Alix 2D13 - pfSense 2.1 - Cable modem - a bug?

kilko

I will dig into this :)

http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=60315.0

kilko

This problem has happened again :-/
Internet just disconnects..

And when I check - cable modem is online.
Called the ISP and they confirm that the cable modem is online too.

And the Alix 2D13 just blinks now and then.. (and not fast as it should)

Frequency:
This happens now and then.. it has now been a couple of days since this happened last time…
I would expect it to happen rapid if it was a hardware failure..

Solution so far:

disconnect the WAN cable for 2 seconds.
Insert WAN cable..
5-7 seconds.. and the internet is working again.
(or build a script that takes the WAN interface up and down with CLI)

But Why ?

is this the Alix 2D13 WAN port failing by somehow ?
is the pfSense 2.1 giving/stopping/hanging ?

Todo:
How can I trace in pfSense 2.1 - that pfSense is not causing the problem ? (logging etc)

phil.davis

I had a problem some time ago with a desktop switch that had dodgy power, it would glitch for a moment every now and then. I had an Alix2D13 WAN plugged into it as a test system. The WAN would lose its IP address and not regain it. I could get the WAN address back again by:
a) cleanly disconnect the WAN cable and reconnect it; or
b) From Status->Interfaces release and renew; or
c) Reboot or power-cycle the Alix.

I tried to reproduce it just now by disconnecting and reconnecting the WAN cable as quickly as I could - but no luck.
If your symptoms and fixes are the same, then maybe there are very quick interruptions on the WAN cable, enough that pfSense gets the signal that something went down, but so quick that it missed the signal that things are up again.

I have no idea if this scenario is still a potential problem, as it is a bit difficult to reliably simulate!

kilko

Yes, Yes phil.davis.

This excactly the symptoms!

And I do have a switch in the middle; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122111

I use the switch so that both my voip phones and Alix gets an external IP and from the cable modem.

…thinking..
Maybe the netgear is causing the problem.. hmm.. Alix has been terminated to the same ethernet-switch-port.. the problems comes now and then.
also had problems with a network cable on this port too... hmm...

Will try:
I will try changing the switch and see if the problem goes away.

jahonix

@kilko:

I use the switch so that both my voip phones and Alix gets an external IP and from the cable modem.

Usually you only get one external IP address from your ISP. If your VOIP phone catches it what's left for your pfSense?
Kill the switch in front of your pfSense and put the phone behind pfSense.

kilko

Sorry for missing the switch part. But the switch has not had any issue with the voip phones or the alix before.
And a ethernet port going bad is quite seldom.. specially on a switch. (but I have to check this out..)

Our ISP, have cable modems are able to deliver several external IPs.
I have 3 voip phones and 1 Alix connected to the switch.
They all get separate external IPs.

Reson for using the switch is another story - when I connected all the voip phones behind the Alix, they connect fine.
Then ISP goes down. Reboot Cable modem. And the voip does not connect…. but all PCs does it.
I have been setting and using forum to find ways and switches/commands to tweak voip, QoS and other tools.
Even bought the book.. but it gave so much hassle.. that I put them in directly into the switch, instead of behind the Alix.
No firewall protection u say? - I know.. but in the long run, it works.. all the time! (only cable modem has to be rebooted.. and they reconnect again)

jahonix

@kilko:

Our ISP, have cable modems are able to deliver several external IPs.
I have 3 voip phones and 1 Alix connected to the switch. They all get separate external IPs.

I stand corrected. If only we could get such "features".
With Kabel-Deutschland you only get DSL-light which has a private IPv4 on WAN. Don't know if it's dual stack, though.

How is your pfSense WAN configured? Your modem probably isn't bridging, right?

kilko

WAN is configures DHCP.
ISP releases the IP after 1 week.. (i'm told) So my Alix have had the same IP for years.
ISP do offer dual-stack, using DHCPv6 for both IP and prefix. But they do not offer SLAAC.

I believe the cable modem is in bridge mode, which just passes through traffic. ISP is then giving me 4 external IPs that I can work with.

phil.davis;
I have replaced the Netgear GS108 switch for a other one.
Now I'm using D-Link DES-1005D.
Lets see if I get any switch-power-hiccups now..

Also I have purchased a second Alix 2D13.
And if D-Link DES-1005D have the "same symptoms". I will try using this second Alix box.

Backup Alix:
I made a clone of the Compact Card that is in use today, with HDD Raw Copy Tool. http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-Raw-Copy-Tool/HDDRawCopy1.10Portable.exe
Tested the copied CF card and it works perfectly.
I found this to be a good way of keeping "physical" copies of the card.
Also very good to use - before upgrading the pfSense, if something fails after upgrade etc..
(and up to now.. I have not had any problems with the pfSense auto-upgrading system. Thanx pfSense team :D )

kilko

..after some time now. The system have been up running 24/7 and have not had any issues. :-?

I starting to believe that my ISP is doing "upgrade" or some "fixing" to the coax wire or to the central that we are connected.. causing the suddenly that the network stops sending ip-traffic although the lights are "on"..

kilko

My solution:
Reboot the pfsense box too:
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,71335.0.html