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

    Cable Modem Installation

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
    23 Posts 5 Posters 8.8k 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.
    • S
      Sleeps
      last edited by

      @Cry:

      It sounds like you're saying that the Cisco ECP2425 has the cable modem built into it - is that correct?

      That's correct.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Cry HavokC
        Cry Havok
        last edited by

        In that case, unless it has a bridge mode, it will by necessity be your Internet connected device, which means that your pfSense host won't have the WAN IP. If you can provide a link to the PDF manual somebody may be able to tell you if it has a bridge mode.

        Note that anything connected to it's wireless access point will be "outside" your pfSense protected network. There isn't any way around that, you'd have to use another device (such as your old Tenda) to provide a wireless service to the network you're protecting by pfSense.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          Here is something (pdf). Closest thing I could find on UPC's site and it shows an EPC2425 despite the file name. It's more of a quick start guide though.  :(

          "How to configure Outlook Express". Does anyone still use that!?  ::)

          Steve

          Edit: Here (pdf) is a much better manual. Looks like quite a full featured modem/router.
          No mention of a bridge mode but there is an 'advanced' section in the web gui that isn't covered.

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

            @Cry:

            In that case, unless it has a bridge mode, it will by necessity be your Internet connected device, which means that your pfSense host won't have the WAN IP. If you can provide a link to the PDF manual somebody may be able to tell you if it has a bridge mode.

            Note that anything connected to it's wireless access point will be "outside" your pfSense protected network. There isn't any way around that, you'd have to use another device (such as your old Tenda) to provide a wireless service to the network you're protecting by pfSense.

            Cable Modem manual

            http://www.comhem.se/blob/view/-/14442/data/4530/-/manual_cisco.pdf.pdf

            Sleeps

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              Still no mention of bridge mode in that document. I think you'll have to just poke around the gui yourself and see what you can find. Doesn't look too good though. You would probably be better off getting a cable modem.

              Steve

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

                @stephenw10:

                Still no mention of bridge mode in that document. I think you'll have to just poke around the gui yourself and see what you can find. Doesn't look too good though. You would probably be better off getting a cable modem.

                Steve

                I got into the advance menu but all its got is statistics info and the WAN IP address details but no mention of bridge mode.  I'm going to contact my ISP and ask them for the basic cable modem they offer on the 1MB connection and use it on the 8MB connection.

                Thanks for all your help and time.

                Sleeps

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • chpalmerC
                  chpalmer
                  last edited by

                  The ISP may be the only one who can put it bridge mode…  Gives them more control over what you use your connection for...

                  (Comcast does this with their commercial gateway...  )

                  Triggering snowflakes one by one..
                  Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4590T CPU @ 2.00GHz on an M400 WG box.

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

                    @chpalmer:

                    The ISP may be the only one who can put it bridge mode…  Gives them more control over what you use your connection for...

                    (Comcast does this with their commercial gateway...  )

                    Just noticed that after you enter the advance menu extra links appears on the basic settings page and it now includes the Gateway Mode etc.  I have 2 choices Router or Bridge, didn't want to restart the modem after selecting Bridge,as i'm not sure what else I need to do.

                    Sleeps

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • chpalmerC
                      chpalmer
                      last edited by

                      You would need to set up your wan port for DHCP.

                      Restart the modem then restart your pfsense box…

                      Triggering snowflakes one by one..
                      Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4590T CPU @ 2.00GHz on an M400 WG box.

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

                        @chpalmer:

                        You would need to set up your wan port for DHCP.

                        Restart the modem then restart your pfsense box…

                        The problem is that the cable modem doesn't have a WAN port only 4 LAN ports and a coaxial cable connection.  The IP address is obtained via the coaxial cable.

                        Sleeps

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

                          On a cable modem, the coaxial cable connector is the WAN port. The LAN port is ethernet.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Cry HavokC
                            Cry Havok
                            last edited by

                            Once you've put it into bridge mode then the LAN ports are what connects you to your ISP. At that point anything you connect to the LAN ports on the CM effectively is the WAN port.

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

                              @Cry:

                              Once you've put it into bridge mode then the LAN ports are what connects you to your ISP. At that point anything you connect to the LAN ports on the CM effectively is the WAN port.

                              Thanks for the explanation.  WAN is setup for DHCP.  Do I have to disable DHCP for LAN and WiFi or putting this CM into bridge will disable both services.

                              Sleeps

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • Cry HavokC
                                Cry Havok
                                last edited by

                                Putting it into bridge mode will turn it into a "dumb" modem, that should include disabling the WiFi, DHCP server etc automatically.

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

                                  @Sleeps:

                                  @Cry:

                                  Once you've put it into bridge mode then the LAN ports are what connects you to your ISP. At that point anything you connect to the LAN ports on the CM effectively is the WAN port.

                                  Thanks for the explanation.  WAN is setup for DHCP.  Do I have to disable DHCP for LAN and WiFi or putting this CM into bridge will disable both services.

                                  Sleeps

                                  CM is now configured in bridge mode.  Thanks for all your help.

                                  Sleeps

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

                                    One more question how do I access the Cable Modem webpage if it's a dumb modem.

                                    Sleeps

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • stephenw10S
                                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                      last edited by

                                      I have found this method to be most reliable:
                                      http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/How_can_i_access_my_PPPoE_Modem_on_WAN
                                      However your modem may or maynot still present a web gui when it's in bridge mode and you'll have to know it's IP.

                                      Steve

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

                                        Search the forum: "access modem"

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

                                          @gderf:

                                          Search the forum: "access modem"

                                          CM connected to Pfsense in bridge mode picked up WAN IP address and working fine.  However the wireless is still working as an access point (Even though it's in bridge mode). Removed the antenna and continue to use my existing router (Access Point).

                                          I thought I was going to lose Pfsense,thanks for coming to my rescue.

                                          Sleeps

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • stephenw10S
                                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                            last edited by

                                            @Sleeps:

                                            However the wireless is still working as an access point (Even though it's in bridge mode)

                                            That's weird. Can you actually connect to it? The wireless chipset in the modem will probably continue to operate with whatever values it was last given but it shouldn't send any packets anywhere.
                                            If you power up a separate wireless access point without connecting it to a wired network you can still connect to it but obviously it doesn't actually do anything.

                                            You could probably set you CM back to router mode, disable the wireless part and then set it back to bridge mode.

                                            Steve

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