How to turn UNRAID into Wi-Fi Router (with ultimately running pfSense)?

[emod]

Hi,

 

Can I turn my UNRAID server into Wi-Fi Router running pfSense (from hardware side)? How? What hardware can I reuse, and what do I need to buy in addition? How do i enable all NICs and Wi-Fis in UNRAID (make it work, so that pfsense can use it)?

 

I am debating whether to upgrade (buy) whatever is necessary for existing UNRAID server OR buy a separate mini-pc ($230) and turn that into pfSense type wi-fi router.

The router range is only for one floor, 50m2 place.

 

My MoBo is ASUS ROG STRIX B360-I GAMING (see hyperlink for detailed specs)

Mo-Bo comes with integrated wi-fi card and antennae ( Intel Wireless-AC 9560) + integrated LAN network card (Intel® I219V) with one port. (see way below for my UNRAID-> Tools->System Devices settings.

 

My Goal:

1. Throw away existing router (TP_LINK) and Use UNRAID server for that purpose.
2. Ethernet cable connects my modem (from ISP) to my UNRAID server (ONE Ethernet port on my server already exists as part of MoBo).
3. UNRAID server has pfsense installed, and therefore acts as router.
4. One to Two Ethernet cables connect Server with my PC and my TV (I have one PCI-e slot available in MoBo for extensions)
5. UNRAID server creates Wi-Fi so that my Google Home, iPhone and other devcies can connect to. (my MoBo already has wi-Fi card, Intel Corporation Wireless-AC 9560 on board, but I have no clue how to use it (=activate it) on UNRAID. The wi-fi card is listed in NRAID-> Tools->System Devices.

 

Below is my:

UNRAID-> Tools->System Devices

 

IOMMU group 0:[8086:3ec2] 00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 8th Gen Core Processor Host Bridge/DRAM Registers (rev 07)

IOMMU group 1:[8086:3e92] 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation UHD Graphics 630 (Desktop)

IOMMU group 2:[8086:a36d] 00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH USB 3.1 xHCI Host Controller (rev 10)

[8086:a36f] 00:14.2 RAM memory: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH Shared SRAM (rev 10)

[8086:a370] 00:14.3 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless-AC 9560 [Jefferson Peak] (rev 10)

 

IOMMU group 3:[8086:a360] 00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH HECI Controller (rev 10)

IOMMU group 4:[8086:a352] 00:17.0 SATA controller: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH SATA AHCI Controller (rev 10)

IOMMU group 5:[8086:a32c] 00:1b.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH PCI Express Root Port #21 (rev f0)

IOMMU group 6:[8086:a33c] 00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH PCI Express Root Port #5 (rev f0)

IOMMU group 7:[8086:a330] 00:1d.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH PCI Express Root Port #9 (rev f0)

IOMMU group 8:[8086:a308] 00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Device a308 (rev 10)

[8086:a348] 00:1f.3 Audio device: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH cAVS (rev 10)

[8086:a323] 00:1f.4 SMBus: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH SMBus Controller (rev 10)

[8086:a324] 00:1f.5 Serial bus controller [0c80]: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH SPI Controller (rev 10)

[8086:15bc] 00:1f.6 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection (7) I219-V (rev 10)

 

IOMMU group 9:[c0a9:2263] 03:00.0 Non-Volatile memory controller: Micron/Crucial Technology Device 2263 (rev 03)

 

 

[djblu]

I say buy the hardware for pfsense as having it on Unraid although possible is extremely fiddly.

 

It also puts you at risk of losing network/internet connectivity should the server fail for any reason or should you require to update/reboot/install updates to the server etc.
 

I have my an AMD 5350 running my pfSense connected to a TPLink switch which connects everything from my network apart from my Unraid server which is connected to the router directly(Allows for external access if the switch fails). Everything is on a UPS so the only worry is hardware failure.

 

Just gives the flexibility to work on the hardware individually if required. 

 

Hope this helps