Wireless config via GUI, but wicontrol does not show it

[josey]

maybe my stupid qestion, but why install as wan, why not as OPT1  ??? optional interface*

[alcalc]

Hi,
there does no stupid question exists ;)

OK, I have it as WAN, because the pfsense box connects and protects another network behind the pfsense box from the wireless network.
Therefore, I configured it as WAN, because it is the WAN from the protected network point of view.

Or is it wrong?

[josey]

sory, but, you can do whatever you want with firewall rules, so install it as OPT 1.
But to be 100%, wait for advice of hoba or guys who work on PFS  ;)

[alcalc]

hi,
I already tried it as OPT1 interface and there, it works. Now, I will change the firewall rules and try, if it works. But then, I would use OPT1 as WAN and WAN would be unused….

I will wait for a comment of hoba :)

thx

[hoba]

Can you provide a small ascii diagram of your network and what you try to do? In general it should work at WAN too (and I have used a wireless link as WAN in a testsetup here too, however this was done with atheros chipsets). I would suggest to try the wireless as opt1 in AP mode with a client connecting to it to make sure the card works or is supported first.

[josey]

@hoba:

Can you provide a small ascii diagram of your network and what you try to do? In general it should work at WAN too (and I have used a wireless link as WAN in a testsetup here too, however this was done with atheros chipsets). I would suggest to try the wireless as opt1 in AP mode with a client connecting to it to make sure the card works or is supported first.

good to know, thnx  ;)
back to my problem

[alcalc]

Hi,
OK, firstly, I introduce the general goal:

| wireless network|
|  with WEP, SSID  |
–---------------------------
     |
     |  WAN
  pfsense
     |  LAN
     |

| LAN network |
| with clients   |

In words: there is a wireless network, with SSID and WEP enabled. I setup up my internal PCI 3com wireless card (which is wi0) as follows: WAN interface, WEP key, SSID, etc. furthermore DHCP enabled, because the wireless network includes a DHCP server

With this configuration, my pfsense box does not receive an IP and does not connect to the wireless network. I tried command line (wicontrol, ifconfig)  and then, I got it working....

Now, I tried the idea from josey: I reconfigured it, that the wi0 device is associated to OPT1 (including the key, etc) Then, it works, I receive an IP from the DHCP server located in the wireless network.
But can I use OPT1 as my "WAN" device including NAT etc.... (does the routing would work)

For testing reason, I added for all devices a firewall rule, which allows everything

I hope, the problem is better understandable, otherwise, please let me know and I will introduce specific details.

[alcalc]

hi,
I can reduce the problem:

The wireless network used WEP and has a SSID.

1. if I setup the wi0 device as WAN, then, the pfsense (as client) cannot communicate with the DHCP Server (which is located in the wireless network). Better introduced, the WAN interface of pfsense does not get an IP address. All firewall rules allows for testing everything.

2. If the wi0 interface is associated to OPT1, then it works. Pfsense receives an IP address….

What is the problem? Or does wireless on WAN interfaces not work?!?

[alcalc]

hi ,
I am again.
I tried another configuration with the following results and problem:

1. WAN interface is wireless (wi0) with WEP configuration and uses DHCP

2. restart the pfsense box -> WAN does not have an IP address

3. login via ssh and run "dhclient wi0" -> and the WAN interface gets an IP

the problem is, that the wireless WAN interface does not get an IP after restart.
Any idea why?!?

@hoba: do you have any idea?

[jeroen234]

look at the status interface page to see if it is set to dhcp client mode

also look at the log page for messages from the dhcp client

[alcalc]

Hi

@jeroen234: I am sending the contentn of the status interfaces:

Status:  associated
DHCP:    up 
MAC address: ********
ISP DNS servers  ...57
                          ...1
Media:  DS/11Mbps
Channel:  11
SSID:  WLAN
In/out packets:  42/5 (6 KB/642 bytes)
In/out errors:  0/0
Collisions:  0

Thereby, the number of "In/out packets" is increasing
I can wait for a long time and the pfsense box does not get an IP. When I click in "release" and "renew", then the IP is received and it works well.
But why does it not get the IP after reboot?
Note: I also upgrated to release 1.0.1

Do you have any other ideas or do you need other informations?

Thanks in advance

[jeroen234]

if iam lucky i will have sunday 2 senao 11mb wireless cards that use wi0 driver
and 1 atheros card for my soekris box then i will do some tests
i will have then :
wan,lan,opt1,opt2,opt3

[alcalc]

@jeroen234:

if iam lucky i will have sunday 2 senao 11mb wireless cards that use wi0 driver
and 1 atheros card for my soekris box then i will do some tests
i will have then :
wan,lan,opt1,opt2,opt3

sounds great! please let me your test results known

best regards