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    Cable Modem Installation

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
    23 Posts 5 Posters 8.8k Views
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    • 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.

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      • 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

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        • G
          gderf
          last edited by

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

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          • 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.

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            • 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

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              • 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.

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                • 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

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                  • S
                    Sleeps
                    last edited by

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

                    Sleeps

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                    • 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

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                      • G
                        gderf
                        last edited by

                        Search the forum: "access modem"

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                        • 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

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                          • 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

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                            • S
                              Sleeps
                              last edited by

                              @stephenw10:

                              @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

                              Yes it's possible to connect,even though I removed the antenna i can still see the wireless connection (secured) in the Wireless utility.  I tried resetting the router to go back to router mode and it's not possible - not a problem.

                              Sleeps

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