Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    PfSense no DHCP on VLANs for UniFi WiFi controller

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
    34 Posts 9 Posters 3.0k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • R
      rcoleman-netgate Netgate @Happydog
      last edited by

      @Happydog You can't tag a port and have a system see the network -- if you are plugging into a switch port you need that VLAN untagged.

      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

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • H
        Happydog
        last edited by

        right. In any case, made it a simple test setup. Just a switch and an AP and a PC on the LAN1 port. Looks like setups I have on 1100s except the WAN interface is separate (mvneta0) on the 2100 and they work fine. On the 6100s The VLANs are just assigned to a physical port. Setting a port profile to a VLAN in Unifi gives that VLAN IP address to the connected device. Can't see much else to screw it up.

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

          So how exactly are you testing?

          I assume untagged clients work on the LAN directly?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • H
            Happydog
            last edited by

            Testing on a WiFi network (shows the client connected but no IP address) and a PC connected to a port with a VLAN profile. Same thing. Has to be something simple. The LAN works properly on both.

            R 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • R
              rcoleman-netgate Netgate @Happydog
              last edited by

              @Happydog It doesn't appear to be a pfSense issue.

              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

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • S
                SteveITS Galactic Empire @Happydog
                last edited by

                @Happydog is there a UniFi router in their config? I’ve seen it where the network there is set to use a UniFi router which wasn’t connected yet as the old router was still in place.

                Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
                When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
                Upvote 👍 helpful posts!

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • H
                  Happydog
                  last edited by

                  No. Netgate 2100, UniFi PoE8 switch, UniFi AP and a PC (used to access the 2100; I bundle one with each Netgate). The problem must be somewhere in the Netgate setup. But there isn't much there in this basic config. DHCP Server is OK.
                  Screenshot 2023-08-02 123210.png Screenshot 2023-08-02 203338.png

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • H
                    Happydog
                    last edited by

                    Screenshot 2023-08-02 203930.png

                    R 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • R
                      rcoleman-netgate Netgate @Happydog
                      last edited by

                      @Happydog Again - I don't see anything wrong with your 2100's configuration. It has to be on the Unifi.

                      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

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • H
                        Happydog
                        last edited by

                        Feel the same. Pretty simple setup and I've done a few. What are the settings in Pfsense to configure one of the LAN ports as a particular VLAN only? Just so I get it right.

                        S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • S
                          SteveITS Galactic Empire @Happydog
                          last edited by

                          @Happydog to isolate a port: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/netgate-2100/configuring-the-switch-ports.html

                          Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
                          When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
                          Upvote 👍 helpful posts!

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • bingo600B
                            bingo600
                            last edited by bingo600

                            Just a thought ....

                            Did you try to disable DHCP snooping on the unifi.
                            I can't really decide if the below is for a switch or if it's also in the AP.
                            Maybe try it .....

                            From:
                            https://evanmccann.net/blog/2021/11/unifi-advanced-wi-fi-settings

                            5323c1c8-f7d2-4047-bf37-ae787ed65c4c-image.png

                            If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

                            pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                            QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                            CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                            LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • H
                              Happydog
                              last edited by

                              Testing by connecting to a WiFi network on a VLAN network. That shows the client connecting but no IP address. Also connected a PC to a tagged port. Again no IP address.

                              stephenw10S johnpozJ R 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • H
                                Happydog
                                last edited by

                                Set up a couple VLANs on another system. Same thing. This is such basic stuff that there must be some easy solution. Disabled DHCP snooping and one wifi network came back to life. Another didn't. Same settings everywhere. And on a different system (1100). Need to go over this with a UniFi expert. I doubt this is a Pfsense or Netgate issue because all the other VALNs and associated networks are fine.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • N
                                  nimrod
                                  last edited by nimrod

                                  Go through this manual again

                                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMyz7SVlrgc

                                  I know this is basic stuff we are talking about here, but sometimes things get overlooked. It happened to me many times.

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

                                    @Happydog said in PfSense no DHCP on VLANs for UniFi WiFi controller:

                                    Also connected a PC to a tagged port. Again no IP address.

                                    This could be read several ways. To test with a PC directly it has to be on an untagged port that's a member of the VLAN. Presumably on the unifi switch.

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

                                      @Happydog said in PfSense no DHCP on VLANs for UniFi WiFi controller:

                                      Also connected a PC to a tagged port. Again no IP address.

                                      As @stephenw10 stated.. If your just going to connect a pc to a tagged port - the PC would have to be set to send and understand tags that it gets. this can be done in the driver in windows, and linux can be set to understand the tag as well.

                                      But almost always these ports should be in the vlan untagged, with the pvid set to the vlan ID.

                                      Single devices are normally in 1 vlan, so should be untagged. The only time you need to have tags is when your going to carry more than 1 vlan over the same wire.

                                      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 2.8, 24.11

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • R
                                        rcoleman-netgate Netgate @Happydog
                                        last edited by

                                        @Happydog I'm thinking you haven't tagged the WiFi VLAN on the uplink port to the pfSense yet.

                                        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

                                        pfrickrollP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • pfrickrollP
                                          pfrickroll @rcoleman-netgate
                                          last edited by

                                          @Happydog I'm thinking you haven't tagged the WiFi VLAN on the uplink port to the pfSense yet.

                                          I second that.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • H
                                            Happydog
                                            last edited by

                                            I think it's set up correctly. Tagging a port with a VLAN and connecting to a DHCP enabled device works fine. Connecting to a WiFi network with a VLAN tag takes a long time (5+ minutes) to get an IP and connect. The default LAN works fine. The settings in UniFi are very simple. I've done dozens of those setups. The Firewall on each VLAN has one allow all rule (for now).

                                            R stephenw10S johnpozJ 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.