Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Effects of varying NIC speeds

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    7 Posts 6 Posters 1.8k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • B
      bechardj
      last edited by

      Not sure if this is the right category, but I'm wondering whether it matters if the WAN interface is a slower 10/100 card and the LAN card is 10/100/1000. I'm looking to upgrade my pfSense box for faster local file transfer speeds. Since my download speed will never exceed the capacity of the 10/100 WAN interface, I was wondering if I could get away with simply upgrading the LAN interface and calling it a day. If there's relevant documentation for this, please link me. I checked Google but my keywords might have not been good enough.
      Thanks and happy New Years.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • C
        ctirado
        last edited by

        Not sure I follow… Do you have multiple devices on the LAN side of your Pfsense and are those devices connected to each other over a switch? If so, then traffic between those devices would not touch your Pfsense machine and it wouldn't matter what the LAN interface happens to be as long as it is as fast or faster than your WAN.

        The only way it could matter is if you were bridging multiple interfaces (connecting multiple devices directly to your Pfsense machine.) It doesn't sound like that is what you are doing though.

        Carlos

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • ?
          Guest
          last edited by

          In normal you will be right but as today it would be making more sense to have a whole line in one speed.
          So if your modem has GB LAN Ports and your WAN port is also a GB LAN Port and then the LAN Ports
          also will be on GB limit likes the LAN switch behind the LAN port followed by the end point devices
          likes the PCs and Servers it would be the best, in my opinion.

          Go amazon and have a look for a refurbished Intel dual or quad GB LAN Port server adapter for
          something like ~$50 - $80 this will be solving your "issues" right and fast!
          the you will be have a WAN and LAN port on GB LAN basis and all is fine.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • ?
            Guest
            last edited by

            I see no problem in your approach. If your internet connection does not saturate an 10/100 link then simply upgrade your LAN side to gigabit. You will only see improved performance internally on your local net.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • JailerJ
              Jailer
              last edited by

              My WAN NIC is 10/100 and my LAN NIC is 10/100/1000 and I have no issues.

              As others have said if your LAN traffic is going through a switch then switching the LAN NIC on your pfsense box to a 10/100/1000 won't matter. I'd be more concerned with the quality of the NIC than I would with the speed.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • johnpozJ
                johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                last edited by

                Do you have multiple lan nics?  Are you running vlans on this nic?

                As mentioned already, if you have your lan nic plugged into a switch.. Makes little difference really if that lan is 10, 100 or gig or even 10ge if your wan is less than 10..

                Now if you have multiple lan segments be it with physical interfaces or vlans on the same physical nic that routing traffic between then sure you would want that nic to be as fast as your lan speeds..

                But if you have this

                internet –- wan pfsense lan --- switch - pcs

                Then no that speed of the pfsense lan doesn't matter as long as its as fast or faster then the wan.

                An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • T
                  tirsojrp
                  last edited by

                  @bechardj:

                  I'm looking to upgrade my pfSense box for faster local file transfer speeds.

                  pfsense is not involved in local traffic, unless you have multiple LAN

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • First post
                    Last post
                  Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.