here but the case, which I'm still waiting for. Full disclosure: no HDMI out on espressobin, so if you're not okay with needing to go serial console, it's not going to be for you. And since I haven't built it yet, I don't know what the performance will be like (though I'd confidently put it up against even high-end consumer gear on spec, given that it's similar CPU to what's in a Netgear Nighthawk, and given how well plain Ubuntu did versus various devices in my tests at Ars Technica). Still... it's a gamble. Ya feelin' lucky? =)

Other than that, literally just look for Celeron builds from Qotom on Amazon. The one I purchased most recently is still available; I make no guarantees it's the absolute best model to buy right now, I literally just dug it out of my order list, but it still shows available at $170 after shipping. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B019Z8T9J0/ You'll spend around $300 total after adding RAM and an SSD to one of these, depending on what exactly you opt for there.

Qotom also has i3 and i5 versions of the same machine available, for about $100 to $150 more. If you want the extra muscle. You won't likely need the extra muscle if all it's going to be doing is acting as a router, of course, but sometimes more firepower is more firepower, right? =)

I have a set of qotom j1900 based PC's running in our machine shop (needed fanless with built in wireless).

They have had zero issues in the dusty and oily environment. Especially considering the cost.

These two might pique your interest:

http://www.amazon.com/Celeron-processor-onboard-display-serial/dp/B0148KG3SK/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1453309328&sr=1-1&keywords=qotom

http://www.amazon.com/products-barebone-J1900-Industrial-computer/dp/B019Z8T9J0/ref=sr_1_11?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1453309328&sr=1-11&keywords=qotom

I've had to contact qotom (they accidentaly sent 2gb in a 4gb model) and they were super quick to respond with slightly broken english. However they just sent me a 4gb dimm and told me to keep the 2gb one. No problems so far.

I'm debating replacing family PC's with these. They are plenty snappy on Win7 with the SSD that comes with them, and the amount of ram included (I go for the 4gb.)

Qotom has a variety of builds, depending on your needs. Just check amazon.

To monitor all devices (tablet, laptop, etc) you will need an actual firewall or proxy server, not just a typical ISP-provided consumer modem/router/access point combo device. You would also need to move your wireless access point behind the firewall, so that wireless activity is tracked.

Your topology would look something like this:

Internet -> Modem -> Firewall -> Devices (access point, etc.)

In the new topology you could use your existing FiOS-G1100 as either the modem or the access point, but not both. To act as a modem only it would have to be put in "bridge" mode (disabling firewall functions and wireless AP). To act as an access point only, it would have to be put in "AP only" mode.

The firewall will basically be a mini PC (ex. Qotom Q190G4, Q355G4), running firewall software such as pfSense or Sophos XG. Yes, for a networking novice, there is a tremendous learning curve involved in setting up a true firewall. It wouldn't hurt to find a local professional who could assist you.

For a somewhat lesser learning curve, there are router appliances such as the Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Lite which offer better-than-combo-device firewall capabilities in a less daunting user interface.

Yes you can use a Home license on the box, but I think you have to do some tinkering to get it to work, click here. After reading the 100/110/120 pdf it looks like the speed is a license limitation. Now if the Home license gets you full throughput, I have no idea.

If I were you, I would just get a mini PC, like this, or this. Throw in some RAM and a HDD and you have an awesome UTM that runs better/faster for same price/cheaper.

Why not a barebones like... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019Z8T9J0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for $136.00 USD - ships from China I believe.

Discussed on pfSense forum... https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=114202.0

Yes, that one specifically can't do AES-NI.
I actually went with this one with 3215U:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019Z8T9J0/

What about this?

for $200 all in you get 4 Intel Nics and a 4 core CPU. Add an M.2 SSD and you are still under $250.

I've been looking at the J1900 and based on discussion I've read at arstechnica and another site, the Quad core J1900 is not the best choice for routing performance, because single threaded performance is not as good as the dual core 3215U box. Routing as it exists in linux can't really take advantage multiple cores.

There are two models from Qotom, the Q190G4 with the Intel Celeron Processor 3215U Dual core (2M Cache, 1.70 GHz, Broadwell), and the Q190G4-S02 with Intel Celeron Processor J1900(Quad-Core 2M Cache,2 GHz, up to 2.41 GHz, Bay Trail). The 3215U is what I am going with because I will need at least 150mbps after turning QoS on, with some future headroom, so I want to focus on routing performance. Running multiple busy servers and/or handling more than one maxed out VPN connection will likely be speedier on the J1900.

Dual Core, faster routing
https://www.amazon.com/Qotom-Q190G4-Celeron-Processor-Barebone/dp/B019Z8T9J0/

Quad Core, slower routing
https://www.amazon.com/QOTOM-Q190G4-S02-products-Barebone-J1900-Industrial/dp/B01KX9OU58/

Huh, didn't know those tiny things existed. Still expensive, but good.

Would this one handle up to a max of 260Mb/s internet, and gigabit LAN?

You want to get a processor that supports aes-ni. That will allow SSL acceleration (opnvpn) and is also being required as of pfSense 2.5 and up.

I would choose this machine and purchase an unmanaged switch for your devices.

Hope that helps!

2nd edit; I was am an idiot... OK, Here you go. Under budget and should do what you need....

You can use this Zotac Barebones PC w/ the Celeron N3150 processor that supports AES-NI. Add some RAM and a SSD. Finally a Managed 8 Port Switch.

1st edit; Did not realize that I linked a celeron ( thanks u/suziesamantha ) as I thought it was a j1900 processor and then realized that the bay trail's also don't have aes-ni support. Sorry for the wrong information. The router I built is based on the Atom Rangley chip. You can use this link to help find aes-ni support.

Better to buy it barebones. I spent less than that and have a 256G SSD and 8G RAM in mine.

It's a chinese mini PC (x86) running pfSense.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019Z8T9J0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

OpenVPN is kinda computation intensive so I would not expect too much from small ARM devices like yours.

As others have suggested, the official hardware is great and also gives back to the project.

That being said, I have been doing some testing with a Qotom j1900, 4x intel gigabit nic machine and have had good results. It pulls very little power, is inexpensive, and there are no moving parts. Note that you will have to provide your own ram/ssd if you use the link above.

Honestly, the $100-$150 price point is going to be very difficult to beat -- I'm not aware of any machines at that price point myself. We generally consider it a good deal to beat $400 to the lowest end boxes we use (we require gig throughput), which is a bit more than what you are able to get away with.

We did find these great machines for $190 apiece recently -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014113N70 -- We're not using them as firewalls, but in terms of the specs they'd do just fine for gigabit throughput.

Looks like this is a close cousin for a different arrangement of ports that might be more suited to pfSense for $170: http://www.amazon.com/products-barebone-J1900-Industrial-computer/dp/B019Z8T9J0