Affordable fast home networking is now possible!
Affordable fast home networking is now possible!
Hey everyone, I’m planning to set up a 10Gb network with as few cables as possible. I’m considering purchasing two SPF+ adapters plus a direct copper connector. I already own a Dell Optixplex running Proxmox and VMs, which includes a 2.5Gb NIC. The most suitable VM for this setup is the router (OPNsense). I’m also planning to use Truenas Scale with a few free PCIe slots. There, I’ll add a 2.5GB NIC plus an SPF+ adapter, giving me two 2.5Gb NICs. I’d set up a bridge and connect both, which would utilize the free space.
My main question is: can I run multiple networks using VLANs with a direct connection from the Proxmox LAN port to the bridge on Truenas Scale? I’m not entirely sure. I’m assuming several bridges on Truenas for different VLAN tags. This setup involves a direct link from Proxmox to the bridge in Truenas, and I’ll need to add the VLAN tag there too. The containers and VMs inside Proxmox should also support VLANs.
In my primary PC, I’d install the SPF+ card and connect it to the NAS. I’d configure both networks with a static route—perhaps something like 192.168.33.10 for the PC and 192.168.33.11 for the PC. Then I’d add a static route in Truenas between the FPG+ link and the appropriate LAN, maybe using a VLAN tag.
This sounds feasible. Have you done anything similar? In my case, if Truenas goes down, I’d lose network access for the PC. I also have an 8-port Gigiabit managed switch linked to Proxmox, which is set up for WAN and a dedicated LAN for IoT devices. If it fails, I’d need to replace a cable and expect reduced speeds—around 1Gb in that scenario. Any tips would be appreciated!
Network cards at 25gbps are now affordable and receive better support from modern OS versions. Here are some options: a dual 25g SFP28 card for $32 is available on eBay, while Mellanox offers similar models for $39. Low-profile brackets exist, though pricier alternatives are also on the market. These cards can run in 10gbps mode and pair with either a 10gbps transceiver or a 10gbps DAC cable for future upgrades. For now, 25gbps DAC cables are available—such as a 2-meter one for $15 and a 3-meter version for $19. Cheaper 10g transceivers cost between $5 and $10 each and can work with OM2-OM3 fiber cables. Used 10g transceivers are around $9, while new ones range from $15 to $50. Some newer units support up to 70 meters. Fiber cables remain inexpensive, under $1 per meter. The linked transceivers use standard OM3/OM4 multimode fiber with dual LC connectors; ready-made cables are also accessible on Amazon or other sites.