pfSense DHCP and Network Traffic Issue on Dual NIC (Realtek 8111F) Setup

IshanAsiri

I attempted to configure routing using pfSense on bare-metal hardware with the following specifications:

CPU: Intel Core i5 6th Gen
RAM: 8 GB
Installation: pfSense installed as the only operating system

Network Interfaces:
Onboard NIC
Additional PCIe dual-port NIC:
Model: 2 × RJ45 Port PCIe X1 Dual Gigabit Realtek 8111F + ASM1082E Chipset

After successfully installing pfSense and completing the initial setup, I encountered an issue where DHCP and network traffic did not function properly.

Here is the configuration I used:

WAN: Onboard NIC
LAN / Internal Networks: Dual-port PCIe NIC (Network 1 and Network 2)

However, when connecting a PC directly or through an unmanaged switch to either of the dedicated NIC ports, the client devices do not receive an IP address from the pfSense DHCP server.

If I reverse the configuration (assigning the onboard NIC as the LAN interface and using the PCIe NIC for WAN), the LAN clients receive IP addresses correctly, but the WAN connection fails.

Could you please help me understand what might be causing this issue and how to resolve it?

w0w

@IshanAsiri
Did you install Realtek driver?

IshanAsiri

@w0w how i install it on Baremetal one? i mean only pfsense install device?

w0w

@IshanAsiri

pkg install realtek-re-kmod
echo 'if_re_load="YES"' >> /boot/loader.conf.local
echo 'if_re_name="/boot/modules/if_re.ko"' >> /boot/loader.conf.local
reboot

IshanAsiri

@wow i checked dear...it's not work..also tried with install pfsense windows server hyper-v ..but its not work same as previous..if have any option to fix this?or can you please suggest dual nic support pfsense?

Gertjan

@IshanAsiri said in pfSense DHCP and Network Traffic Issue on Dual NIC (Realtek 8111F) Setup:

any option to fix this

There's one. It wont be free but it will work.
Get yourself a NIC, and when choosing one, use this "golden rule" : never ever a Realtek. If it's an Intel NIC, you'll be good.
Install and use this NIC, and you'll see : both LAN and WAN work.

Now you'll ask the question : why ?
Fire up your favorite search engin, and ask this question : "are there any reasons I shouldn't chose Realtek ?" and you'll understand what is the issue.
In short : imho, Realtek works fine, if you stick with the OS for which it has been created : Windows ...

Btw : Realtek 8111F - are you sure ? Click and discover that 811F related question are more then a decade old : is your NIC that old ?
Read some of the questions and and you already know one thing : why would some one needs to ask if the NIC works ? They all work ... except when you deal with Realtek, then things are 'complicated' ;)

w0w

@IshanAsiri said in pfSense DHCP and Network Traffic Issue on Dual NIC (Realtek 8111F) Setup:

you please suggest dual nic support pfsense?

i226v should be fine. There are 2-4 port versions on the different marketplaces.

stephenw10

How did you complete the initial setup on this box? Via the WAN?