Any Nas that can double up as a Router? ie pfsense?

[Clive.B]

Hi was just wondering are there any NAS out there with support for pfsense or similar to double it up as a super router ?

There is very few threads and ideas via google I have spotted where some guys were attempting to use their NAS boxes as routers since some have 2 gigabit Ethernet ports.

I understand perhaps no demand for it since most will just use the existing router but a powerful nas with pfsense or similar could support openvpn clients and its cpu would be more powerful also, but to date have not seen any such Nas, seems a shame to not use the hardware to the fullest....

If anything such project or nas exist please let me know ! thx

 

[stevech]

very bad idea.

 

[PrivateJoker]

I understand perhaps no demand for it since most will just use the existing router but a powerful nas with pfsense or similar could support openvpn clients and its cpu would be more powerful also, but to date have not seen any such Nas, seems a shame to not use the hardware to the fullest....

If anything such project or nas exist please let me know ! thx

You could build your own box w/ a HTPC style case, whatever CPU & drives you want, and an Intel Pro 1000 PT/MT dual port NIC, maybe even run Pfsense & some sort of a freeware NAS or a WHS, maybe both as virtual machines? But the complexity to get that working, assuming you're up to the task of configuring and operating it might be a somewhat steep learning curve.

A decent N600 or N900 router along w/ an entry level Synology or QNAP might be a better bang for the buck and far easier to get going out of the box.

Once that's all setup and running if you still feel like you need the security/customization of Pfsense and need to have VPN that the routers or NAS cannot do for you, then attack that with any $200-300ish refurb work station you can get from Lenovo or Dell outlet along with appropriate extra NIC/s if nessecary.

I'm not sure if you're the same poster I replied to earlier, but if you're on a budget you can get a great deal on a used rack server, and even some towers on eBay that might have dual NICs that pfsense can use. And just because a computer is a rack mount doesn't mean you have to put it in one. They're usually 12-19" deep, and only a couple inches tall. You could put it on a desk or something and easily make it stealthy.

Explore FreeNAS, WHS, & all the features in Pfsense and see if that level of setup & config is in your comfort zone. Otherwise, an off the shelf router & NAS have a *lot* going for them in the just plugging it in and it works factor.

And "using hardware to the fullest" sounds like you're chasing an imaginary rabbit down a hole when there is usually a strong argument for the simplicity of getting hardware made to do one job and do it well, right out of the box.

 

[Clive.B]

Yes was the same guy

Yeah I think your 100% spot on and may just go the simplest route possible, it seems rather complicated to have to build a nas and then a pfsense own router and appears more costly in the long run when you factor in electricity use.

I have asked a question regarding the Netgear R7000 with its openvpn performance, and what type of hit it may endure when under a vpn this was my main concern and reason to go diy pfsense router or nas+pfsense.