Do I need to create a new interface for every port?

Ok, I am quite new to networking but I am kind of lost on this subject.
Do I need to create a new interface for every port on my router or switch so they let me connect to the internet?

viragomann

@rabinali
You need to create only as many as you want to use, but at least two, WAN and LAN.
WAN is facing towards the internet, LAN towards your switch.

Patch

@rabinali said in Do I need to create a new interface for every port?:

Do I need to create a new interface for every port on my router

Yes every Ethernet port you want to use on your router needs to be configured in your router software (pfsense)

@rabinali said in Do I need to create a new interface for every port?:

or switch

That’s confusing to me.

Some Netgate devices have an inbuilt switch configured by specific pfsense code but that’s the exception.
If you have a managed switch and are using specific features then that network device would also need to be configured to achieve overall network functionality, but that’s done separately to pfsense configuration
an unmanaged switch would not need configuring

@viragomann @Patch so for example, if I connected my laptop to the LAN4 port on a netgate router, would I then have to go on the pfsense webgui and create a whole new interface for the lan4 port on my router just to go on the internet and if so how would I do it.

Patch

@rabinali said in Do I need to make a new interface for every ethernet port used by a device and if so how would I do it?:

For example, if I connected my laptop to the LAN4 port on a netgate router, would I then have to go on the pfsense webgui and create a whole new interface for the lan4 port on my router just to go on the internet and if so how would I do it.

The simplest way to connect multiple devices to a LAN is via an external switch.
It is possible to bridge Ethernet ports on a pfsense router if you want the devices to be on the same network
If you want them to be on separate networks then yes you need to setup each network interface.

Patch

@rabinali said in Do I need to create a new interface for every port?:

LAN4 port on a netgate router

What Netgate router do you actually have?
Advice may vary depending on the internal construction of the hardware.

stephenw10

There are two Netgate devices that have a port marked 'LAN4'. In the 2100 that is part of the switch that is connected to the LAN interface by default and no additional config is required to use it.
In the 6100 that is a discrete NIC and not enabled by default. There you would have to enable the interface and set a firewall rule on it at a minimum to use it.

Steve