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    Newbie needs help

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    General pfSense Questions
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    • F
      finland93
      last edited by

      Hello!

      I have just assembled a computer from old parts

      c2d e7200
      2gb ddr2 800mhz
      2 gbit nic with intel 82537 chips
      asus p5b mobo with  RTL8111B gbit ethernet
      160gb sata harddrive

      And now i want to install pfsense on this machine.

      Currently my only internet connection is a huawei e367 usb modem (which i read is compatible with pfsense) but in the future i will get optical fiber but nevermind that.

      So i would like to set up this machine as a router to share my 3g connection to my desktop (ad maybe some other computers) and to a wireless accesspoint.

      i have downloaded pfSense-memstick-2.1-RELEASE-i386.img and now i guess i should install it to the harddrive and then configure the 3g modem and so on.

      I wrote the img file to an usb stick, but i cant find no "install" option? Only "run"?

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      • B
        bfts
        last edited by

        So did you boot from your USB stick?

        IIRC you have to boot up from your installation media (I ran it from CD), configure the first few steps, and then install after you already configured your first 2 NICs.

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        • F
          finland93
          last edited by

          @bfts:

          So did you boot from your USB stick?

          IIRC you have to boot up from your installation media (I ran it from CD), configure the first few steps, and then install after you already configured your first 2 NICs.

          Got it installed. configured the mobo ethernet port as WAN and one of the NICs as LAN and i am now logged in on the pfsense machine from my desktop computer (connected to the NIC) trough the browser!

          Will try to follow the documentation on adding the 3g modem, i will report back :)!

          EDIT: I am now writing this trough my 3g connection and my pfsense machine! i configured the wan interface to ppp and entered carrier etc. was very easy.

          Now is there anything i should do, like some must have things to set up? I have only added the 3g information nothing else except the basic install wizard where i did not change anything but the admin password.

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          • stephenw10S
            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
            last edited by

            There is nothing else that needs to be done. I always enable SSH access in System: Advanced: Admin Access: as it's invaluable for troubleshooting etc. The default LAN rule is very open, you may want to specify more restrictive rules but it's entirely up to you.

            Steve

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            • F
              finland93
              last edited by

              Now i want to add a wireless accesspoint to my network.

              I have my old netgear MBRN3000 3g router that i want to use.

              I should disable dhcp on the router?

              And what should i do so that when i plug it in to my other intel nic (em0) i can access it from my desktop computer (em1) and configure it? Should i give the em0 interface and the router itself the same ip address? no?

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              • P
                phil.davis
                last edited by

                First disable DHCP on the Netgear.
                If you want the WiFi and desktop computer to be on the same LAN, then:

                1. Give the NetGear an IP address in the LAN subnet
                2. The NetGear has 4 ordinary RJ45 ports. Connect one of them to em1 (pfSense LAN) and one of them to the desktop computer.
                  Now the Netgear is being your LAN switch and access point. Devices that connect to the WiFi will be served DHCP from pfSense LAN. They will get pfSense LAN IP as their gateway and DNS server, and should happily have internet.

                If you want the wireless separated from your desktop computer, then:

                1. Assign em0 to OPT1 (Interfaces->Assign)
                2. Enable OPT1 and give it some other subnet address (different to LAN)
                3. Enable DHCP on OPT1 with some address range
                4. Add Firewall rule(s) to OPT1 to allow traffic (like on LAN)
                5. Connect one of the Netgear RJ45 ports to em0
                  Now the Netgear is being a switch and access point ON opt1. Devices that connect to the WiFi will be served DHCP from pfSense OPT1. They will get pfSense OPT1 IP as their gateway and DNS server, and should happily have internet.

                As the Greek philosopher Isosceles used to say, "There are 3 sides to every triangle."
                If I helped you, then help someone else - buy someone a gift from the INF catalog http://secure.inf.org/gifts/usd/

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                • F
                  finland93
                  last edited by

                  @phil.davis:

                  First disable DHCP on the Netgear.
                  If you want the WiFi and desktop computer to be on the same LAN, then:

                  1. Give the NetGear an IP address in the LAN subnet
                  2. The NetGear has 4 ordinary RJ45 ports. Connect one of them to em1 (pfSense LAN) and one of them to the desktop computer.
                    Now the Netgear is being your LAN switch and access point. Devices that connect to the WiFi will be served DHCP from pfSense LAN. They will get pfSense LAN IP as their gateway and DNS server, and should happily have internet.

                  If you want the wireless separated from your desktop computer, then:

                  1. Assign em0 to OPT1 (Interfaces->Assign)
                  2. Enable OPT1 and give it some other subnet address (different to LAN)
                  3. Enable DHCP on OPT1 with some address range
                  4. Add Firewall rule(s) to OPT1 to allow traffic (like on LAN)
                  5. Connect one of the Netgear RJ45 ports to em0
                    Now the Netgear is being a switch and access point ON opt1. Devices that connect to the WiFi will be served DHCP from pfSense OPT1. They will get pfSense OPT1 IP as their gateway and DNS server, and should happily have internet.

                  Thanks, using the first option seems to work great.

                  If i encounter stability issues with the netgear (netgear isnt really top notch stuff from my experience) i will try option number two :)

                  Thank you again for your help, this is a completely new world for me  :) ;D

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                  • F
                    finland93
                    last edited by

                    Hello again, new problem.

                    i have activated public 3g IP from my Carrier, and im trying To get it running.

                    it says i should use the apn internet4 but it just doesnt work, it shows the green Arrow on wan that the link is up but no IP adress in the textbox under it.

                    the modem is connected judging by the constant lightblue light.

                    When i connect the modem to my computers usb port and enter apn internet4 it works, i get public ip address.

                    any ideas?

                    EDIT: Ok so now i it works, i just restarted the router a few times and removed the modem and put it back and nowi got public ip on my 3g connection! :)

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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