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    HELP! Seemingly bizarre dhclient behavior on WAN

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    • P
      Phil.Scarr
      last edited by

      @phil.davis:

      In the interface settings, try "Reject leases from" to reject any leases offered from that address. Some upstream devices can do that sort of thing.

      Awesome, thanks.  I'll let you know if that works out but it looks to solve exactly what I'm seeing.

      "To make the DHCP client reject leases from an undesirable DHCP server, place the IP address of the DHCP server here. This is useful for rejecting leases from cable modems that offer private IP addresses when they lose upstream sync."

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      • D
        doktornotor Banned
        last edited by

        Pretty normal mostly with cable modems. Yeah, best to reject those leases.

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        • jimpJ
          jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
          last edited by

          Yep, it's common cable modem behavior. My modem, an older Motorola Surfboard, does this with that exact address. It's the reason I added that GUI field years ago.

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          • P
            Phil.Scarr
            last edited by

            @jimp:

            Yep, it's common cable modem behavior. My modem, an older Motorola Surfboard, does this with that exact address. It's the reason I added that GUI field years ago.

            So it just did it again and the recovery time was much quicker, about 30 seconds instead of 2 minutes.  But I still want to know what's going on.  I guess I should call Charter and get them to test my line again.  My CM shouldn't be losing sync like this, a couple of times a day.

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            • jimpJ
              jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
              last edited by

              Usually it's indicative of an upstream issue. Mine only does that when the upstream sync is lost.

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              • luckman212L
                luckman212 LAYER 8
                last edited by

                Wish there was a way to blanket reject any lease coming from an rfc1918 address but I checked the source code for dhclient and it looks like it only accepts individual IPs right now.

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                • P
                  Phil.Scarr
                  last edited by

                  @luckman212:

                  Wish there was a way to blanket reject any lease coming from an rfc1918 address but I checked the source code for dhclient and it looks like it only accepts individual IPs right now.

                  Will it take multiple IPs?  So if for some strange reason there are 3 DHCP servers reachable but only 1 is real, can I put in a comma-separated list?

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                  • luckman212L
                    luckman212 LAYER 8
                    last edited by

                    @Phil.Scarr:

                    Will it take multiple IPs?

                    I am not sure- try it and then take a look at your /var/etc/dhclient_XXX.conf (for whichever wan) file to see if the config was written correctly.

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                    • ?
                      A Former User
                      last edited by

                      I do not know if your cable modem can be put into bridge mode but it is worth finding out. You may lose wireless but ideally you want everything behind pfsense anyway. If the modem is creating a problem just bridge right through it. Speed could see increase also.

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                      • P
                        Phil.Scarr
                        last edited by

                        @webtyro:

                        I do not know if your cable modem can be put into bridge mode but it is worth finding out. You may lose wireless but ideally you want everything behind pfsense anyway. If the modem is creating a problem just bridge right through it. Speed could see increase also.

                        I assume that that would be something the cable company would have to do, right?  I don't have wireless on my CM, I have an access point on my LAN.

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                        • P
                          Phil.Scarr
                          last edited by

                          @webtyro:

                          I do not know if your cable modem can be put into bridge mode but it is worth finding out. You may lose wireless but ideally you want everything behind pfsense anyway. If the modem is creating a problem just bridge right through it. Speed could see increase also.

                          Oh, apparently not…  http://fascinated.fm/post/2379188731/getting-a-motorola-sbg6580-into-bridge-mode-on

                          Getting a Motorola SBG6580 into “Bridge” mode on TimeWarner Wideband

                          • Unplug coax cable from Motorola

                          • Hold down the white reset button on the back panel with a pen for 30s.  This resets all settings to factory defaults. The modem will be auto-reconfigured once you plug in the coax cable.

                          • When modem is back on plug in a computer with an Ethernet cable into the modem.

                          • Connect to http://192.168.0.1 and login with “admin” / “motorola”

                          • Now you will make some changes:

                          • Wireless -> Primary Network -> Disabled

                          • Basic -> Setup -> NAPT Mode -> Disabled

                          • Basic -> DHCP -> No

                          • Advanced -> Options -> Rg Passthrough -> Enable

                          • Advanced -> Options -> Passthrough Mac Addresses -> Add WAN MAC address of your router 6. Connect port 1 on the Motorola modem to the WAN port of your router.

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                          • jimpJ
                            jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                            last edited by

                            Doesn't matter. Even in bridge mode it hands that out when it loses upstream sync

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                            • ?
                              A Former User
                              last edited by

                              @jimp:

                              Doesn't matter. Even in bridge mode it hands that out when it loses upstream sync

                              His log shows the DHCP attempt from the modem with the private address seems to me is possible causing the sync issue. Does it to you. I know my setup here using a bridged Actiontec is rock solid.
                              I have to shut everything down overnight just to receive a new gateway. Sync may not be an issue with the modem out of DHCP service. What do you think. Worth a shot?

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                              • jimpJ
                                jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                                last edited by

                                That's just how these Moto Surfboard/Arris modems work. They bridge when they have sync and when they don't have sync they hand out a private address. Presumably so you can hit the modem and troubleshoot.

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                                • ?
                                  A Former User
                                  last edited by

                                  @jimp:

                                  That's just how these Moto Surfboard/Arris modems work. They bridge when they have sync and when they don't have sync they hand out a private address. Presumably so you can hit the modem and troubleshoot.

                                  Bridge mode with a mind of its own. Pffft. Figures! Reset button be damned.

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                                  • P
                                    Phil.Scarr
                                    last edited by

                                    @jimp:

                                    That's just how these Moto Surfboard/Arris modems work. They bridge when they have sync and when they don't have sync they hand out a private address. Presumably so you can hit the modem and troubleshoot.

                                    From my limited research into this, there does seem to be a way to force the modem to stay in bridge mode all the time, whether it has sync or not…  But I haven't tried to set it up yet.

                                    http://fascinated.fm/post/2379188731/getting-a-motorola-sbg6580-into-bridge-mode-on

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                                    • A
                                      athurdent
                                      last edited by

                                      Nowadays cable providers tend to force the modem configuration on the device. It's most likely that all your local config modifications disappear at some point, at least after a reboot.
                                      Back in the days you could simply upload a different config file and the device would do 100 MBit insted of the 10 you payed for. The providers did not like this as much as the customers did, so… :)
                                      Just be glad that you still have a modem with bridge mode. Most of the providers here in Germany disable bridge mode completely.

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                                      • ?
                                        A Former User
                                        last edited by

                                        @athurdent
                                        Where I am the ISP has a newer modem with bridge mode available but the older one I have they tried to hide the setting with CSS trickery. Reboots are no problem but if the ISP was still updating the firmware then you would lose your setting. Mine is just old enough they have not bothered with any firmware upgrades. Been solid for couple of years now. For this model I just use Firefox in Developer mode and change the CSS setting that hides the bridge mode checkbox, then quickly save my change.
                                        This is tricky because the browser refresh will put you back to square one so getting the CSS changed and saving my setting is under a time limit. Took a few attempts.
                                        If you are lucky maybe they are just hiding it from you. 
                                        Some models have pages with no link to hide it.;)

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                                        • H
                                          ha11oga11o
                                          last edited by

                                          Hello all,

                                          sory for bumping topic, but i really need to know is there possible to add multiple IPs to make the DHCP client reject leases from an undesirable DHCP server. Seems my isp has 5 or 6 different IPs now. Ihave nasty issues with Dynamic dns not been able to resolve public IP etc. Various problems ppls connecting to my gaming sessions. Slow response of PfSense GUI due checking hostname ip and such. Just please tell me how to add Ips.

                                          Many thnx in advance.

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                                          • jimpJ
                                            jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                                            last edited by

                                            No, the client can only ignore one address.

                                            Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                                            Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                                            Do not Chat/PM for help!

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