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[bartgrefte]

Hi y'all

I've got some feature requests:

- A printerserver.
Since I can't find a standalone printerserver that supports my Brother HL-2030 and is not EOL since a few years...
(Currently hooked up to my Asus WL500g Deluxe router that is gonna be replaced by pfSense running on the IM-945GSE-A board )

- Webcamserver, where the feed can be monitored from the www.

- Support for characterLCD's, like this one from this case.

Yes, I know there's a wishlist for packages, but I'm using pfSense embedded...

With regards,

Bart Grefte

[Cry Havok]

The new nano builds support packages.

[bartgrefte]

Nano builds?

....

Took some searching, but you mean these?

[jimp]

- A printerserver.
Since I can't find a standalone printerserver that supports my Brother HL-2030 and is not EOL since a few years...
(Currently hooked up to my Asus WL500g Deluxe router that is gonna be replaced by pfSense running on the IM-945GSE-A board )

Probably won't happen, as that would require samba and/or cups, and that would be a nightmare on a firewall. Possible, but not easy. Perhaps putting up a bounty would help this happen.

- Webcamserver, where the feed can be monitored from the www.

Really unlikely. I'm not sure of any software that runs on FreeBSD that would even work for that... Camera support on FreeBSD is iffy at best. You're better off getting a real IP camera and forwarding a port to it.

- Support for characterLCD's, like this one from this case.

There is an LCDProc package. Not sure if that is supported in there or not.

Yes, I know there's a wishlist for packages, but I'm using pfSense embedded...

Embedded can use packages now, at least some of them. Depending on your actual hardware, I'd guess that Samba/CUPS would be way too much for it.

[bartgrefte]

Probably won't happen, as that would require samba and/or cups, and that would be a nightmare on a firewall. Possible, but not easy. Perhaps putting up a bounty would help this happen.

Hmm, 'kay.

Really unlikely. I'm not sure of any software that runs on FreeBSD that would even work for that... Camera support on FreeBSD is iffy at best. You're better off getting a real IP camera and forwarding a port to it.

Is the support for cameras/webcams that bad?

There is an LCDProc package. Not sure if that is supported in there or not.

I know, but I'm not sure (eventhough I read several topics about it) if it now actually works without (much) trouble and if it works with embedded.

Embedded can use packages now, at least some of them. Depending on your actual hardware, I'd guess that Samba/CUPS would be way too much for it.

Yay . How can I see if a package is supported by embedded?
The motherboard I mentioned in the startpost, is an industrial motherboard with a singlecore Atom CPU, 945GSE chipset and it has a 1GB RAM module, think that's (more than) enough? If Samba/Cups even works that is.

[jimp]

Is the support for cameras/webcams that bad?

Last I checked in FreeBSD, yeah. It's been a while though. Also, most of the camera software required X11 and wanted to display the images on the screen and not capture/relay video. You really would be much better off getting an IP cam and letting it do all that.

There is an LCDProc package. Not sure if that is supported in there or not.

I know, but I'm not sure (eventhough I read several topics about it) if it now actually works without (much) trouble and if it works with embedded.

I don't have anything with an LCD, but if your screen is supported I thought it was just a matter of installing the package and picking the driver.

Embedded can use packages now, at least some of them. Depending on your actual hardware, I'd guess that Samba/CUPS would be way too much for it.

Yay . How can I see if a package is supported by embedded?

When you are booted up, going to System > Packages will show all of the packages that will work for you. Some will be hidden on embedded, there isn't an easy way to see just what those are though.

The motherboard I mentioned in the startpost, is an industrial motherboard with a singlecore Atom CPU, 945GSE chipset and it has a 1GB RAM module, think that's (more than) enough? If Samba/Cups even works that is.

I must have glossed over that part. That's plenty enough. I was thinking you were using an ALIX or somesuch, but an Atom board is really quite potent. You could run the full install on there no problem and probably any packages you want. Why are you using embedded? solid state storage?

I was looking at that same board for a customer project but I'm currently favoring a dual core variant from another manufacturer.

[bartgrefte]

Last I checked in FreeBSD, yeah. It's been a while though. Also, most of the camera software required X11 and wanted to display the images on the screen and not capture/relay video. You really would be much better off getting an IP cam and letting it do all that.

Okay.

I don't have anything with an LCD, but if your screen is supported I thought it was just a matter of installing the package and picking the driver.

'kay

When you are booted up, going to System > Packages will show all of the packages that will work for you. Some will be hidden on embedded, there isn't an easy way to see just what those are though.

Gonna take a look there later, install nano build first, when I'm not to busy

I must have glossed over that part. That's plenty enough. I was thinking you were using an ALIX or somesuch, but an Atom board is really quite potent. You could run the full install on there no problem and probably any packages you want. Why are you using embedded? solid state storage?

I was looking at that same board for a customer project but I'm currently favoring a dual core variant from another manufacturer.

Okay. ALIX? Google... Ah, those
Full install is not a good idea, running from CF-card...

Because of more cpu power? Or something else?
Since the one I got is perfect for use as router, I don't know any other miniITX board with 2 decent (Intel) GbE NIC's onboard hooked up to the PCIe bus instead of PCI bus.
Plus, it uses only 15w idle and ~19w when running memtest (okay, not really stresstest but just to give an idea.)

[dreamslacker]

Why not just use the WL500G on the LAN after you've deployed your pfSense box?

Just disable the WAN interface and connect any of the the LAN ports to your switch.  Do remember to disable the DHCP server function on the WL500G.

You effectively get:

• Wireless bridge
• Print Server function
• File Sharing
• Webcam Server

With minimal hassle.  For Character LCD support, Nano builds do support packages so you can look into the LCDproc package.
Accessing the Webcam server is just a matter of port forwarding from the pfSense box to the WL500G's LAN IP.

[bartgrefte]

Why not just use the WL500G on the LAN after you've deployed your pfSense box?

Just disable the WAN interface and connect any of the the LAN ports to your switch.  Do remember to disable the DHCP server function on the WL500G.

You effectively get:

• Wireless bridge
• Print Server function
• File Sharing
• Webcam Server

Is an idea, but:
- Wireless bridge: Got a Senao/EnGenius ECB-3220 for wireless, works waaay better than the 500G's build-in AP which is turned off now;
- Print Server function: Could use the 500G for that, but already found a standalone printerserver (delivered today, not yet tried) that should support the HL-2030. Plus, I hate the delay (in the router) between clicking on print and when the printer actually receives the printjob;
- File sharing: Uhm, like FTP? Got a ftp-server on the computer that runs 24/7.
- Webcam Server: Tried it while back, couldn't get it to work, plus the router stopped working (froze) with one of the several webcams I tried.

With minimal hassle.  For Character LCD support, Nano builds do support packages so you can look into the LCDproc package.
Accessing the Webcam server is just a matter of port forwarding from the pfSense box to the WL500G's LAN IP.

Okay

[dreamslacker]

Is an idea, but:
- Wireless bridge: Got a Senao/EnGenius ECB-3220 for wireless, works waaay better than the 500G's build-in AP which is turned off now;
- Print Server function: Could use the 500G for that, but already found a standalone printerserver (delivered today, not yet tried) that should support the HL-2030. Plus, I hate the delay (in the router) between clicking on print and when the printer actually receives the printjob;
- File sharing: Uhm, like FTP? Got a ftp-server on the computer that runs 24/7.
- Webcam Server: Tried it while back, couldn't get it to work, plus the router stopped working (froze) with one of the several webcams I tried.

If by any chance, you're running Linux for the FTP server, you can try ZoneMinder.  It's an open-source surveillance software that supports basic webcams in addition to DVR cards and IP-cams.

[bartgrefte]

Windows XP Prof SP32...