This recipe describes how to make the choice of using the standard or embedded version of pfSense.
Every standard feature of pfSense is supported on both the standard and embedded platforms but certain packages are not. The Squid web-caching package, for example, requires extensive writing to disk and should not be run on a compact flash drive.
Let’s review the package we’ve chosen to install:
NTop package: It is a traffic analysis tool. It requires a minimum of 512 KB RAM, but has no restrictions on the storage type.
Based on this and the convenience of compact flash cards, we’re going to install the embedded version of pfSense.
The standard image is meant to be installed on a hard drive. The embedded version is meant to be installed on a compact flash drive. Compact flash drives only have a limited number of writes during their lifespan and the embedded version of pfSense is designed to limit writes to the disk for this very reason. That being said, each platform has some distinct advantages and disadvantages:
Platform |
Pros |
Cons |
---|---|---|
Standard |
All packages and features are supported Large amount of cheap storage space |
Entire drive must be overwritten (dual booting is not supported) Require larger power supply |
Embedded |
Fast access times Cards can be easily swapped (backup, upgrades, and so on) Requires little power Silent |
CF cards have a limited number of writes Not all packages are supported |
The installation disk for the standard version of pfSense is also a Live CD. If you’d just like to try pfSense out without installing it to any machine, you can run it live from the CD. You can even save your configuration to a floppy disk or USB drive. However, not all features are available while running pfSense from the Live CD.
pfSense online documentation: Versions
http://www.pfsense.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=44