RedesZone

Background

The ADSLZone Group was started in 2003 as an IT forum. Over the years, it launched vertical services, including RedesZone, a website specializing in networking, security, and storage.

Challenges

Sergio de Luz, Director of RedesZone, previously built entire local networks at home with a carrier router and multiple switches without VLAN support. His SOHO required upgrading to a segmented network for product testing and personal use (such as computers and smart TV). From early on Sergio realized that virtualizing the router with pfSense was the most suitable solution for his use scenarios, plus it also avoids single point of failure. In addition, Sergio also wanted a server for installing Home Assistant (home automation software).

A possible solution to both challenges was to get dedicated hardware for pfSense, but this involves buying a server with 10GbE cards and installing the operating system that can run as the main virtualized router. That would cost a lot in both hardware and electricity bills.

Solution

Sergio chose one of the QNAP's top-of-the-line desktop NAS, the TVS-h1288X, as a main virtualized router with pfSense running on Virtualization Station, and Home Assistant running on Container Station.

TVS-h1288X’s features

- Intel Xeon processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, it has enough power to manage several VMs simultaneously.
- 64 GB RAM is more than enough for his current use, but is expandable to 128 GB for future growth.
- Twelve drive bays, and dual M.2 NVMe slots for running VMs increasing IOPS performance and reducing latency for storage volumes.
- Dual 10GbE ports and four 2.5GbE ports as standard.

The powerful TVS-h1288X allows him to run multiple VMs such as pfSense or Home Assistant without hardware issues. Sergio also has full 10Gb network performance with Cat 8 cables.

Of course, NAS is used as a file server as well – and Sergio uses Hybrid Backup Sync to back up his files. Public cloud storage can also be easily mounted on the NAS using HybridMount.

Sergio usually manages his NAS with a web GUI, but he also has the SSH server enabled in case of running something via commands.

Result

Sergio states that his TVS-h1288X has been in constant 24/7 operation for more than 6 months, including installing several updates of both QuTS hero operating system and pfSense. The network has been stable, and it runs fast at 10 Gbps in local, and 4.5 Gbps in VLAN routing with pfSense.

Sergio is convinced his use scenario, using a NAS as the heart of the whole company IT, can be beneficial for other IT specialists who work from home as it is no longer necessary to go to office where servers are located.