No SBC compatible network device

[Capt'n George]

I am finishing up a bare metal installation of freeSBC and I am stuck on the network device configuration. The bare metal server is a Dell Power Edge R201 II with 2 GBE interfaces. One interface (the one that is running the SBC configuration wizard) is pre-selected as mtmg and the other one does not have an option for LAN/WAN. clicking on the "+" next to the interface shows

Name:
Maximum speed (Mbps): 1000
IP interfaces using this device: 10.0.1.29
Pci Id: 0000:01:00.0
Permanent Mac Address: d452:c7:61:09
Vendor id: 14e4
Vendor Name: Broadcom Limited
SBC-compatible (LAN/WAN): false
Device name: NetXtreme II BCM5716 Gigabit Ethernet
Device id: 163b
Driver:
Numa id: -1

Does anyone have any idea why this interface can't support LAN/WAN functionality?

[Capt'n George]

Nevermind.  I found the list of supported NIC's here:

docs . telcobridges . com/tbwiki/Supported_NICs

(sorry forum will not allow me to post the actual link)

And the BCM5716 is NOT on it. It's a shame too since my use case probably will not require more than 15 or 20 simultaneous sessions.

[Admin]

Hi

You are right your NIC is not in supported NIC list. Our application, Tbrouter, requires DPDK (libraries/drivers in CentOS). Your NIC is not support DPDK, this why it is not in the list.

[Capt'n George]

I am having a very difficult time trying to find a NIC to add to my Dell server (PCIe X 16 G2) with the specific chipset.  For example I found a NIC with the 82540 chipset but not the 82540*EM* chipset.  Can anyone recommend a compatible NIC I can use with a copper wire based network?

[lmorissette]

You can use 1Gbps network interfaces like the ones we use in our Dell Servers (TSBC-HW-SRV-MID) :
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAFVZ7252995&cm_re=Intel_Ethernet_Server_Adapter_I350-T4-_-33-106-247-_-Product
https://www.pcnation.com/web/details/2DB674/Dell-Intel-Ethernet-i350-Qp-1Gb-Server-Adapter-540-BBDV-00884116171027

I also used the I340-T4 in one of my systems and this works as well.

I have searched for the 82540 Gigabit Ethernet Controller and seems they come in two modes: EM and EP. The only difference I found between the two is the EP one can run below 0 degrees Celsius and is probably more expensive. When they do not specify EM or EP, it should be the EM one.

[Capt'n George]

Thanks! I found a very reasonably priced I340-T2 on Amazon!

[Hypper]

Hi Guys!

The only network cards compatibilty to te SBC in Baremetal mode is listed in: https:// + "docs.telcobridges.com/tbwiki/FreeSBC:Baremetal:Installation_A" ?

Thanks.

[Admin]

Please check the following link for supported NICs; https://docs.telcobridges.com/tbwiki/Supported_NICs

[Hypper]

Exactaly, only these interfaces?

Please check the following link for supported NICs;

[Admin]

Yes Only those interfaces.