Shutdown WAN when Reaching Data Cap?
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Hi all.
I have two ISPs and I have a load balance WAN setup. One of my ISPs has a data cap where the other does not. Is there a way I can shut down the WAN with the data cap once it gets close to going over?
I'm not wanting to limit the speed, basically just stop using it if it gets 90% usage of the data and just use the one without the cap until the cap resets at the ISP.
I'm new to pfSense and networking in general, but I'd think there would be a way to monitor the usage and set some kind of rule and reset on a monthly basis. Any tips on where I should look?
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Out of the box, there is this : SOFTWARE RELEASE: pfSense Plus v24.03
There is also this :
Up to you to discover when these counters are reset.
And yeah, pfSense hasn't a "stop using a WAN when xx bytes are used".
This exists when you use the captive portal, but a captive portal isn't a WAN, but LAN interface thing.@Witchboard said in Shutdown WAN when Reaching Data Cap?:
I'm new to pfSense and networking in general
Look here : the same info as it exists since 1960 ( ? ) on the command line :
Now you have all that is needed to work with.
Mission : You want to automatize something.
Two choices exist since the dawn of time :
Hire someone.
Write a script.You chose.
Btw : Noop, I'm not joking
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@Witchboard Depending on what type of metered WAN you actually have, there may be a solution inside the "ISP router" already. In many FWA routers today there is a function to monitor and at least send a message when a certain data limit has been exceeded.
I'm using an LTE router for my failover connection and the TP-Link router I use lets me set a monthly allowance and then a trigger level to send a notification via sms.
It doesn't stop the connection but I get the chance to act at least. There may be other FWA routers from different brands that could have more elaborate solutions, and perhaps the ability to stop the traffic completely...
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Thanks for the input guys. There's no router other than my pfSense for that ISP. It plugs directly into the modem, but before I started paying for unlimited, I would get messages letting me know I was getting near my cap. It may be a non issue since I'm running both now and have a load balanced gateway set up. I'll have to monitor the monthly data usage and see where it all ends up.
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@Witchboard So you actually have a fixed metered connection?? That is quite unusual... where is this?
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It's not fixed as in they slam the door on me, it's fixed as in they charge me for an overage after I think 1TB. I can't recall as I've been paying an extra $50 a month for unlimited for a while now, but it cost less than the overage on a bad month. Looking to recoup those costs now that I can split my data between two ISPs.
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@Witchboard Ah yes, I meant fixed as in wired... vs wireless which is commonly offered as a metered connection, although many are not...
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@Gblenn Ah, understood. No, this is cabled internet, not a 5G wireless plan or anything.
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@Gblenn All of AT&T's DSL/Fixed Wireless/Fiber plans below 100Mbps plans have Data Caps. Same with Cox cable internet. I agree it's not common when looking across say, a large part of the US, but for those that are in that location, it's probably the only choice they've got.
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@rune-san said in Shutdown WAN when Reaching Data Cap?:
@Gblenn All of AT&T's DSL/Fixed Wireless/Fiber plans below 100Mbps plans have Data Caps. Same with Cox cable internet. I agree it's not common when looking across say, a large part of the US, but for those that are in that location, it's probably the only choice they've got.
Hmm, makes sense when they offer connections over a shared resource like FWA, but fiber (or cable)... seems like a way to force people to pay extra, just because they can. Or to force people to abandon costly (for the operator) DSL.
Globally though, quite unusual...
