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    Multiple lan subnets (NO VLANS)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • V Offline
      viragomann @Khoomn
      last edited by

      @Khoomn
      Yes, VLAN is the only option to separate multiple SSIDs.

      The best would be to get a VLAN capable switch to separate the IoT network from your LAN cleanly, however it should also be doable with dumb switches.
      Just configure the switches as AP with multiple SSIDs, where the IoT is bound to a VLAN. On pfSense add the same VLAN on the interface, where the APs are connected to (or even the switch in between). Assign an interface to this VLAN and configure it.
      Then you have an IoT interface plus the other without VLAN, your home LAN.

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      • stephenw10S Offline
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        Unmanaged switches like that should just pass all tagged traffic so I'd expect it to work fine using VLAN tagged traffic for guest, IoT etc. However some switches may not YMMV!

        Obviously that doesn't provide full isolation so broadcast on any VLAN would be sent to all clients. Any wired client could set their own VLAN tag and join that subnet. But wireless clients would still be isolated.

        Steve

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        • johnpozJ Online
          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @Khoomn
          last edited by johnpoz

          @Khoomn as mentioned while its possible to pass tags across a unmanaged (dumb) switch. It is not true isolation.

          Do you not have another nic in your pfsense box? Can you not add one - if you had another nic, you could connect your AP to that and run a completely isolated network without any tagging.

          Or you could if you want run an untagged network and tagged and or all tagged networks on your AP. Which would be completely isolated from your "lan" network.

          If you do not have another nic it would be best to get at least 1 small smart (vlan capable) switch - now you can add your dumb switches to ports and all devices on that dumb switch would be on the vlan you put them in on the upstream smart switch. And you can connect your vlan capable AP to a port on this switch and put wifi devices on any network you want.

          vlans.jpg

          You can pick up like a 8 port gig smart switch for $40.. Or even just a 5 port smart switch would work.. Adding a smart switch to your network would still allow you to leverage the ports on your dumb switches and even put your dumb switches on a specific network be it your normal lan or another vlan, and allow your AP to put clients on any network you want while providing complete isolation..

          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 25.07 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07

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

            @johnpoz said in Multiple lan subnets (NO VLANS):

            get at least 1 small smart (vlan capable) switch

            Be careful with TP-Link. Some models don't handle VLANs properly.

            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...

            K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • K Offline
              Khoomn @JKnott
              last edited by

              @JKnott

              I was looking at TP-Link’s TL-SG105E managed switch. Is that a bad choice? I don’t need many ports so all I need is a 5 or 8 port managed switch

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              • johnpozJ Online
                johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @Khoomn
                last edited by

                @Khoomn the tplinks in the past had issues with vlans - they wouldn't let you remove vlan 1 from ports you wanted in another vlan..

                They did fix it, and I would think if your model is current, and not off the shelf from a couple years back you should be fine. But yeah I would look to something else other than tplink.. That whole fiasco kind of showed they don't really understand how vlans are suppose to work.

                I would think you could find another brand in the same price point as the tplinks.. But if you can't - I would sure hope the current models do allow you to remove vlan 1 when you want a port in another vlan, 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 25.07 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07

                K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • K Offline
                  Khoomn @johnpoz
                  last edited by

                  @johnpoz

                  Yeah all the 5 port ones I’m seeing online either have vlans not working or, even though they are $50 for 5 ports, you can only do vlan 1-5 which is dumb

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                  • johnpozJ Online
                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @Khoomn
                    last edited by

                    @Khoomn I see a Zyxel GS1200-5 on amazon for $20 right now.. I have no experience with that brand - but from a quick look it should work, and its cheaper than the tplink one by like 3 bucks ;)

                    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 25.07 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07

                    Bob.DigB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • Bob.DigB Offline
                      Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @johnpoz
                      last edited by

                      @johnpoz said in Multiple lan subnets (NO VLANS):

                      I see a Zyxel GS1200-5 on amazon for $20 right now.. I have no experience with that brand -

                      Get the 8 port version (GS1200-8). I have them both and do like them (you can have max 32 VLANs).

                      V K 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • V Offline
                        viragomann @Bob.Dig
                        last edited by

                        @Khoomn
                        I have also a Zyxel GS1200-8 with VLANs configured on it and a trunk to pfSense. Works pretty well and is easy to set up.

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                        • K Offline
                          Khoomn @Bob.Dig
                          last edited by Khoomn

                          @Bob-Dig

                          I only plan to have 2 but can you select the vlan ids or is it only vlan ids 1-32? Also who is that company? Ive never heard of them.

                          I’m gonna just go with the 5 port as thats all i need.

                          Also is the web based panel local or online? Any subscriptions?

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                          • Bob.DigB Offline
                            Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @Khoomn
                            last edited by Bob.Dig

                            @Khoomn said in Multiple lan subnets (NO VLANS):

                            I only plan to have 2 but can you select the vlan ids

                            Sure you can, also it is the easiest understandable vlan interface I am aware of because they put everything in one page.

                            Capture.PNG

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                            • K Offline
                              Khoomn @Bob.Dig
                              last edited by

                              @Bob-Dig

                              I’m gonna just go with the 5 port as thats all i need.

                              Also is the web based panel local or online? Any subscriptions?

                              Bob.DigB johnpozJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • Bob.DigB Offline
                                Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @Khoomn
                                last edited by

                                @Khoomn Good old local.

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                                • johnpozJ Online
                                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @Khoomn
                                  last edited by

                                  @Khoomn said in Multiple lan subnets (NO VLANS):

                                  I’m gonna just go with the 5 port as thats all i need.

                                  Currently - but what about tmrw, or next month ;)

                                  if the extra 15 isn't going to break you budget - I would go with the extra ports.. Maybe you want to add an extra AP in the future, or 2 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 25.07 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07

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                                  • K Offline
                                    Khoomn @johnpoz
                                    last edited by

                                    @johnpoz

                                    I already have 3 APs that will cover my whole house. No security cameras (i really dont know why we dont), and the only hardwired PC is mine. Everything else is wifi

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                                    • johnpozJ Online
                                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @Khoomn
                                      last edited by

                                      @Khoomn oh so you won't be using the dumb switches then?

                                      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 25.07 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07

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