First time install, can't access web interface
-
I'm trying to make a router out of an old computer, but can't even connect to the web interface. I'm definitely missing something…
Motherboard is an Asus P4S800-MX
NICs: Linksys LNE100TX v5.1, and Netgear FA311 v2The modem is plugged into the WAN, and the LAN goes to a router/switch (Linksys BEFSR81 "router with 8-port switch" - DHCP disabled, gateway changed to 10.10.10.1) - I've tried with it plugged into the WAN port on the "switch", and in port 1 - and my computer is plugged into port 2 on the "switch".
In pfSense, the WAN is set to DHCP (though it sometimes fails to resolve? that might be because of a shitty modem and/or ISP though, and happens already, just using the router/switch), the LAN is set to use 192.168.1.1 with DHCP enabled.
If I leave DHCP enabled on the switch (10.10.10.1), I can connect to the switch, but it never succeeds in getting anything when I run a DHCP renew through its interface. If I have DHCP disabled on the switch (still enabled on the pfSwitch router) I can't connect to anything. Even if I explicitly define the IP settings on the computer to be within the DHCP range, I can't connect to anything.
Help is much appreciated!
-
First thing to check is that all your cables are good. Do you have led indicators on the switch? Are they lit to show connections correctly?
You have two choices:
1. Keep your router/switch as a router and have it conneted to pfsense via it's wan port
2. Use you router/switch purely as a switch and have pfsense handle everything else.Neither are ideal. In case of 1 you will have double NAT which is usually fine but can cause problems. In 2 you are assuming that you can disable the routing functions of the switch.
Since you have tried both unsuccessfully you need to ensure that the pfSense box is functioning correctly.
How did you set it up? Directly on the box keyboard/monitor?Have you tried connecting a computer directly to the pfsense box? Traditionally you would need a cross over cable to do this but most modern NICs have auto MDIX so it might work.
Steve