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    WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense

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    • patient0P
      patient0 @newbieuser1
      last edited by

      @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

      Thank you. But will I still have WiFI at all? And be able to connect all devices to the same WiFi network?

      If you have a Wifi access point (AP) that is not your all-in-one-router and you connect that AP to the LAN of your Protectli, then yes.

      N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • N
        newbieuser1 @patient0
        last edited by

        Sorry, I struggle to understand - I will not have WiFi when I turn on the bridge mode?

        Meaning that I should purchase a modem, connect it to the Protectli and put my existing router into access point mode then?

        patient0P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • patient0P
          patient0 @newbieuser1
          last edited by

          @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

          Sorry, I struggle to understand - I will not have WiFi when I turn on the bridge mode?

          Yep, exactly. In bridge mode you loose all functionality of the all-in-one-router.

          Meaning that I should purchase a modem, connect it to the Protectli and put my existing router into access point mode then?

          If your ISP allows to use any modem and you can put your router into access point mode, then yes.

          Do you connect by DSL or PPPoE to the ISP and does your ISP allow you to modems that are not from the ISP?

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          • N
            newbieuser1 @patient0
            last edited by

            @patient0, thank you so much for your help today! I asked my ISP and they told me I can use any modem, they won't provide one, so I will have to research. If you have any recommendations for brands/types, those are welcome.

            patient0P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • patient0P
              patient0 @newbieuser1
              last edited by

              @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

              I asked my ISP and they told me I can use any modem

              What kind of modem you need? ADSL or VDSL or something else, what is the ISP & Country?

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              • N
                newbieuser1 @patient0
                last edited by

                I did some googling around...I am not sure regarding VDSL/ADSL but since I have a fiber optic provider (BT, UK), then it seems I need GPON ONT modem or something like that? Basically to be compatible with the fiber network. There is just an ethernet cable coming out of the wall, no coaxial cables.

                patient0P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • patient0P
                  patient0 @newbieuser1
                  last edited by

                  @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                  I have a fiber optic provider (BT, UK), then it seems I need GPON ONT modem

                  I see, I never worked with GPON ONT and can't give any recommendations (it is fiber, ADSL/VDSL is used with copper lines).

                  N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • N
                    newbieuser1 @patient0
                    last edited by

                    Noted. Going back to the webGUI access, I went to Systems -> Admin and chose https access, then the site kicked me out saying it was applying the new protocol. However, when I tried to log back on, the address still uses the http not https. With https, it does not load up anything. How can I enable the https?

                    patient0P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • patient0P
                      patient0 @newbieuser1
                      last edited by patient0

                      @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                      With https, it does not load up anything. How can I enable the https?

                      You did it correct way it seems, with an unexpected result.

                      Edit: typo -> "expected" should being "unexpected"

                      If you go to System / Advanced / Admin Access, does it look like the below?

                      Screenshot 2025-04-07 at 08.45.25.jpeg.

                      What version of pfSense have you installed, btw? 2.7.2?

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                      • N
                        newbieuser1 @patient0
                        last edited by

                        Thank you. Yes, version 2.7.2.

                        My screen is like your screenshot, except under Protocol it says: "No Certificates have been defined. A certificate is required before SSL/TSL can be enabled. Create or Import a Certificate".

                        patient0P GertjanG 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • patient0P
                          patient0 @newbieuser1
                          last edited by patient0

                          @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                          My screen is like your screenshot, except under Protocol it says: "No Certificates have been defined. A certificate is required before SSL/TSL can be enabled. Create or Import a Certificate".

                          Is there a certificate you can select in the 'SSL/TLS Certificate' drop-down list? If yes, select it and switch the protocol to HTTPS.

                          It's unlucky that the settings page accepts switching to https without having selected a certificate. I'll check tomorrow if that is still an issue on 2.8.0-BETA. And if yes if there is an existing bug report for it. It automatically selected the one available cert, GUI default. Is that true for you too?

                          N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • GertjanG
                            Gertjan @newbieuser1
                            last edited by Gertjan

                            You saw this ;

                            @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                            My screen is like your screenshot, except under Protocol it says: "No Certificates have been defined. A certificate is required before SSL/TSL can be enabled. Create or Import a Certificate".

                            and I presume that you installed pfSense a couple of day ago :

                            @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                            I got a Protectli Vault, on which I installed pfSense.

                            One of the things that happens when you install : a cert like :

                            0660ed0d-22b9-4bc4-8c1f-d0f87d4f4daa-image.png

                            is created so you can use it for the https access.
                            Its a self signed certificate, which means it isn't signed by the big "trusted" (by your browser) companies, so your browser should through a message on the screen that it can't trust the cert. Just tell it to go ahead and accept.

                            If there are no certificates listed here :

                            1d6ffa05-c54d-4ca3-afb9-26b4c3045fde-image.png

                            then that's a real issue / not normal.
                            Some one deleted something ^^
                            That said, you can create a new one with the click of a mouse button.

                            No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                            Edit : and where are the logs ??

                            N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • N
                              newbieuser1 @patient0
                              last edited by

                              I now had a chance to check.

                              There is a certificate in the dropdown list and it was already selected when I initially switched to HTTPS. I believe this is the self-generated default certificate.

                              I also see that same certificate in System - > Certificates. It is valid, and it also reads "CA: No" & "Server: Yes"

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                              • N
                                newbieuser1 @Gertjan
                                last edited by

                                @Gertjan The self-generated certificate is there (in "Certificates"). It says: "CA: No" & "Server: Yes" & "In Use: webConfigurator"

                                The same certificate is also in the dropdown menu in Systems->Advanced and the HTTPS box is selected. I am still not able to access the webGUI via https though...

                                GertjanG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • GertjanG
                                  Gertjan @newbieuser1
                                  last edited by

                                  @newbieuser1

                                  Time to use the most important interface on your pfSense : the console.
                                  This could be a serial connection, or if you have a VGA/HDMI interface, use that (and a usb keyboard)
                                  You'll see the menu, selection 8)

                                  Use this command :

                                  ps aux | grep '\/nginx'
                                  

                                  What did you see ?

                                  sockstat -4 | grep 'nginx'
                                  

                                  What did you see ?

                                  No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                                  Edit : and where are the logs ??

                                  N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • N
                                    newbieuser1 @Gertjan
                                    last edited by

                                    @Gertjan hey, thanks for following up and sorry for the delayed response. First typed the ps aux command and I see writings about two roots: "root 12345 Is ...." & "root 3456 v0 S+....."

                                    Then I typed the sockstat -4 command but it did not bring up anything.

                                    Please let me know what I should do next? Or if there is helpful read for me to do?

                                    GertjanG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • GertjanG
                                      Gertjan @newbieuser1
                                      last edited by

                                      @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                                      ps aux command and I see writings about two roots: "root 12345 Is ...." & "root 3456 v0 S+....."

                                      Like this :

                                      [25.03-BETA][root@pfSense.bhf.tld]/root: ps aux | grep '\/nginx'
                                      root    85586   0.0  0.3  32960  10756  -  Is   Mon03       0:00.00 nginx: master process /usr/local/sbin/nginx
                                      root    86898   0.0  0.3  32960  10656  -  Is   Mon03       0:00.00 nginx: master process /usr/local/sbin/nginx
                                      root    88506   0.0  0.3  43200  10828  -  Is   Mon03       0:00.00 nginx: master process /usr/local/sbin/nginx
                                      root    83606   0.0  0.1  14076   2692  0  S+   07:54       0:00.00 grep \\/ngin
                                      

                                      I've 3 nginx processes, as I'm also using the captive portal, which is also a web server serving a web page, the login page.
                                      Default, the GUI of pfSense uses itself two nginx processes.
                                      So, for me, that make 3. You should see two lines like this.

                                      @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                                      Then I typed the sockstat -4 command but it did not bring up anythin

                                      Impossible.
                                      "sockstat -4 " by itself lists dozens of lines.
                                      sockstat -4 | grep 'nginx' :

                                      [25.03-BETA][root@pfSense.bhf.tld]/root: sockstat -4 | grep 'nginx'
                                      .....
                                      root     nginx      85884 5   tcp4   *:443                 *:*
                                      root     nginx      85884 10  tcp4   *:80                  *:*
                                      root     nginx      85586 5   tcp4   *:443                 *:*
                                      root     nginx      85586 10  tcp4   *:80                  *:*
                                      

                                      this shows the two pfSEnse GUI processes listing to the web server default ports, the very known "808" for http and 443 for https.
                                      If these line don't show up : don't look any further : if the web server isn't using these ports, then it can do it's job : serve the GUI, which exactly matches your issue : "no reponse".

                                      Why ? I can't tell. Give us the details, and we'll try to give the answers.

                                      No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                                      Edit : and where are the logs ??

                                      N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • N
                                        newbieuser1 @Gertjan
                                        last edited by

                                        @Gertjan thank you.

                                        I went to the console again and this time I typed first the sockstat command, and this time it did bring up something. It looks exactly like your screenshot, except that I see 6 roots. Not sure if it makes a difference but my numbers are in the 6000s range, and instead of 5 and 10, I get 5 and 7. The tcp4 and the *443 and *80 are just like in your screenshot.

                                        As to the ps aux command, I have only 2 nginx processes and what shows up is like in your screenshot, except I get for the for the first one (the - Is):

                                        0:00.00 ngninx: master process /usr/local/sbin/nginx -c/var/etc/nginx-w

                                        For the S+, the text is exactly like in your screenshot.

                                        GertjanG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • GertjanG
                                          Gertjan @newbieuser1
                                          last edited by

                                          @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                                          I went to the console again and this time I typed first the sockstat command, and this time it did bring up something. It looks exactly like your screenshot, except that I see 6 roots. Not sure if it makes a difference but my numbers are in the 6000s range, and instead of 5 and 10, I get 5 and 7. The tcp4 and the *443 and *80 are just like in your screenshot.

                                          The process ID numbers, also called PIDs are random, something between 2 and 65535. That's ok.

                                          The good news is : the GUI web server is listeing on the http and http ports. So, that's not the issue.

                                          Now, next question : what is/are the firewall rules on the LAN interface ?
                                          When you install pfSense, there is one pas-all rule, so any device connected on LAN can access the pfSense GUI.

                                          Use option 4 on the console menu, this will reset everything and the pfSense GUI access will work for sure.

                                          @newbieuser1 said in WebGUI page - no response / unable to configure pfSense:

                                          As to the ps aux command, I have only 2 nginx processes

                                          I have use also the captive portal that needs a web server (nginx) process. That's why I have 3 of them.

                                          No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                                          Edit : and where are the logs ??

                                          N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • N
                                            newbieuser1 @Gertjan
                                            last edited by

                                            @Gertjan, thanks. Option 4 is a factory reset, right? Will that also reset absolutely everything, including the IP address for the WebGUI access I had to set up, admin access passwords etc? I have not played with any firewall rules and setting yet (only tried to set up Quad9 for the DNS settings).

                                            My Protectli Vault is not connected to anything and I have not incorporated it my network yet (still struggling to put my router in Bridge Mode...and dealing with my ISP).

                                            GertjanG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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