APU1C & pfSense with LAN, Wifi and 3G-4G

nscheffer

Hi,

I just wan to share the result of my test with APU1C platform running pfSense 2.2 ALPHA and different miniPCIe cards. I have actually 2 platform running.

Thanks to gooze.eu where i bought the APU1C with some accessories and all the time spent on the phone to help me.
Thanks to the pfSense forums for their support.

Pictures available at :
http://apu.airboum.net/?page_id=2

Features :

3x Giga Ethernet
Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n with dual antenna
3G-4G Sierra Modem with antenna for 2G/3G/4G/GPS (Taoglas) or 2G/3G, dual antenna for diversity

System OS
pfSense 2.2 ALPHA (build May 13th 2014)

Missing features :

APU1C LEDs not yet working or ALIX packages broken with APU1C
reset button in front
Direct IP mode from Sierra for high speed when running 4G-LTE

Shops and Web sites:

APU1C
http://www.pcengines.ch/apu1c4.htm
http://www.gooze.eu/apu-pc-engines-kit

Intel SSD miniPCIe
http://ark.intel.com/products/71183/Intel-SSD-525-Series-30GB-mSATA-6Gbs-25nm-MLC

Wifi miniPCIe card
http://www.compex.com.sg/productdetailinfo.asp?model=WLE200NX&acc1Panel=1
http://www.gooze.eu/apu-wireless-kit

Sierra Modems
http://www.sierrawireless.com/productsandservices/AirPrime_Wireless_Modules/Essential_Modules/MC_Series.aspx

Antennas
http://www.glynstore.com/products/AGM024P-Penta-Band-GSM%7B47%7D3G-Antenna-%28SMA-male%2C-2m-cable%29.html
http://www.taoglas.com/antennas/GSM-CDMA-Cellular/External_GSM-CDMA-Cellular_Terminal_Antennas/#TG.30.8113

Josef

Hello,

So without DirectIP mode, is it still possible to run a Sierra modem in 4G/LTE mode?
Or does u3g only support 3G?

nscheffer

Hi,

Starting pfsense 2.2 you could expect built-in driver for most of the Sierra modem. Some are working with pfSense 2.1.x (most of the old version, not the new one).
only the DIP (Direct IP) mode will work and you need to declare your modem as a normal modem device. You should need to use the terminal to the appropriate device to control and setup the modem using AT Commands.
No way to be able to use another mode like QMI under FreeBSD.
QMI is fully supported under Windows and there is some drivers for linux only yet.

Regards

ozlecz

I am very much interested on the progress results of this testing.

On the other hand, I want clarifications on the below missing feature..what do you exactly mean?

Missing features
=Direct IP mode from Sierra for high speed when running 4G-LTE

Thanks

nscheffer

Based on the test done with pfSense 2.2 ALPHA a few weeks ago and the current pfSense stable release 2.1.x, you need to add you modem as a PPP devices where you don't really handle it as a modem device trough ppp :

using AT commands, a profile with Auto Dial to my provider was created and enabled
just after you add the device, using the gateway health check you can forward trafic trough it
you cannot control properly like a normal modem using ppp (dial-in, hangout, etc…)
using this method you keep rdd stats graphs

As far as i know, this current behavior is not ideal and an update to support fully Sierra modem and others for 3G-4G connections will be welcome.

I have done only a few tests with not the results i was expecting this why i move to a solution less elegant like a H820 router !

Regards

ozlecz

does h820 support IPSEC or only pass through?

zash1958

I also want to install 2.2 ALPHA on my Alix APU.

The installer starts and at the moment it comes to the selection of the kernel I selected "embedded serial"

But then the installer stops with an error. Looks like it cannot find this kernel?

What 2.2 releases do You use for installing on a APU with internal mSata SSD?

I tried this one with no luck :-(

http://snapshots.pfsense.org/FreeBSD_stable/10/amd64/pfSense_HEAD/updates/pfSense-Full-Update-2.2-DEVELOPMENT-amd64-20140711-0623.tgz

ozlecz

ive used the nano version pfSense-2.2-DEVELOPMENT-4g-amd64-nanobsd-20140616-2155.img….

make your life easier by using the PCEngines APU-TinyCore-USB-Installer.

zash1958

This may be a good idea.

Please can You give me a hint how to flash the nanobsd image to the internal mSATA or SD card?

I do not understand clearly how to do this.

ozlecz

@nscheffer:

Based on the test done with pfSense 2.2 ALPHA a few weeks ago and the current pfSense stable release 2.1.x, you need to add you modem as a PPP devices where you don't really handle it as a modem device trough ppp :

using AT commands, a profile with Auto Dial to my provider was created and enabled

just after you add the device, using the gateway health check you can forward trafic trough it

you cannot control properly like a normal modem using ppp (dial-in, hangout, etc…)

using this method you keep rdd stats graphs

As far as i know, this current behavior is not ideal and an update to support fully Sierra modem and others for 3G-4G connections will be welcome.

I have done only a few tests with not the results i was expecting this why i move to a solution less elegant like a H820 router !

Regards

does this mean that 4g is not yet fully supported by pfsense?

ozlecz

this may help

http://inet.net.ph/index.php/hidden-menu-item/category/8-installation-instructions

zash1958

Runs fine now!

Thanks a lot!

nscheffer

Yes the H820 support most of the VPN mode like IPSec and also as passthrough.

ozlecz

so do you think that the issues you are facing with sierra LTE module is directly related on pfsense?

nscheffer

Yes it's not supported today with pfSense where IPfire will support it fully on their latest release :
http://www.ipfire.org/news/ipfire-2-15-core-update-79-released

I know it's not trivial to implement it but today it's difficult to imagine an APU1C motherboard without an 4G-LTE card for backup and/or main access !
Why pfSense could not continu to be the leading choice for this platform supporting actual usage and needs…

What's needed to add this ?

ozlecz

did you tested it yourself with ip fire?

nscheffer

Yes of course, working well with ipfire with all Sierra cards i got !

ozlecz

very good info…havent have a hand on ip fire yet but i need to see this working..thanks a lot