Ethernet With Pfsense Wireless with Apple Airport Router?

blupie

I have been doing a some research about building a Pfsense Box and have a question before I proceed. I presently have several computers on my lan both Apple and Pc's. I am using an Apple Airport router.

Is it possible to use the PFsense box just for Ethernet connections and the Apple Airport for just Wifi??

Thanks in advance.

Derelict

Probably no problem.

The primary settings you want on the airport are:

Wireless: Create a wireless network
Network: Router Mode: Off (Bridge Mode)

Then just plug the airport's WAN port into your LAN.

rjcrowder

Airport works fine as an access point - I set my brother-in-law up this way.

blupie

Thanks Derelict and rjcrowder for your response. Great, then I can use the Apple Airport as a Wifi access point and don't need a Pcie wireless card for my planned Pfsense build.

rjcrowder

@blupie:

I can use the Apple Airport as a Wifi access point and don't need a Pcie wireless card for my planned Pfsense build.

You'll generally be much happier with the access point approach… There's a lot of advantage to having stand alone, quality wireless hardware. Also, although there have posts about wireless card support being much better in 2.2.1, it has historically been sketchy.

blupie

@rjcrowder:

@blupie:

I can use the Apple Airport as a Wifi access point and don't need a Pcie wireless card for my planned Pfsense build.

You'll generally be much happier with the access point approach… There's a lot of advantage to having stand alone, quality wireless hardware. Also, although there have posts about wireless card support being much better in 2.2.1, it has historically been sketchy.

Thanks for the info rjcrowder. I will set it up that way. Appreciate the help.

blupie

I have a few more questions If I may before I proceed with this project. I want to make sure that I setup the hardware in the proper order. As I have mentioned before I want to use the Apple Time capsule Wireless router for Wifi Only and dedicated Pfsense box for all Ethernet.
I have several Macs and PCs that connect through ethernet and wireless

My current hardware setup is as follows:

Cable modem connected to an Apple Time capsule Wifi Router( connects mostly to iPhones and iPads and several wireless laptops)
2) Apple Time Capsule router connected to a Trendnet 24 port Gigabit switch
the switch connects to a media server and several iMac and Pc computers.

I am thinking the best way to set this up is :
Cable Modem connects to Pfsense Box to Wan Port. Lan Port from Pfsense box to 24 Port Trendnet switch . Switch out to Apple Time Capsule Lan port, No other outputs from Time Capsule?? My goal is to setup Pfsense box using OpenVpn to be able to connect to my media server when I am away.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

rjcrowder

I have the exact same setup… except I'm using an Asus router as an access point (instead of the Apple device).

blupie

@rjcrowder:

I have the exact same setup… except I'm using an Asus router as an access point (instead of the Apple device).

Thank you very much Rjcrowder. So the way I'm thinking of setting it up works. Thanks for the help. I should start working on it next next week . Trying to read up as much As I can before I get started