Pfsense Internet speed issues
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Hello everyone, after spending hours trying to properly configure pfSense with no success, I decided to register and ask the experts for help.
I’ve installed pfSense on a VirtualBox VM on a mini-PC running Windows 11 with two Ethernet network adapters: one is an Intel 225i-v 2.5G motherboard adapter, and the other is a Realtek 2.5G adapter via USB. I’ve configured the first one as WAN and the second as LAN.
I have an internet connection with 600/100 Mbps via a router with DHCP, which connects through the ISP's router in bridge mode. All devices connected to this router get optimal speed test results, except for pfSense. Devices connected to pfSense's LAN are getting speeds of around 70 Mbps (or even less). I ran tests with iperf3 between pfSense and PCs on the LAN, and the results were around 700 Mbps, so it seems the problem is with internet access.
I’ve tried using MT Desktop, Server, and VirtIO, and the best results came with VirtIO.
Does anyone know how I can investigate where the issue might be?
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First check Status > Interfaces and make sure both NICs are linked at 1G or 2.5G. A restriction as low as 70Mbps is usually some low level link issue.
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Thank you Stephen, both NICs show this Media: 10Gbase-T <full-duplex>
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@Palombera said in Pfsense Internet speed issues:
Does anyone know how I can investigate where the issue might be?
Check your Ethernet cable and ports. A bad cable or connection can limit you to 100 Mb.
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Yup, still feels like something low level. Check the connections in Windows. The 10G link value is just what VBox is reporting internally.
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@stephenw10 said in Pfsense Internet speed issues:
The 10G link value is just what VBox is reporting internally.
Ethernet negotiation takes place at 10 Mb and then shifts to the best supported speed. This means everything can check out fine, but if there's a broken wire, etc. that negotiated speed won't be reached.
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Right but if pfSense is seeing 10G it's only looking at the virtual NICs to virtual switch link so it doesn't really help much!
If there is an issue anywhere only the Windows driver could see it.
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Thank you very much for your answers!!
I tried with 2 PCs and 2 new ethernet cables with same results, so connections seems that is not the problem.
More info: Minipc W11 tests results are optimal. Iperf3 results between pfsense and other pcs are ok (700Mbps).
What I have read is that Realtek USB NICs are not the best to work with pfsense. Could be Realtek nic the problem?
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Yes it could be but not in pfSense because pfSense cannot 'see' that device directly. It only sees a virtual NIC presented by VBox. So you need to check the NIC in Windows to see any errors present there.
Unless you have configured VBox to allow access to the USB NIC directly? That would be a far more complex setup though.
