The HPE MicroServer Gen10 uses a single 4.7 inch fan to cool the processor and hard drives. Because of its size, it is quiet ... if/when it runs. It also is well-tested with ClearOS. It comes with ECC memory by default.

https://buy.hpe.com/pdp?catId=15351&reqCatId=1009955118&catlevelmulti=15351_4237916_4237917&prodNum=873830-S01&country=US&locale=en&reseller=PCM&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0YHlpLX64AIVkxx9Ch2gNgYCEAQYASABEgIeJfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/product-catalog/servers/proliant-servers/pip.hpe-proliant-microserver-gen10.1009955118.html

Hi Michael,

I might be more the "cautious" kind of guy, but I would recommend buying a used C2550 (or C2750) with ECC memory. I use a C2750 in a Fractal Design 304, which is on lowest fan speed very silent. The 304 is not very cheep though, but there are cheaper options. The C2750 does not produce a lot of heat (it is fan less itself) and does only need a bit of airflow in the case. Most of the time one does not need ECC memory, but just ask yourself if you can live with the possibility of loosing data or data corruption.

Best wishes,

Robert

grubs wrote:
Why is the proxy pointless in transparent mode? I see it as a valuable local cache that significantly reduces my bandwidth to speed up a slow connection.

Perhaps my comment was a bit OTT, but the transparent proxy only works with http and not https. If your browsing is mainly http then the proxy caching may help. If it is https (like this forum) then it will do nothing. Note that google always uses https links in its search results over http links now. Facebook, and so on are all https these days. Similarly if you try and use the content filter with the proxy in transparent mode you'll find a lot of content you'd expect to get blocked does not get blocked. It does help with http and that is it.

I'm in a similar boat looking for a newer dual nic mATX board to replace an *old* intel atom 2500CC that is unable to run ClearOS 7.x Gigabyte and Asrock seem to have a number of fanless celeron boards but compatibility is hard to assess unless you can find someone running the OS already. A Fanless main board and picoPSU is a good combo for silent low power running ....provided it works.

Nick Howitt wrote:
The proxy takes power but, again, is pointless in transparent mode.

Why is the proxy pointless in transparent mode? I see it as a valuable local cache that significantly reduces my bandwidth to speed up a slow connection.

Tony's references are good. When I built my last couple of servers I looker for consumer grade low power(ish) CPU's. My current server, which is a few years old, used a Core i3-4130 processor and it is plenty powerful enough. The idea was to have something where the CPU fan would hardly run. I then used a 120w picoPSU and similar power brick. These days you can get very quiet PSU's instead. It is now cheap-enough to use an SSD. I went for a motherboard with on-board graphics. I only have a single on-board NIC but would have preferred 2.

Don't go for anything bleedin-edge (latest processors) or you may get installation problems. ClearOS has had it's WiFi hanfling neutered (for the moment, I hope) so there is little point looking for WiFi although it can often be got to work.

Some of the modern NUC PC's may fit the bill if you did not want to build anything. I also bumped into this which may fit the bill, but you may pay a premium for an industrial grade PC. Also small PC's are not very expandable.

If you are running just as a firewall/router you don't need much power at all. IDS/IPS takes power but is pointless unless you have a subscription for rule updates or integrate Emerging Threats rules. The proxy takes power but, again, is pointless in transparent mode.

For components ideas see spcr Pre-built and/or component examples Quietpc silentpc Sorry no experience with any of these - you would have to check for compatibility with ClearOS.

Built a quiet HTPC some years ago that is still going strong, but better components using less power are available now. However, searching the net for HTPC builds should provide more ideas and suggestions... There are quiet mini systems specifically for firewall use, but be wary of hardware limitations. read this and this Be wary also of some mini-ITX boards SoC powered mini-ITX