Few questions about pfsense with load balancing and routing
-
It's worth mentioning that if your two connections are not identical, you can weight one over the other by adding multiple entries to the LB configuration.
Even Sharing Example:
- WAN1
- OPT1
60/40 split Example:
- WAN1
- OPT1
- WAN1
- OPT1
- WAN1
-
Great thanks, they are identical though, they're from the same ISP but they're both 7mbps ADSL connections same upload/download.
-
Another question though, you mentioned not being able to do the traffic sorting with multiple WANs unless using 2.0. Would I at least be able to say that a certain MAC address or IP address always be guaranteed to get a certain level of bandwidth? I have an IP Phone that always needs priority so just wondering if I can do that?
-
Great thanks, they are identical though, they're from the same ISP but they're both 7mbps ADSL connections same upload/download.
If they are both from the same ISP: are the WANs in the same subnet?
Because this will, due to how routing works, not work.
Depending on the modem you're using you could do NAT on the modem and thus fool the pfSense into thinking there is a different subnet on one of it's WANs. -
I'm confused, I'm not too sure if they are or not I'd have to check and see in the config. Not at the office right now but pretty sure they're both 255.255.255.252. Just confused why that matters, again total newb here. They're 2 completely separate DSL connections, both have static IP and are paid separately. I can't log into the modem to change anything it's configured at my ISP.
If that's the case, you were saying that with multiple WANs only version 2.0 can do traffic shaping? Load balancing was the main reason I wanted pfsense, as I'm in Toronto but finding an ISP that does more than 7mbps seems impossible, even though I can do 25-35mbps over fiber for residential, so I have 2 DSL connections. With just 1 DSL connection though what type of control do I have with traffic shaping? Like can I give only 1-2MBps internet to certain users, or is it more advanced in that I can restrict certain things or?
-
The same subnet mask is fine provided that the two IPs do not end up on the same network.
For example, 192.168.0.21/255.255.255.252 and 192.168.0.25/255.255.255.252 are ok, but .21 & .22 wouldn't be.
-
Is that something I can send in pfsense or do I have to actually get people to enter their own IP addresses on their machines? My issue is really that users take their laptops home so I can't use manual IP addressing on the actual units. Just confused how I would set that. I guess my other issue though is which is more important, traffic shaping, or just combining the 2 DSL connections with load balancing to get better speed that way.
Maybe someone can suggest what is best. Really my goal here is mainly to get the best bandwidth to all users, so that user A isn't downloading a torrent, or streaming music and slowing it down for everyone else. I figured load balancing with 2 DSL connections would be better, but would traffic shaping be more ideal with 1 DSL connection and just restrict streaming or restrict users to certain speeds?
-
The IP addresses of your DSL connections doesn't have anything to do with your users. That info would come from your ISP.
-
I'm confused, you're referring to the IP addresses assigned from my ISP? I thought you meant 192.168 as in my local network. Why would my ISP assign IP's like that those look like local ones, either way I have static IP so both connections have a static dedicated IP. I'm not really understanding then what you mean by can't have 2 IPs the same?
-
I'm confused, you're referring to the IP addresses assigned from my ISP? I thought you meant 192.168 as in my local network. Why would my ISP assign IP's like that those look like local ones, either way I have static IP so both connections have a static dedicated IP. I'm not really understanding then what you mean by can't have 2 IPs the same?
The addresses I gave were an example of two addresses that would work and two that would not. Yes, they are non-routable IPs and very unlikely to be given by an ISP (though some service providers, primarily WISPs, do use private addressing for their clients), but the example still stands.
All I am saying is that your two WAN connections cannot be on the same subnet. If you are still confused then send me a private message with your IPs and subnet masks for each and I'll tell you if they'll be a problem.