First install
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Hi Guys.
Ok I'm currently changing my home network around and I've also just changed ISP provider to BT. They've supplied me with a BT Home Hub 5 which now does away with the separate DSL modem. This new Hub actually has a VDSL connection built in. I'm looking at setting up a pfsense router for the first time and I'm wondering how I will go about it with this new Hub?
Here's the hardware I'm looking at for the pfsense box. http://linitx.com/product/linitx-apu-1c-4gb-3nicusbrtc-pfsense-msata-firewall-kit-silver/14165
Thanks
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If you're on FTTC (Infinity) then you'll need either a separate VDSL modem or to somehow bridge the HH5 if you want to get your public IP onto the pfSense box. You could just double NAT but that's ugly. You could just buy a second hand HG612, the modem BT used with earlier home hubs, there seem to be plenty available:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111545638478I have been meaning to get one myself as they can be unlocked to allow access to the line stats etc.
Steve
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I've actually got one from my previous ISP. I had SKY beforehand and they used that exact box. So the pfsense box would sit between the new BT hub and the old Openreach modem? Sorry if these are daft questions I'm only just getting my head around how things need to work.
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Yes it could.
The HH5, like most SOHO routers, is actually 4 devices in one:
1. Modem
2. Router/firewall
3. Switch
4. Wifi access point.You would be replacing the first two of those functions with the HG612 and APU. If you have more than one device to connect (and who doesn't these days) then you will still need a switch, to provide multiple ethernet connections, and a wifi access point. You can configure the homehub to function just as these two easily enough. I use my HH3 for just that purpose.
Steve
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Great, I think I've got everything I need. I have a 10 port 1gb switch and as you say I'll just use the HH5 as the wifi. I take it I'll need to disable something in the HH5 to enable me to use the old HG612?
Also while I'm on it, this APU i'm looking at, I notice it has Realtek LANs and not intel and according to the official guide it states Intel is highly recommended. I'm a little confused though as the entry level box on the PFsense store also doesn't use Intel nics? Just how reliable are they?
Thanks.
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The Realtek Gigibit NICs are nowhere near as bad as their older 10/100 NICs. You shouldn't have to worry about using them in the APU since many of the pfSense developers are using those boards.
To use the HH5, or any soho router, as a wifi access point only you need to disable it's on board DHCP server and then connect only to it's LAN ports. That's not going to be a problem on the HH5 since it's WAN is an RJ11 port so no confusion.
Some soho routers have a specific 'access point only' mode that disables everything you don't need and sometimes gives you back extra ports but I doubt the HH5 has that. See:
https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Use_an_existing_wireless_router_with_pfSenseOne quirk the HH3 has is that it won't talk to anything outside it's own subnet so I have to connect to it directly to configure it. Since that's only once every few years it's not really an issue! Also my home network is far more complex than it needs to be. ;)
Steve
