Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Question about why both WANS stop working when only 1 is unplugged

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Routing and Multi WAN
    17 Posts 5 Posters 7.7k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Z
      zboll
      last edited by

      I know that both of my WANS are working because I go to www.showmyip.com
      and the computer routed over dsl is different than the computer routed over cable.

      They both work when they are plugged in, the problem is when I unplug one of them, it stops working on both of them.  So say I unplug my dsl, even my computers going through cable can no longer access the internet.

      Zack

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        sai
        last edited by

        Maybe DNS is misconfigured. If I remember correctly you need to have static routes to make sure that requests to your ISPs DNS server goes out correctly - policy based routing does NOT work for requests from the firewall itself.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          sullrich
          last edited by

          @sai:

          Maybe DNS is misconfigured. If I remember correctly you need to have static routes to make sure that requests to your ISPs DNS server goes out correctly - policy based routing does NOT work for requests from the firewall itself.

          That is correct.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • H
            hoba
            last edited by

            Quickguide:
            At system>general, use one DNS from WAN, one from WAN2. Then add a static route at system>static routes to <dns of="" wan2="">/32 to your wan2 interface with gateway <wan2 gateway="">. That should fix it.</wan2></dns>

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Z
              zboll
              last edited by

              what should I put as WAN2 gateway?  the IP address of WAN2?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • H
                hoba
                last edited by

                the gateway of WAN2. You can see it at status>interfaces.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Z
                  zboll
                  last edited by

                  Thanks, I got it working now.

                  I dont have 3 WANS at the moment, but would it be possible to do policy based with 3 WANS using pfsense.  I ask because in system->general, there is only spots for two dns servers.

                  thanks,
                  Zack

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • H
                    hoba
                    last edited by

                    In general yes. Unless the 2 lines with the dns server fail simultaneously you would be ok. I think you can add a 3rd, 4th, … DNS through hidden config.xml settings too (download your config.xml and duplicate a dns setting and add another dns server there).

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • G
                      guigux
                      last edited by

                      Hi
                      i ve the same problem than described above .
                      :P

                      I ve made a load balencer pool based on 2 wan (static IP )
                      Load balencer work very well , (i ve putted rules in wan and wan2 for emule , then high id )

                      I m using opendns (that give me 2 dns adress , opendns work very well , better than mines isp ones  ::) )
                      then i ve filled first DNS field in :

                      System > general >  two dns server's field  and unchecked the "Allow DNS server list to be overridden by DHCP/PPP on WAN
                      "

                      and not in the dns forwarder , …..

                      Then , when 1 wan is unplunged , the total group is down ?!  ???

                      an idea ?

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • S
                        sai
                        last edited by

                        Gulgux,

                        What do you mean by " the total group is down" ? Do you mean that you cannot browse or that the link is down (and you cannot ping the gateway of the second link that is up?

                        If you cannot  browse then may be it is due to DNS server not being accessible. You need to make a static route so that the second DNS server is connected to via the second Link.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • G
                          guigux
                          last edited by

                          exactly , can't have a dns resolve in fact .
                          the second member in the group seem to be still working (emule traffic is okay )

                          then , yes,  dns problem …
                          i will try to put a static route , then i must put a static route on wan2 ?

                          regards

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • H
                            hoba
                            last edited by

                            system>static routes:
                            add a route like "Interface OPT-WAN, subnet <dns-server at="" opt-wan="">/32, gateway <opt-wan-gateway>Then male sure you use this DNS at system>general as one of your dns servers (one from WAN and one from OPT-WAN).</opt-wan-gateway></dns-server>

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • G
                              guigux
                              last edited by

                              thanks ! ;)

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • First post
                                Last post
                              Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.