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    WAN IF disappeared after storm - diagnosis help

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Official Netgate® Hardware
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Do you see link LEDs when you connect it?

      Do you see all the interfaces listed in the output of ifconfig?

      Do you see them attaching in the boot log?

      Steve

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      • stephenw10S stephenw10 moved this topic from Hardware on
      • J
        jess8bit @stephenw10
        last edited by

        @stephenw10 said in WAN IF disappeared after storm - diagnosis help:

        Steve

        Thanks for reaching out Steve.

        In advance I apologize for the dummy questions but I had never faced such an issue before.

        • Do you see link LEDs when you connect it?
          Nope. Like it can't even negotiate anything. I also plugged the WAN (ix3) into another upstream router and nothing.
          The green LED itself works as I saw it blink once when I reboot the netgate but that's it.

        • Do you see all the interfaces listed in the output of ifconfig?
          (dummy question 1) from which device should I run the command, and plugged in which interface?

        • Do you see them attaching in the boot log?
          (dummy question 1) Is that in webGUI's Status / System Logs / System / OS Boot ? What line should I look for there?

        thanks!

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        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          You can run ifconfig on pfSense itself in Diag > Command Prompt or directly at the command line.

          Yes, the OS Boot log should show all 8 NICs at boot. If one is damaged and doesn't show or the driver cannot attach it might change the interface order.

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          • J
            jess8bit @stephenw10
            last edited by

            @stephenw10
            mmm...
            so ifconfig does show ix3 in the list (only it's with status No Carrier),
            and it is also mentioned in the Boot Log.

            Looks like I'm missing something as stupid as I am.

            What bothers me is all was OK until we got this storm, didn't change anything in the config, then SHTF.

            How can't I get an IP from the upstream router/ISP after the basic DHCP post-reset set up?

            something 's off (if not me 😅 )

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            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              It could still be the NIC was damaged just not the part that the OS sees on the bus. If there are no link LEDs it likely was.

              You can reassign the WAN to ix2, the other combo port, if it's available.

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              • J
                jess8bit @stephenw10
                last edited by

                @stephenw10
                Will make some tests! I need to purchase a SFP -> RJ45 module to test that combo port.

                My 8200 is <1 year, I wonder if this covered by the basic warranty...

                I'll update that thread once I know more.

                Thanks again Sir 🙏

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                • S
                  SteveITS Galactic Empire @jess8bit
                  last edited by

                  @jess8bit it was connected using fiber or copper? Fiber shouldn’t be Abe to damage it electrically. FWIW I have in the past seen nearby lightning burn out Ethernet, modems, cable TV, actual TVs, analog phones, etc.

                  Any port can be used as a WAN, the labels are just labels.
                  “The default configuration has all ports assigned as WANs and LANs to match the labels on the back of the device. These are only pre-defined labels; any port can be renamed and configured for any purpose.”
                  Just noting as you may not need to buy anything.

                  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!

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    I was suggesting just using ix2 instead of ix3 as WAN. However it may be possible that the SFP port on ix3 still functions if the damage was only to the RJ-45 port hardware.

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                    • J
                      jess8bit
                      last edited by

                      @SteveITS @stephenw10 guys thanks for your messages,

                      Following up,

                      @SteveITS It was connected using copper. But it doesn't go directly to my 8200's RJ45 WAN port (ix3). It goes like this:
                      Outside ONT --> inside Cat5e cable --> intermediary keystone RJ45 coupler --> Cat6a cable --> ix3 RJ45
                      Strangely enough, there is no apparent damage to the 1st cat5e cable, nor the coupler, nor the cat6a cable.
                      Looks like only the final RJ45 port has been touched.

                      @stephenw10 Today I received the SFP/SFP+ to RJ45 tranceiver module I ordered, plugged it in the SFP port of ix3, plugged my cat6a cable into it, and... bazinga, it worked immediatly, LED started to blink. So I'm back in business.
                      ix3.jpeg

                      So.. bottom line, looks like my RJ45 did suffer.

                      Now I want to protect my line from surges...

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                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by

                        Nice result! 👍

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