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pFSense Beginner - How to Configure WAN

General pfSense Questions
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  • C
    Chrisan @Chrisan
    last edited by Dec 31, 2022, 8:24 PM

    @chrisan Here is the sequence that finally got my computer connected to the web:

    1. Reset Net gearCM1100 modem by pulling power and waiting 30 seconds or so, plug back in.
    2. Plug WAN cable into pFSense box
    3. Hit option 4 to "reset to factory derfaults" and reboot pFSense

    Chris

    R 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 5:13 PM Reply Quote 0
    • R
      rcoleman-netgate Netgate @JKnott
      last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 5:11 PM

      @jknott In this case it might actually be the PROBLEM.

      If the modem is giving the same subnet as their LAN they will lose GUI access.

      🔒 Log in to view

      Ryan
      Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
      Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
      Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
      Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

      J 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 5:56 PM Reply Quote 0
      • R
        rcoleman-netgate Netgate @Chrisan
        last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 5:13 PM

        @chrisan Makes sense. I suspect you have a public IP now.

        The Netgear Cable Modems (CMs) are known to give a private (RFC1918 or 192.168.100.x) address before they negotiate with the upstream service. And the lease they give to pfSense is short (like 1-5 minutes) to force a refresh and reassignment.

        It's annoying but ... better than nothing.

        Ryan
        Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
        Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
        Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
        Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

        J 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 6:01 PM Reply Quote 0
        • J
          JKnott @rcoleman-netgate
          last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 5:56 PM

          @rcoleman-netgate said in pFSense Beginner - How to Configure WAN:

          If the modem is giving the same subnet as their LAN they will lose GUI access.

          ????

          The DHCP server determines the LAN address. Where are you trying to access the GUI from? You normally access it from the LAN, which means pfSense should have an address within the same subnet as the LAN and the WAN side should have a completely different subnet. Also, you might want to put the modem into bridge mode.

          Lets start from the beginning.
          You normally configure the WAN side of pfSense to use DHCP. DHCP provides the subnet and addresses to devices, in this case pfSense.
          PfSense in turn provides the subnet and addresses to devices on your LAN.
          The LAN and WAN must have different subnets.

          BTW, you may want to configure your modem for bridge mode.

          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...

          R 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 5:59 PM Reply Quote 0
          • R
            rcoleman-netgate Netgate @JKnott
            last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 5:59 PM

            @jknott said in pFSense Beginner - How to Configure WAN:

            ????
            The DHCP server determines the LAN address. Where are you trying to access the GUI from? You normally access it from the LAN, which means pfSense should have an address within the same subnet as the LAN and the WAN side should have a completely different subnet. Also, you might want to put the modem into bridge mode.

            If your WAN is handing out 192.168.1.x and your LAN is set to 192.168.1.x you will have issues.

            Ryan
            Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
            Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
            Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
            Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

            J 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 6:05 PM Reply Quote 0
            • J
              JKnott @rcoleman-netgate
              last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 6:01 PM

              @rcoleman-netgate said in pFSense Beginner - How to Configure WAN:

              It's annoying but ... better than nothing.

              Would the reject leases option help here?

              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...

              R 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 6:02 PM Reply Quote 0
              • R
                rcoleman-netgate Netgate @JKnott
                last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 6:02 PM

                Yes. But if you have your LAN on the same network as the CM management IP it won't let you use the CM's static route to that.

                Ryan
                Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
                Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
                Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
                Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

                J 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 6:07 PM Reply Quote 0
                • J
                  JKnott @rcoleman-netgate
                  last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 6:05 PM

                  @rcoleman-netgate said in pFSense Beginner - How to Configure WAN:

                  If your WAN is handing out 192.168.1.x and your LAN is set to 192.168.1.x you will have issues.

                  If you know the modem is handing out that subnet, why are you setting the LAN to the same subnet? You are creating a situation that cannot work. You have the rest of 192.168.0.0/16, plus all of 172.16.0.0/20 and 10.0.0.0/8 to choose from.

                  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...

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • J
                    JKnott @rcoleman-netgate
                    last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 6:07 PM

                    @rcoleman-netgate

                    Once again, why are you setting the LAN to the same subnet as what the modem is providing? That cannot and will not work. Pick a different subnet for your LAN>

                    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...

                    R 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 6:24 PM Reply Quote 0
                    • R
                      rcoleman-netgate Netgate @JKnott
                      last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 6:24 PM

                      @jknott said in pFSense Beginner - How to Configure WAN:

                      Once again, why are you setting the LAN to the same subnet as what the modem is providing? That cannot and will not work. Pick a different subnet for your LAN>

                      If someone CAN do something you better believe that they're going to come to TAC with that problem.

                      Ryan
                      Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
                      Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
                      Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
                      Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

                      C 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 10:47 PM Reply Quote 0
                      • C
                        Chrisan @rcoleman-netgate
                        last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 10:47 PM

                        @rcoleman-netgate said in pFSense Beginner - How to Configure WAN:

                        @jknott said in pFSense Beginner - How to Configure WAN:

                        Once again, why are you setting the LAN to the same subnet as what the modem is providing? That cannot and will not work. Pick a different subnet for your LAN>

                        If someone CAN do something you better believe that they're going to come to TAC with that problem.

                        The problem that I posted was that I couldn't access the internet through my pFSense box and that I needed some help configuring the WAN. I believe I also stated pFSense was new to me. I'm no expert by any means, not even close. Anyway, pFSense is now retrieving the appropriate subnet from the modem and at least this portion of my project is completed and working. Thx.

                        R 1 Reply Last reply Jan 1, 2023, 10:56 PM Reply Quote 2
                        • R
                          rcoleman-netgate Netgate @Chrisan
                          last edited by Jan 1, 2023, 10:56 PM

                          @chrisan I wasn't responding to you nor was I referencing your issue but rather responding to @JKnott's comments.

                          Ryan
                          Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
                          Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
                          Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
                          Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

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