What is the *most correct way to set up your ISP supplied modem?
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I'm just wondering what would be considered the most correct set up for my ISP modem router. I hear people say they just set it to bridged and away they go, but I'm a little confused on that currently.
I've currently got my ISP supplied modem/router set up basically stock. All I've done is turned off the wireless interface and changed the admin password, nothing else. The modem runs DHCP on a 10.0.0.X network, and that's where the pfSense box get's it's WAN address.
This then goes to my pfSense box, which runs DHCP for the LAN(which is a e4200 in bridge mode with various devices connected to it) on the 192.168.1.X network.
Everything works just fine obviously, but I can't help feeling that it makes no sense to have the modem acting as a router when only the pfsense box is attached.
So how do it set this up properly?
I tried just putting it in bridge mode and giving it a static IP but I lost internet connectivity. So I'm assuming that bridge mode is for connecting it to another router and having it act as just a router, not just a modem (couldn't work out a way to word that better).
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Your modem/router should be used as a modem. That's what "bridge mode" does. No DHCP, no routing - essentially just converting between ADSL/cable and ethernet. You will have to reboot your modem after you make the changes.
Your pfSense box is your router. It will get your public IP on its WAN interface (through the modem) and, via DHCP, give out IP addresses to the devices on your LAN/wifi.
The Linksys should be an access point rather than a wifi router - no DHCP, no routing - just converting between wireless and wired LAN. You don't use the WAN interface on the Linksys at all.
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Your modem/router should be used as a modem. That's what "bridge mode" does. No DHCP, no routing - essentially just converting between ADSL/cable and ethernet. You will have to reboot your modem after you make the changes.
This is where my confusion comes from. My ISP requires a username(email) and password set on the modem to get internet access. When I set it in bridge mode I believe it clears these settings, at least based on the fact I can't access the internet after switching over.
Also when setting the modem to bridged mode it asks if I should start DHCP on the modem, I'm guessing I untick this.
So I'm guessing when I set it to bridge mode I have to give this password and email somewhere on the WAN interface of the pfSense box?
Also, how can I access the web gui for the modem after setting it to bridged? I was able to access the web gui on the e4200 by giving it a static IP on the device.
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What modem/ router are you given?
Also, what kind of connection do you have? DSL?If it is a DSL connection, find out what your VPI/ VCI is (get it from your provider).
When setting the modem to bridged mode, disable the DHCP and set the VPI/ VCI as required (for DSL) by your ISP.
Connect the modem 'LAN' to your pfSense 'WAN' port. Login to pfSense and setup the WAN connection as PPPoE (for dynamic ip DSL). Key in your username and password for the PPPoE login.