Hello there, I'm looking for a mini pc to make a custom internet router with FreeBSD on it and I need hardware recommendations about what is better to buy.
This mini pc must have and support with FreeBSD following things: 1. One SFP port compatible with 1.25 Gbps SFP fiber-optic transceivers. 2. One or more 1 Gbps Ethernet RJ45 port(s). 3. Ability to work (including BIOS setup) without a monitor and a keyboard using only a serial terminal instead, i.e. using another computer connected. 4. Two USB ports or at least one USB and single RS232 port, i.e. one port to connect a bootable USB drive with FreeBSD installer and a second port to connect an external serial terminal. 5. WiFi 6. Ability to work with the latest FreeBSD and to "make world" (rebuild everything) in a reasonable time (not days). 7. Fanless. Not sure about the CPU architecture. Could it be a 64-bit x86 or better to think about something else? Regarding the serial terminal connection. I didn't use it for a long time. The RS232 port isn't available in today's computers. Is it possible at all to make a USB to USB serial terminal connection, like we did in the old days with two RS232 ports and a null modem cable? I've found there are RS232 to USB adapters people use to connect a terminal emulator on a laptop to an RS232 console on embedded devices. Is it the only option today? In case it is, could you recommend one as well? Regards!
