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    PfSense is unreachable after install

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      So when you're in the 'Test' configuration if you set the PC to DHCP it doesn't pull a IP address?

      When if you connect the PC to the New pfSense LAN directly without a switch?

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        mathomas3 @stephenw10
        last edited by

        @stephenw10 correct... the PC didnt pull an IP(and yes I would have preferred to use a switch, that shouldnt have mattered in this case)

        the second part of your question... I have recently gotten cat5 connectors and I can make a crossover cable... do you think it's worth the time? I would think that the hub test should be valid

        johnpozJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • johnpozJ
          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @mathomas3
          last edited by johnpoz

          @mathomas3 said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

          cat5 connectors and I can make a crossover cable

          Why would you think you need a crossover? Crossover hasn't been a thing since gig came out 1998 ;)

          Part of the 1000Base-T standard is auto-midx, if atleast one of the interfaces is gig, there is no need for a crossover.

          If your not getting dhcp there is something wrong with the switch, the cable or the interface(driver for the interface).. When you look on pfsense, or any of the devices connected to the same switch that pfsense is connected to do you see a mac address in the arp table of that device, does pfsense in its arp table see any of the other devices?

          Or maybe you have some messed up vlan config on the switch?

          An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
          If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
          Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
          SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

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            mathomas3 @johnpoz
            last edited by

            @johnpoz ok... I connected the NewBox directly to the OldBox and setup(I hope this port to a complete new IP Scope) 2.1 and 2.3(for the NexBox) and using an existing PC on the network I am able to ping the OldBox at 2.1 while the NewBox at 2.3 isnt reachable...

            I also do not have vlans setup on the switch

            How would I check for which drivers are being used on the NewBox vs Mint? would it be worth trying a Dev build on this system?

            I bought this hardware as a "renewed" system so it's not something I would think exotic nor bleeding edge... something that linux should cover...

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              mathomas3 @mathomas3
              last edited by

              I checked what network card that I am using and it's a Intel I217-LM which has been supported by FreeBSD since version 8.4 till version 14(current)

              I checked which version of FreeBSD that PfSense I am currently running is 12.(something)... so I should be good there...

              Should I open a bug report here? I have confirmed the hardware, the drivers, the kernel, cables, in many different configurations... Im at a loss...

              cb828b50-1baa-4adb-a2b5-892eeb6b47d6-image.png

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                mathomas3 @mathomas3
                last edited by

                Well I just tried the Dev build while it was directly connected to the OldBox... no go there... in the morning I will try it going through the switch... Im losing hope...

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                • johnpozJ
                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @mathomas3
                  last edited by

                  @mathomas3 said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                  I am able to ping the OldBox at 2.1 while the NewBox at 2.3 isnt reachable...

                  And did you look to see if you see an mac addresses?

                  @mathomas3 said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                  I connected the NewBox directly to the OldBox and setup

                  What does that even mean?

                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

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                    mathomas3 @johnpoz
                    last edited by

                    @johnpoz I have looked at the ARP table and nothing matches from what I have seen...

                    Also... the after suggestion of others, I have physically connected the two boxes together and given them their own subnet... a 192.168.2.0/24 vs my normal network being 192.168.1.0/24

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                      mathomas3 @johnpoz
                      last edited by mathomas3

                      This post is deleted!
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                      • johnpozJ
                        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @mathomas3
                        last edited by

                        @mathomas3 said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                        ARP table and nothing matches from what I have seen...

                        Well if you ping the IP and you get no mac, then no your never going to talk to it.. Its that simple.. Doesn't matter what IPs you put on the devices... If your not seeing a mac for the IP, you are not going to talk to it..

                        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                        If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                        Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                        SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

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                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          Mmm, this has to be something very basic.

                          When you tested it with Mint on the same hardware and were able to ping were you using the same switch port?

                          What happens if you disconnect the USB modem and re-assign the WAN as em0? Does it pull a DHCP from the Old pfSense?

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                            mathomas3 @stephenw10
                            last edited by

                            @stephenw10 said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                            Mmm, this has to be something very basic.

                            When you tested it with Mint on the same hardware and were able to ping were you using the same switch port? Yes

                            What happens if you disconnect the USB modem and re-assign the WAN as em0? Does it pull a DHCP from the Old pfSense? Early on I did try this and the NewBox never received an IP...

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                              mathomas3 @stephenw10
                              last edited by

                              @stephenw10 said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                              Mmm, this has to be something very basic.
                              I would like it to be. I have been in IT for 30 years now and would like to think that I know a thing or two... I dont seek help from the forums easily... at the start of all this we confirmed setting and have redone the settings many times... different OS, cables, settings, even reconfirmed everything with screenshots... Maybe this NewBox would be better suited as a door stop -_-

                              johnpozJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • johnpozJ
                                johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @mathomas3
                                last edited by johnpoz

                                @mathomas3 ok lets forget this old box new box nonsense. You keep saying IPs then screenshots showing different IPs, etc..

                                Do this simple test

                                Your problem china box that you say works on mint..

                                box -- cable -- pc

                                When the box runs mint, set its IP to 192.168.1.1/24, your pc set to 192.168.1.2/24

                                Your saying this works both boxes can see each other... What is the mac address of the box interface?

                                now same setup, not changing any cables, not even changing the IPs on the pc setup pfsense, its IP will be 192.168.1.1/24

                                Your saying now the box can not talk to the pc, does not see its mac in the arp table, and the pc can not talk to the box and does not see its mac in its arp table?

                                An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

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                                  mathomas3 @johnpoz
                                  last edited by

                                  @johnpoz said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                                  @mathomas3 ok lets forget this old box new box nonsense. You keep saying IPs then screenshots showing different IPs, etc..

                                  Do this simple test

                                  Your problem china box that you say works on mint..

                                  box -- cable -- pc

                                  When the box runs mint, set its IP to 192.168.1.1/24, your pc set to 192.168.1.2/24

                                  Your saying this works both boxes can see each other... What is the mac address of the box interface?

                                  now same setup, not changing any cables, not even changing the IPs on the pc setup pfsense, its IP will be 192.168.1.1/24

                                  Your saying now the box can not talk to the pc, does not see its mac in the arp table, and the pc can not talk to the box and does not see its mac in its arp table?

                                  Feels like we have done this before twice and your thinking this is user error -_- but ok...

                                  I just completed what you instructed and there is no change.
                                  First I setup PC to Mint... I was able to ping from PC to Mint but not the other way around(FW was active)
                                  installed a fresh Stable version of pfsense and set up the WAN interface(ethernet port) with an IP and I was not able to ping either way(after disabling the FW on the PC) then I tried setting up the LAN(using the ethernet port) and the WAN using dhcp + usb hotspot(which got an IP) The LAN was given a static IP and tried pinging both ways and got nothing...

                                  I reran the entire test without the FW enabled... Using Mint I was able to ping and the PC did reflect the ARP record as dynamic... rebooted into PfSense and I was not able to ping either way and the ARP record was no longer listed...

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                                    mathomas3 @mathomas3
                                    last edited by

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                                    • johnpozJ
                                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @mathomas3
                                      last edited by

                                      @mathomas3 said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                                      version of pfsense and set up the WAN interface(ethernet port) with an IP

                                      You seem to have a really hard time following simple instructions.. Where did I say setup a WAN interface with an IP?

                                      What I wanted to accomplish was ruling out you changing the default IP of pfsense lan which is 192.168.1.1...

                                      So what your saying is the freebsd driver for this nic is not working, while the linux version is - even though the interface shows that is up, has an IP, etc.. Which seems unlikely set of circumstances to be honest.

                                      So vs installing linux, how about installing freebsd. Or using the usb interface as you lan interface - because this seems to come up and get an IP from your old boxes dhcp, etc.

                                      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

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                                        mathomas3 @johnpoz
                                        last edited by

                                        @johnpoz said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                                        @mathomas3 said in PfSense is unreachable after install:

                                        version of pfsense and set up the WAN interface(ethernet port) with an IP

                                        You seem to have a really hard time following simple instructions.. Where did I say setup a WAN interface with an IP?
                                        Gee... Thanks for that -_-

                                        But to be sure I reinstalled the OS and did EXACTLY like you said... and still nothing

                                        the USB connection goes directly to a USBc hotspot... there is no USB to cat5 connection

                                        I guess Ill try bsd and see what happens...

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                                          mathomas3 @mathomas3
                                          last edited by

                                          And the reason that I setup the WAN interface is because it was suggested before and I have tried everything else that has been suggested multiple times... I find it hard to believe that it's user error given my experience, and knowledge to include the number of different ways that I have tried to set this up

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                                            mathomas3 @johnpoz
                                            last edited by

                                            So vs installing linux, how about installing freebsd. Or using the usb interface as you lan interface - because this seems to come up and get an IP from your old boxes dhcp, etc.

                                            I just installed FreeBSD on the box and it pulled an IP and I was able to ping the OldBox.

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