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VLAN question

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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  • M
    MaxPF
    last edited by Mar 8, 2013, 3:29 PM Mar 8, 2013, 3:27 PM

    I use an Alix 2D13 box for my home with the WiFi AP connected to OPT1 and bridged to LAN. The other day the AP died. I noticed that the one I'm going to buy has VLAN support with the option to associate up to 4 SSID to separate VLANS.

    Since the AP will be connected directly to OPT1, I was wondering if I would still be able to setup a separate VLAN on OPT1 for a second SSID without going through a managed switch. Basically I would like to have a trusted SSID to bridge to LAN and a guest SSID with just internet access.

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    • G
      gridrun
      last edited by Mar 8, 2013, 3:36 PM

      Yeah that should be possible by setting up vlan interfaces (Interfaces->assign->VLANs) in pfsense.

      Tech stuff on my blog: http://niston.wordpress.com

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      • K
        Klaws
        last edited by Mar 8, 2013, 3:51 PM

        IIRC, the ALIX NICs do support VLAN tagging in hardware, but the FreeBSD driver doesn't currently support this feature.

        VLAN tagging is supported in software since…um...a few years, I think. I am not currently aware if this'll lead to reduction in MTU, though. You might want to check if the use of VLANs impairs speed.

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        • M
          MaxPF
          last edited by Mar 8, 2013, 4:07 PM

          Thank you for the info. I'll give it a try when I get the AP setup.

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          • M
            MaxPF
            last edited by Mar 10, 2013, 5:27 PM

            Update: it worked perfectly! Second SSID on separate VLAN, no problem at all.

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            • P
              pvoigt
              last edited by Mar 10, 2013, 5:56 PM

              @MaxPF:

              Update: it worked perfectly! Second SSID on separate VLAN, no problem at all.

              Thanks for the feedback. Without your feedback and this thread I would have thought it isn't possible without a managed Switch. Could you give some details about your access point?

              Peter

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              • M
                MaxPF
                last edited by Mar 11, 2013, 3:17 PM

                I got an EnGenius EAP300

                http://www.engeniustech.com/business-networking/indoor-access-points-client-bridges/16139-eap300

                and I'm very happy with it. It has enough power for a 3 floor 2000 sqf townhouse plus all the features I needed, including VLAN and multi SSID support.
                Not bad for $89.

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                • P
                  pvoigt
                  last edited by Mar 12, 2013, 1:19 PM

                  Ah, looks interesting with respect to design and technical data - and is affordable. I'm looking around for access points as it's getting more and more difficult to get wireless cards running with pfSense. As long as you have a miniPCI slot or a PCI slot with a PCI2miniPCI card there is a wireless-pfSense path left. If, however, you need a miniPCIe module or PCIe card your options are extremely rare.

                  Peter

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                  • M
                    MaxPF
                    last edited by Mar 12, 2013, 6:14 PM Mar 12, 2013, 6:09 PM

                    I tried the WiFi option in pfSense as well and I had to give up at the end (I posted about it in the wireless section). I came to the conclusion that the hardware that works well with FreeBSD 8.3 in AP mode is very limited and hard to find at best. I could spend hours trying to find the right ath based card on ebay or just spend $90 for a proper AP and be done with it.

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