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    General Questions (Switch, WAN, LAN)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • D Offline
      divsys
      last edited by

      Where I'm from we normally get our modem with our internet service - provided by your ISP.

      Usually you don't want more than one router in your setup, it can definitely lead to headaches.

      Not sure what your situation is…..

      -jfp

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      • SoarinS Offline
        Soarin
        last edited by

        Yeah I've noticed that, I was thinking I could use my Actiontec Wi424r as a bridge to my router, and my D-Link dir-655 as the access point, and disable the routing function of them both until I can afford an actual access point.

        Is that a bad idea or will it work until I can replace them?

        I hardly understand pfSense but it was love at first sight.

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        • SoarinS Offline
          Soarin
          last edited by

          Alright I'll ask Verizon about that, so I think I might hold off on going to a garage sale and getting a cheap $20-30 granny computer and I might use my current old computer I built a few years back.

          But I have another question, people said I should get a managed switch. Is this for VLANS?

          Because I just plan on connecting my computers and my NAS to my switch, is this necessary for managed?

          Also can it go

          Modem - > Switch - > Router - > Switch outputs ethernet to my computers, is that okay?

          Or

          Modem - > Router Intergraded LAN - > Router Intel NIC - > Switch - > Switch outputs ethernet to my computers

          Thanks! I'm currently all thrown around since there's not a lot of posts (or ones that I understand too clearly) for pfSense.

          I hardly understand pfSense but it was love at first sight.

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          • jahonixJ Offline
            jahonix
            last edited by

            @Soarin:

            …I should get a managed switch. Is this for VLANS?

            Mostly, yes. And VLANs can be your replacement for multiple separate interfaces of your pfSense.

            @Soarin:

            Because I just plan on connecting my computers and my NAS to my switch, is this necessary for managed?
            Modem - > Switch - > Router - > Switch outputs ethernet to my computers, is that okay?

            On your (currently planned) setup a managed switch is not necessary.
            Do you need the switch between your modem and the router? Usually they can be connected directly.

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            • SoarinS Offline
              Soarin
              last edited by

              Alright so I don't really need the managed switch? It's a very basic setup, just a way to give my family better wifi and play with pfSense.

              Also that plan can work with the modem into switch? If not that's fine, I plan on buying that Intel NIC anyways, I thought I could hook the modem directly into my router with the intergraded lan then output it with the Intel Nic, or is there something wrong with that?

              Thanks!

              I hardly understand pfSense but it was love at first sight.

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              • jahonixJ Offline
                jahonix
                last edited by

                As I wrote earlier, a managed switch can help you down the road (if you want to separate LAN/WLAN or WLAN/Guest or what have you). It is not mandatory.
                An unmanaged switch cannot be upgraded to managed when throwing $15 at it.

                Nothing wrong with your setup.

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                • SoarinS Offline
                  Soarin
                  last edited by

                  Alright I'll grab an unmanaged switch at first since so far any feature listed doesn't seem like something I'd do, if I need it I can sell my current switch and I'd buy it.

                  I don't know if I have any more questions, I'm trying to save every buck I can right now to buy a nice AP. I'll be using my current old router as an AP until I can buy something better.

                  If there's anything else I should know please tell me, because I'm pretty new and only have seen a few videos about pfSense and browsed the forums.

                  I hardly understand pfSense but it was love at first sight.

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                  • SoarinS Offline
                    Soarin
                    last edited by

                    Last minute, should I get the Intel EXPI9301CTBLK or the TP-LINK TG-3468?

                    I don't know what else the Intel NIC offers over the TP-Link and it's last minute buying, they're both compatible but I'm just worried that it might not work or function to it's fullest potential.

                    I hardly understand pfSense but it was love at first sight.

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                    • johnpozJ Offline
                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                      last edited by

                      get the intel

                      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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07.1

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                      • SoarinS Offline
                        Soarin
                        last edited by

                        I already bought the Intel, I didn't want to risk it. I can't find any topics on it over other NICS, is it just the support?

                        I hardly understand pfSense but it was love at first sight.

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