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    APU set up with Wi-Fi

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      You can get an adapter to fit a half size card:
      http://www.mini-box.com/Mini-PCI-E-Half-to-Full-Size-Extension-Card-Wireless-WIFI-PCI-Adapter-Bracket?sc=8&category=1363

      However more importantly I'm not sure that card will work with pfSense. It might be supported by the iwn driver in 2.2 (it's not mentioned explicitly in the driver).

      Steve

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      • E
        eiger3970
        last edited by

        Thank you.
        The Wi-Fi card fits in the APU slots. (I connected to the left slot).
        I then went to pfSense GUI > Interfaces > (assign) > Wireless > Add > Parent interface: no option to choose > Mode: Access Point > Description: Wi-Fi > Save > error: The following input errors were detected: The field 'Parent interface' is required.

        I'm guessing the Wi-Fi card is compatible with pfSense.
        Not sure why pfSense hasn't found the card yet?

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          I assume you're running 2.1.3? Probably there's no driver for it.

          Try running 'pciconf -lv' at the command line and see if it appears there.

          Steve

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          • E
            eiger3970
            last edited by

            Yes, the version is 2.1.3-RELEASE (amd64)
            built on Thu May 01 15:52:13 EDT 2014
            FreeBSD 8.3-RELEASE-p16
            You are on the latest version.

            I don't see the Wi-Fi card, but I might have missed it as I'm not quite sure what to look for.
            I see the re0, re1 and re2 Ethernet ports, but they don't seem to show a cable connection on re0 and re1, but perhaps the command only shows the interfaces, not more details about connections.

            
$ pciconf -lv
hostb0@pci0:0:0:0:	class=0x060000 card=0x15101022 chip=0x15101022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
pcib1@pci0:0:4:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15121022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
pcib2@pci0:0:5:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15131022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
pcib3@pci0:0:6:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15141022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
atapci0@pci0:0:17:0:	class=0x010601 card=0x43911002 chip=0x43911002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = mass storage
    subclass   = SATA
ohci0@pci0:0:18:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci0@pci0:0:18:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ohci1@pci0:0:19:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci1@pci0:0:19:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
none0@pci0:0:20:0:	class=0x0c0500 card=0x15101022 chip=0x43851002 rev=0x42 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = SMBus
atapci1@pci0:0:20:1:	class=0x01018a card=0x439c1002 chip=0x439c1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = mass storage
    subclass   = ATA
isab0@pci0:0:20:3:	class=0x060100 card=0x439d1002 chip=0x439d1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-ISA
pcib4@pci0:0:20:4:	class=0x060401 card=0x00000000 chip=0x43841002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
ohci2@pci0:0:20:5:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43991002 chip=0x43991002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
pcib5@pci0:0:21:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x00001002 chip=0x43a01002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
ohci3@pci0:0:22:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci2@pci0:0:22:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
hostb1@pci0:0:24:0:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17001022 rev=0x43 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb2@pci0:0:24:1:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17011022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb3@pci0:0:24:2:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17021022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb4@pci0:0:24:3:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17031022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb5@pci0:0:24:4:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17041022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb6@pci0:0:24:5:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17181022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb7@pci0:0:24:6:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17161022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb8@pci0:0:24:7:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17191022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
re0@pci0:1:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
re1@pci0:2:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
re2@pci0:3:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
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            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              Hmm, not there at all.
              Is it in the slot correctly? Do you have the half to full adapter to make it sit level?
              One of those slots is actually an mSATA slot not PCIe, are you maybe using that by mistake? Try a different slot.

              Steve

              Edit:Typo

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              • E
                eiger3970
                last edited by

                So, I plugged my  Wi-Fi card into the middle APU slot which is PCIe 2.
                Seems to have the same results.

                
$ pciconf -lv
hostb0@pci0:0:0:0:	class=0x060000 card=0x15101022 chip=0x15101022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
pcib1@pci0:0:4:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15121022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
pcib2@pci0:0:5:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15131022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
pcib3@pci0:0:6:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15141022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
atapci0@pci0:0:17:0:	class=0x010601 card=0x43911002 chip=0x43911002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = mass storage
    subclass   = SATA
ohci0@pci0:0:18:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci0@pci0:0:18:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ohci1@pci0:0:19:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci1@pci0:0:19:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
none0@pci0:0:20:0:	class=0x0c0500 card=0x15101022 chip=0x43851002 rev=0x42 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = SMBus
atapci1@pci0:0:20:1:	class=0x01018a card=0x439c1002 chip=0x439c1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = mass storage
    subclass   = ATA
isab0@pci0:0:20:3:	class=0x060100 card=0x439d1002 chip=0x439d1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-ISA
pcib4@pci0:0:20:4:	class=0x060401 card=0x00000000 chip=0x43841002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
ohci2@pci0:0:20:5:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43991002 chip=0x43991002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
pcib5@pci0:0:21:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x00001002 chip=0x43a01002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
ohci3@pci0:0:22:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci2@pci0:0:22:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
hostb1@pci0:0:24:0:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17001022 rev=0x43 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb2@pci0:0:24:1:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17011022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb3@pci0:0:24:2:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17021022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb4@pci0:0:24:3:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17031022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb5@pci0:0:24:4:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17041022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb6@pci0:0:24:5:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17181022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb7@pci0:0:24:6:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17161022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb8@pci0:0:24:7:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17191022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
re0@pci0:1:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
re1@pci0:2:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
re2@pci0:3:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
none1@pci0:4:0:0:	class=0x028000 card=0x40608086 chip=0x088e8086 rev=0x24 hdr=0x00
    class      = network

                Also, the card doesn't sit flat. The card sits on an angle sticking up about 15 degrees.

                I think the Wi-Fi card is the correct model as I bought the same model as per what's being sold here.

                I'm not sure if the half size card will help? From what I understand, the half size card lets me screw down the Wi-Fi card to the APU. However the APU has no screw holes with the half size card or with the Wi-Fi card.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  PCIe cards need to be screwed down to make proper contact with the slot. Because the APU doesn't have mountings for half cards you need the extension to make it fit the full size mountings.
                  However your card is now connected, you can see it listed as none1 in your pciconf output. It shows as none because there is no driver attached to it. There's not going to be a driver until 2.2 at the earliest and probably not then either (to make this work currently in FreeBSD you'd need to patch the driver yourself). You would be much better off with a different card.

                  Steve

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                  • E
                    eiger3970
                    last edited by

                    Oh, okay.
                    Would you or anyone know of a Wi-Fi card then that would work now?

                    The other interesting thing is that the Wi-Fi pigtails I bought fits in one of the pfSense port holes, but not in the 2nd one.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • stephenw10S
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                      last edited by

                      The Atheros AR9280 based Ubiquiti AR71-e is known to work. So I would expect this to work:
                      http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Atheros-AR5009-AR9280-AR5BH92-pci-E-card-300Mb-Dual-Band-2-4-5-0GHz-A03-/291006772296?pt=AU_Components&hash=item43c15af448
                      No promises though.  ;)
                      I believe there were some other cards mentioned specifically in the APU thread.
                      Edit: Here for example:
                      https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=59555.msg402212#msg402212

                      Steve

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                      • E
                        eiger3970
                        last edited by

                        Thanks for the suggestion.

                        I ordered that link.
                        Still not sure how the screw holes will hold down the Wi-Fi card, as the APU has no screw holes for the mini or this link to the full size card.
                        The mini ones right now sit at a 15 degree angle, so as long as the full size Wi-Fi card works without the screws, should be ok.

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                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          Ah, Ok now I look at a larger photo I see it has a pair of plastic pegs with metal clips instead of screws. Better in many ways.

                          Steve

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                          • E
                            eiger3970
                            last edited by

                            Wow, you have good eyes :-)

                            Yes, not that you suggested that, I can see the plastic pegs/clips on my APU and know what they're for.

                            Ok, I'll wait for the new Wi-Fi card to arrive.
                            Can't wait to ditch my old cheap Wi-Fi router.

                            Then just a nice big switch board to handle the network as I will lose the 4 ports on the old Wi-Fi router.
                            My current little 8 port switch can be removed too for one nice big switch.
                            Any good switches friendly to pfSense?

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • stephenw10S
                              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                              last edited by

                              Not much difference between switches with regards to pfSense. You could get one that supports VLANs to allow for any future network segregation you might want. If you're getting a large switch it will probably be managed and have that anyway.

                              Steve

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • E
                                eiger3970
                                last edited by

                                Ok, the 2nd Wi-Fi card arrived.

                                I stuck it into the ALIX MOBO PCIe > logged into pfSense > Interfaces > but no OPTn to select?

                                How do I configure the Wi-Fi card?
                                I'm following this pfSense guide.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • K
                                  kpa
                                  last edited by

                                  All new interfaces have to be first assigned, either from the console menu or from the webgui interfaces menu. PfSense can't read your mind so by default it does nothing with new interfaces.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • E
                                    eiger3970
                                    last edited by

                                    Ok, so that assignment of the new Wi-Fi card worked in pfSense > Interfaces > (assign).

                                    I now need to configure the Wi-Fi card so I navigated to:
                                    pfSense > Interfaces > OPT1 > Enable: ticked Enable Interface > Description: WLAN > IPv4 Configuration Type: Static IPv4 > ?
                                    I'm not sure on the rest of the configuration as the Configuring pfSense as a Wireless Access Point doesn't coincide with my pfSense 2.1.3-RELEASE (amd64) version.

                                    Any suggestions please?

                                    ![pfSense Interfaces OPT1 configuration.png](/public/imported_attachments/1/pfSense Interfaces OPT1 configuration.png)
                                    ![pfSense Interfaces OPT1 configuration.png_thumb](/public/imported_attachments/1/pfSense Interfaces OPT1 configuration.png_thumb)

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                                    • stephenw10S
                                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                      last edited by

                                      I don't think that is your wifi interface, I expect to see the wireless configuration in between the 'General configuration' and 'Private networks' sections. Did it appear as ath0 when you assigned it? It could be the third NIC in the APU if you hadn't already assigned that.
                                      If you go back to Interfaces: (assign) is there still the '+' button indicating there are further interfaces still to assign?

                                      Steve

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                                      • E
                                        eiger3970
                                        last edited by

                                        When I navigated to pfSense > Interfaces > (assign) > Interface assignments > there were the WAN and LAN and a new interface named OPT1 automatically added.
                                        I assumed this is the Wi-Fi card I plugged into the APU?

                                        Previously I only had 2 of the 3 NICs assigned and the 3rd NIC never appeared.

                                        Yes, there is a '+' in the Interfaces.
                                        I pressed the '+' and now there is another Interface OPT2 with Network port  ath0.
                                        Now the Interfaces > OPT2 > gives more options for setting up the Wi-Fi.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • stephenw10S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          Looks like that wifi card works then, at least that far anyway.  ;)
                                          You could leave OPT1 assigned but disabled if you don't need to use it.

                                          Remember that under 2.1.3 that card will only work at 'G' speeds. There may be an option there to set it to 'N' mode but that will likely only give you trouble. That will change when 2.2 is released.

                                          Steve

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • E
                                            eiger3970
                                            last edited by

                                            Ok, thanks for the tip.
                                            I have selected 802.11g, so that's good.
                                            I had to select an IP address so I took 192.168.1.156 and the pfSense LAN in 192.168.1.155.
                                            My device finds the pfSense Wi-Fi connection, but won't connect?

                                            Once connected, I can then figure out how to use the MAC filter on pfSense, which I use on the still running router Wi-Fi.

                                            I'm trying to figure out why the pfSense Wi-Fi is found, but the device is unable to connect?

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