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    New Fiber install, fresh Pfsense install, only getting 20Mbps up/down

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • J
      jddoxtator
      last edited by jddoxtator

      Hi all,

      Been using Pfsense for a while with old crappy DSL, but just recently upgraded to fiber.

      Problem is the fiber package is for 100Mbps up and down, but Pfsense is only throuputting 20Mbps both ways in default configuration.

      The fiber is plugged directly to WAN port via optical/copper converter.

      With the router the ISP sent I get the full 100Mbps up and down, so the service is fine.

      My router is a Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU D-1518 @ 2.20GHz
      8 CPUs: 1 package(s) x 4 core(s) x 2 hardware threads
      AES-NI CPU Crypto: Yes (inactive)
      QAT Crypto: No

      I would guess that is more than capable of greater than 20Mbps throughput in default configuration, so something else is up.

      Using all the same cables that i use with the ISP's router, so I know it's not the cables.

      1000baseT <full duplex> reported on dashboard for both ports.

      P JKnottJ 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • P
        Patch @jddoxtator
        last edited by

        @jddoxtator sounds like a limiter set up to optimise the old dsl wan.

        Have you tried resetting pfsense to defaults / clean install.

        J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • J
          jddoxtator @Patch
          last edited by jddoxtator

          @patch It is a fresh install from a new USB stick just made today.

          Little update, tried some cat7 I had laying around and changed the WAN and LAN to the ix3 and ix4 copper 10Gbe ports, still 20Mbps......

          Edit: interesting change of note going from 1Gbe ports to 10Gbe ports.

          The 1000baseT <full duplex> turned to 1000baseT <full duplex,rxpause,txpause>

          No idea what that means, but guessing it has to do with the hardware throttling itself down to 1Gbe.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • J
            jddoxtator
            last edited by jddoxtator

            Just tried putting a switch between the converter and the WAN port. No change.

            Also tried Disable hardware checksum offload, that just caused the router to lose all connectivity and forced me to reload defaults.

            I'm back to the ISP router for now paired with the breakout switch until I can get some input on this. I've tried all the guide troubleshooting tips and nothing seems to work.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • P
              Patch @jddoxtator
              last edited by Patch

              @jddoxtator said in New Fiber install, fresh Pfsense install, only getting 20Mbps up/down:

              The fiber is plugged directly to WAN port via optical/copper converter.

              1. Is this converter also used with the ISP router and what converter are you using?
              2. How does the ISP router configure the WAN.
              J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • J
                jddoxtator @Patch
                last edited by jddoxtator

                @patch The ISP configures it with DHCP, MAC address and an IP alias. The gateway is picked up automatically.

                Converter is UMC-GA1F1T some FS-unlimited brand. The router is just a bog standard consumer router.

                keyserK 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by stephenw10

                  So is that, yes, the converter is also used with the ISP router?

                  How are you testing?

                  J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • J
                    jddoxtator @stephenw10
                    last edited by jddoxtator

                    @stephenw10 Yes, they came as a kit. I am looking into a possible FSP adapter change. The FSP adapter they use is only one sided and is unrecognizable by my FSP intelX520 ports.

                    Oh, and testing on the PC connected to LAN.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • stephenw10S
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                      last edited by

                      Looks like it has some DIP switches including one for FX speed. Have you tried setting those?

                      Though id the ISP router can get full rate through it that should prove it correctly configured.

                      J 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • J
                        jddoxtator @stephenw10
                        last edited by

                        @stephenw10 Yeah, I looked into the dip switches and they are mostly about connection keep alive states. I think there was one that allowed it to down step connection speed based on poor connection, but i'll have to look again.

                        It would be odd if that were the case because it is an odd speed. i would expect either 10/100/1000 based on the level of connection, not 20.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • J
                          jddoxtator @stephenw10
                          last edited by

                          @stephenw10
                          here is the page: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/2199464/Fs-Umc-Ga1f1t.html?page=11#manual

                          The only one to do with speed only steps it down to 100Mbps, which should still be netting me more than 20Mbps.

                          I will say when speed testing it does spike to over 100Mbps then very quickly drops to the 20Mbps and ISP router just hums along around 97Mbps

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • stephenw10S
                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                            last edited by

                            A speed like 20Mbps usually indicates a speed/duplex mismatch somewhere. But if that were the case it would apply to the ISP router too. Also I wouldn't expect to see the spike to 100.

                            Is it possible the ISP has registered the MAC of the old router and it shaping your traffic with the new MAC? Try spoofing the pfSense WAN MAC to match the other router.

                            Steve

                            J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • J
                              jddoxtator @stephenw10
                              last edited by jddoxtator

                              @stephenw10 One of the first things I did. It won't even connect to the gateway without the spoof. I am starting to highly suspect that there is some conversion algorithm happening in that converter that Pfsense doesn't like.

                              My only solution would be to buy a compatable FSP for my intel nic and connect the fiber directly.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • JKnottJ
                                JKnott @jddoxtator
                                last edited by

                                @jddoxtator

                                I have a 500/20 package from my ISP and have seen over 900 down. The problem is not with pfSense.

                                PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                                i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                                UniFi AC-Lite access point

                                I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

                                J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • J
                                  jddoxtator @JKnott
                                  last edited by

                                  @jknott Well, yeah. Getting over 400Mbps isn't a problem. If you were getting 400Mbps less then I think you would agree that it is a slight issue.

                                  I'm not going to play the "My software is perfect" game here. We do need to explore the reality of the situation. There are fringe case devices that do not play well together regardless of how perfect you think your software is.

                                  Like I was suggesting, I am highly suspect this offbrand SFP device that came with the converter.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • stephenw10S
                                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                    last edited by

                                    I wouldn't expect anything the converter is doing to affect the connection. As long as it's linked correctly on both sides. But clearly something is happening.

                                    You might try running a packet capture just to see if there is anything obvious being sent.

                                    Steve

                                    J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • J
                                      jddoxtator @stephenw10
                                      last edited by

                                      @stephenw10

                                      Ok, I found something. Turns out the ISP router is getting a different remote gateway then the Pfsense router. I'm going to try directing it to that gateway and see what happens.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • J
                                        jddoxtator
                                        last edited by

                                        Interesting....

                                        the ISP router is getting a gateway IP of 192.24.57.1 and the Pfsense box is getting a gateway IP of 172.31.16.1

                                        If I try to point it towards the Gateway of the ISP router, Pfsense tells me that The gateway address 192.24.57.1 does not lie within one of the chosen interface's subnets.

                                        keyserK JKnottJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • J
                                          jddoxtator
                                          last edited by jddoxtator

                                          Damn no dice.

                                          I found the setting to use out of range IP's in advanced, but even setting it to default gateway it still uses 172.31.17.1

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • J
                                            jddoxtator
                                            last edited by

                                            Noticed another discrepancy. ISP router does not connect IPv6. So I turned it off in Pfsense. No effect, still 20Mbps.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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