Custom build with 3 x Quad NIC cards

NullZer0

Hey all,

I don't know so much about hardware so said I'd drop by for some advice before I spend my money

I'll be building a box to run Dynamips (on Ubuntu) and I need it to have 12 Ethernet Ports (plus integrated for Network connection).

I'm looking at these cards because they are cheap and I know that they will work with FreeBSD/ Ubuntu:
http://cgi.ebay.ie/SUN-501-4366-PCI-QUAD-FAST-ETHERNET-QFE-P-X1034A-/360371927713?pt=UK_Computing_NetworkCards_RL&hash=item53e7d73aa1

Second option (I'd rather not):
D-Link DFE-580TX
http://cgi.ebay.ie/D-LINK-4-PORT-SERVER-CARD-DFE-580TX-REV-A3-/250830791674?pt=UK_Computing_NetworkCards_RL&hash=item3a66ae23fa

I need to be able to get 3 of these bad boys into my build
I'm trying to keep costs as low as possible so I'll be looking at a C2D (or similar) and 4GB of RAM.

Graphics etc are not important, this will be a headless box.
My biggest concern is getting the cards into the box (with room to spare) and getting them to work with Linux.


Any advice welcome!



iRock

Gonzovision

You will need a motherboard that has pci-x slots to run those, as far as I know.

It would probably better getting a pci-e card. Something like this or this

I'd be very surprised if there were any issues with Linux with those cards

NullZer0

Thanks for the response, see I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible.
Most other cards are pretty expensive.

I just picked up these http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110696108171&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Based on research online, these are the most popular cards for the job. Just getting the right MB, I know they work with this but I need to get it somewhere that will ship to Ireland or find an alternative.

Gonzovision

Is this for a lab environment? You will be able to buy any cheap c2d or am2/am3 board and it should work. The only issue will be the decrease in bandwidth running pci-x cards in pci slots, also if you are going to use all 3 pci slots performance could significantly decline.

NullZer0

gonzovision wrote: »

Is this for a lab environment? You will be able to buy any cheap c2d or am2/am3 board and it should work. The only issue will be the decrease in bandwidth running pci-x cards in pci slots, also if you are going to use all 3 pci slots performance could significantly decline.

Yup, its a lab environment - see here.

Not too worried about bandwidth - just need enough to be able to send some control traffic and ICMP

Just need to find a board with no obstructions directly behind the PCI slots (as these cards will need clearance.