4 ms·

From 2014-2017, I used small Linux-capable SBCs running BSD as a "router on a stick" for my home network. At first I was running FreeBSD on a Rasberry Pi 2 (no

From 2014-2017, I used small Linux-capable SBCs running BSD as a "router on a stick" for my home network. At first I was running FreeBSD on a Rasberry Pi 2 (not the Model B version). There was some bug at the time that made Vim unusable over a serial terminal, so in spite of it always working and never requiring a reboot, I decided to look for another solution. The solution was OpenBSD running on a Beaglebone Green. It was actually easier to set up, just as stable, and the pf syntax was even simpler. Were I to go with a similar setup today, I'd prefer something that: - has multiple NICs - can be tuned to boot very fast - capable of rolling-back updates/changes - runs NSH[0] The 3rd point is something NSH could facilitate for the network configuration. For system-level changes, I suppose the best I could do on OpenBSD is use CARP between two OpenBSD systems, and switch between the two as I apply and test updates. [0] https://www.nmedia.net/nsh/ https://www.nmedia.net/nsh/

kjs3 4y ago
I run OpenBSD on a NUC-like from Seeed studio for this. Don't recall which model, but has a decently strong Atom, dual GigE, plenty of memory and an NVME slot. And Rpi compatable GPIO, which has some interesting possibilities. Has worked flawlessly for several years.
- jon_adler 4y ago
  Probably the Odyssey Blue, which uses a Celeron rather than an Atom CPU. I disabled the fan so it is silent, and the temperature stays very stable (and pretty low). It’s a wonderful device. I’ve programmed the Arduino and use it with Home Assistant (serial sensor). My Odyssey Blue is virtualised using Proxmox and also runs OpenWrt (router), Home Assistant, UniFi Controller, Plex, Transmission, CUPS, SAMBA and more. It still has plenty and ram and CPU left too, if I only I could think of anything else I want to run on it.
  - toast0 4y ago
    > Celeron rather than an Atom CPU This isn't very helpful as Intel calls some mainstream core based processors Celerons, and some atom core based processors Celerons. The current trick is J before the four digit number is Atom based, U after the four digit number is mainstream laptop core. G before gives you mainstream desktop core for Pentium, and I think Celeron as well. But really just put the model number into search, go to the Ark page and see that it's products formerly Blah and then look up Blah to see what that actually means. Yay marketing.
    - kjs3 4y ago
      Yes, it's a Seeed Odyssey. It's got a J4125.
      - toast0 4y ago
        Yeah, that's definitely an Atom (or Intel is calling them low power cores now). It's fine, you're clearly happy with the product and Atoms are generally ok (other than some issues with Bay Trail that resulted in an early end of service in early steppings), but the cores are roughly 50% the performance of contemperaneous mainstream cores, and it's often not totally clear when comparing a Celeron to another Celeron that one has half as powerful cores.

kjs3 4y ago

I run OpenBSD on a NUC-like from Seeed studio for this. Don't recall which model, but has a decently strong Atom, dual GigE, plenty of memory and an NVME slot. And Rpi compatable GPIO, which has some interesting possibilities. Has worked flawlessly for several years.

jon_adler 4y ago
Probably the Odyssey Blue, which uses a Celeron rather than an Atom CPU. I disabled the fan so it is silent, and the temperature stays very stable (and pretty low). It’s a wonderful device. I’ve programmed the Arduino and use it with Home Assistant (serial sensor). My Odyssey Blue is virtualised using Proxmox and also runs OpenWrt (router), Home Assistant, UniFi Controller, Plex, Transmission, CUPS, SAMBA and more. It still has plenty and ram and CPU left too, if I only I could think of anything else I want to run on it.
- toast0 4y ago
  > Celeron rather than an Atom CPU This isn't very helpful as Intel calls some mainstream core based processors Celerons, and some atom core based processors Celerons. The current trick is J before the four digit number is Atom based, U after the four digit number is mainstream laptop core. G before gives you mainstream desktop core for Pentium, and I think Celeron as well. But really just put the model number into search, go to the Ark page and see that it's products formerly Blah and then look up Blah to see what that actually means. Yay marketing.
  - kjs3 4y ago
    Yes, it's a Seeed Odyssey. It's got a J4125.
    - toast0 4y ago
      Yeah, that's definitely an Atom (or Intel is calling them low power cores now). It's fine, you're clearly happy with the product and Atoms are generally ok (other than some issues with Bay Trail that resulted in an early end of service in early steppings), but the cores are roughly 50% the performance of contemperaneous mainstream cores, and it's often not totally clear when comparing a Celeron to another Celeron that one has half as powerful cores.