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Single data point on custom router build reliability: I've been using IPFire/pfSense on a little passively cooled Celeron box for a couple years. It reliably
by dan_quixote 10y ago
Single data point on custom router build reliability:
I've been using IPFire/pfSense on a little passively cooled Celeron box for a couple years. It reliably hits the theoretical gigabit limit ~800Mb/s and has never once failed even while running intrusion detection. Coupled with a ~$150 wireless router-turned-access point, I have never had a single reliability issue.
- matt_wulfeck 10y agoHave you ever measured combined power usage of your two devices?
- sethrin 10y agoIn what circumstances do you foresee the power usage of networking equipment as having more than a notional impact on one's life? (Serious question)
- sirtaj 10y agoFor one: if you live in a place with unreliable power supply (as I do), it dictates how much backup time you get from your UPS.
- sethrin 10y agoTo clarify, when the power goes out, you are still able to get online? Otherwise it would seem like it would be somewhat pointless to have the networking equipment plugged into the UPS. I have worked online during a power outage using a cellular internet adapter, but obviously no UPS or router was involved there.
- what_ever 10y agoPower outages can be very local. So yes, you can use internet using UPS backup.
- sethrin 10y agoHave you actually experienced this? I can easily imagine that a given apartment/home could be out and the building/distribution point still be up, but anything less local than that would certainly take my connection offline. And I'd very much hope that my domicile wouldn't have such spotty power as to make me need to worry about having my router on a UPS. In places I've lived with spotty power (Central America) the whole town or island would typically go out. Are you describing a hypothetical situation or is this actually a thing?
- NickNameNick 10y agoHistorically where I live, power outages wouldn't affect the copper telephone network. At least not for reasonable durations cuts. I don't have an analog phone anymore, so I don't know how true that still is, post recent network upgrades. I have coworkers who used VOIP phones, and who kept their routers and wireless base stations on UPS. I'm not sure if that setup was ever tested in anger.
- sethrin 10y agoLandline phones were powered by the phone company, over the lines. As long as the wires themselves aren't down, the phone company can keep the system working for days without power -- phones themselves don't need much power. DSLAMs do, though.
- stordoff 10y ago> Otherwise it would seem like it would be somewhat pointless to have the networking equipment plugged into the UPS Power cuts for me are typically short lived (often due to a RCD in the house rather than an actual outage). My networking gear is on my UPS, so that local transfers (e.g. to my NAS) can continue, or so I can shutdown my NAS manually if I'm not using it to get a little more time out of the UPS (I can probably do that via the hardware switch, rather than the WebUI, so not a huge concern).
- marcoperaza 10y agoI grew up in Miami and I remember one time a hurricane knocked power out at our house for over a week. We got a generator and we were able to get online. School was cancelled of course, so I was thrilled. I don't remember if we had DSL or cable at that point. Telephone always seemed to withstand power outages too. You don't even need a generator or UPS because corded phones can power themselves with just the phone line.
- sirtaj 10y agoThe outages are almost always due to load-shedding, so the POTS network doesn't lose power and our ADSL link remains connected.
- sethrin 10y agoInteresting! I appreciate the response. Sorry that you have to deal with that, though.