ADSL RJ11 & RJ45 On Old Laptop (Setup)
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I posted in the General Section of the forum, apologies if I wasn't clear and didn't ask the right question or questions about the set up of pfsense.
I have an old Laptop. The Laptop it self has an RJ11 & and RJ45 Port.
I was hoping it would be as simple as plugging my ADSL Telephone Cable in to the laptop and then having the RJ45 Ethernet cable connected to the switch from the port on the Laptop.
When I Booted the Laptop and configured pfsense for the first time I was only able to detect the WAN what I think was actually the LAN of my home network.
I tried connecting the Ethernet RJ45 to LAN Port #2 on my ISP Router and was able to access pfsense GUI in my browser on my client desktop machine.
I'm not sure if I have this set up correctly as pfsense seems unable to detect the RJ11 Port direct from my ADSL Line.
I installed pfsense because of the generic rubbish the ISPs hand out is garbage and I was hoping to have something better as my Home Router.
I have removed the battery so it doesn’t pop but unable to know fore sure if I have this set up correctly in the way of the physical side of things and how to set up the router it self using the Web GUI.
Can any one provide any help on the physical network set-up such as the RJ11 & RJ45 Set-up and weather I should take pout my ISP Router from the network and have my old laptop as the front line defence or option in my home network.
Thank you in advance.
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This won't work
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That^. For a number of reasons.
That RJ-11 port on your laptop is almost certainly an analogue modem. So you could potentially use it for dial-up at 56kbps but not DSL.
However it's probably a 'Win-modem' that requires windows drivers and doesn't present as a serial port that pfSense could use anyway.
If your switch supports VLANs you could configure multiple interface via one NIC that way.
Steve
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That^. For a number of reasons.
That RJ-11 port on your laptop is almost certainly an analogue modem. So you could potentially use it for dial-up at 56kbps but not DSL.
However it's probably a 'Win-modem' that requires windows drivers and doesn't present as a serial port that pfSense could use anyway.
If your switch supports VLANs you could configure multiple interface via one NIC that way.
Steve
In this case of the Modem being analogue would I have to simply connect the laptop to the Switch Via. Ethernet. It has one port built in to the side of it.
I never realised that it was analogue until you mentioned but now that you say it will most deffo be as the laptop is quite old.
I'm able to access pfSense threw my browser on what I believe is my LAN but when I set up pfSense it was recognised by my Switch and other computers connected to it, as the WAN.
So would that mean I will have too keep my ISP Router and have pfSense sitting behind the Router connected to the switch.
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You will need a DSL modem so if you don't have a dedicated device for that you will need to keep the ISP router there. You may be able to put it into bridge mode though so that it's acting only as a modem the pfSense WAN interface would get the public IP directly. It looks like you might be in the UK in which case you would setup the PPPoE session in pfSense.
However since your laptop only has one NIC you would need to use VLANs with a VLAN capable switch to get the required WAN and LAN (and potentially more) in pfSense.
In it's current state with only one NIC pfSense will assign that as it's WAN and you will be able to access the webgui via that. As soon as you add more interfaces the default access will be via the LAN and access from the WAN will be blocked by default.
Steve
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You will need a DSL modem so if you don't have a dedicated device for that you will need to keep the ISP router there. You may be able to put it into bridge mode though so that it's acting only as a modem the pfSense WAN interface would get the public IP directly. It looks like you might be in the UK in which case you would setup the PPPoE session in pfSense.
However since your laptop only has one NIC you would need to use VLANs with a VLAN capable switch to get the required WAN and LAN (and potentially more) in pfSense.
In it's current state with only one NIC pfSense will assign that as it's WAN and you will be able to access the webgui via that. As soon as you add more interfaces the default access will be via the LAN and access from the WAN will be blocked by default.
Steve
Thank you for clarifying that about the WAN. I wasn't sure if the actual WAN being recognized as WAN was correct to begin with. I'm still very new to Networking and pfSense as a topic.
I have been doing some Google serches and found that their are a number of help topics available for setting up VLAN threw the one Ethernet connection and using my ISP Router I will have the actual laptop sitting behind this.
I have went down the pfSense route because I wanted more control and functionality and understanding of what was going on; on my network and in general have a interest in networking as such.
I am in the UK and I also have 3 other PC connected to the switch and thus the one Ethernet connected to the ISP Router \ Modem .
I've found this help topic on creating a VLAN threw Google. https://www.iceflatline.com/2013/09/how-to-create-and-configure-vlans-in-pfsense/
I'll check my Switch supports VLANS threw Google as I'll have to do some checking up.
I'm with the physical set up side of things in regards to the physical topology but creating a VLAN threw the switch and having pfSense sitting on the laptop what I will probably connect to Ethernet Port 4 for simplicity; I can imagine I'm gonna be learning a lot with networks and their configuration. So be prepared for some possibly stupid questions. :P
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I've had a look around the Board & can't find anything about making double post so if its forbidden I apologise.
Is it normal for the pfSense interface to sit at what looks like the home screen were as it gives you options from 0 too 16 ..
If I'm going to configure the VLAN will this have to be achieved threw my browser and only my browser on my Client \ Desktop PC. Is this set up normal.
I've reset I think pfSense to factory defaults and set up WAN and I'm able to log in too the Web Configurator threw my browser.
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No such thing as a stupid question, as long as you don't ask it twice! ;)
If you have a typical SOHO 5 port switch it probably isn't going to have VLAN capabilities. The switch make and model would tell us though. The make/model of your ISP router would also tell us if it can be bridged into a modem only.
That guide is a bit old, the GUI had changed since then, but it's still pretty much the same.
Double posting is generally frowned upon, I locked your other post with a link to this one. That's mostly because it often leads to people spending time and effort answering questions that have already been answered.
It is normal to see the console menu (options 0-16) on the console at the completion of boot.
You would normally configure VLANs through the webgui, yes. It is possible to configure then via the console though and with only one connection there's a good chance you will lock yourself out in which case you might have to use that.
Steve
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Some friendly advice - What you're trying to do with VLANs is going to be difficult. If this is your first attempt at pfSense, I highly recommend using a computer that has two NICs.
I applaud the use of old equipment to learn on, but in this case it's going to cause you some headaches. Instead of spending money on a managed switch, I'd look into an inexpensive appliance to install pfSense on. If you have an old tower laying around, I'd start there. A PCIe NIC isn't too spendy on ebay.
Best of luck either way!
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Depending on the age of the laptop, there is maybe a PCMCIA slot at the side of the laptop.
You can then place a PCMCIA card with LAN interface.
If the laptop is very old, then it will be a PCMCIA slot with verry wide dimension, and your stuck with a 100Mbps LAN port adapter.
If the laptop is newer (after 2003), then you can have Expresscard slot, these cards are smaller, and then you can add a LAN port adapter with 1 or 2 extra Gigabit ports.
These PCMCIA (Cardbus) or Expresscards with 1 port are very cheap these day's to find on Ebay…Grtz
DeLorean
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I will come back to this thread in a couple of days so as long as you know I have not forgotten about it or ignoring it. I want to get pfSense up and running but the thing is I have just purchased a Job Lot of 4 tower PCs of Gumtree (Craig s list in America).
When I spoke to the seller they have said that they are a lot more modern and less than 3 years old.
This laptop I have hear is getting major old now. The only reason I haven't threw it out is because I hate throwing any working electrical item out if I can find a use for it regardless of its age.
I have several NICs with my spare stuff and will install it tomorrow when I receive these PCs .
I will come back to this thread but thanks a lot for your reply.
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Some friendly advice - What you're trying to do with VLANs is going to be difficult. If this is your first attempt at pfSense, I highly recommend using a computer that has two NICs.
I agree.
Using VLANs and one NIC is possible, and some might argue more fun! ;) But it could equally prove an incredibly frustrating introduction to pfSense. 2 NICs in an old desktop will be many times easier.
Steve
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Hello again. :P
I've got my pfSense Box up and running. I've installed the latest CE of pfSense 2.3.4 AMD64 Full Install.
I am trying to log in too the Web Configurator via. my Browser on 192.168.1.xx; trying to log in too 192.168.1.xx but however its not letting me.
I am trying to log in to the DHCP Address IPv4 on WAN.
I have managed to install the NIC with in the 64bit tower and have used also the onboard Ethernet connected to the Switch I previously mentioned what does not support VLANs .
I have not attempted to set up VLANS but I think after disconnecting the Ethernet and then connecting the two one at a time managed to set up LAN & WAN.
I am not sure how to log in too Web Configurator as the only thing I can think of is it would be the LAN Address and not the WAN Address.
Under LAN with in the pfSense terminal their is no given address or information for LAN were as DHCP V4 &DHCP V6 are showing Addresses .
Is anyone able to help on this.
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I am not sure how to log in too Web Configurator as the only thing I can think of is it would be the LAN Address and not the WAN Address.
Do you use HTTPS://192.168.1.X and not HTTP://192.168.1.X ?
Without the S (secured connection) , or just 192.168.1.X it won't work to login to the Web Configurator.Grtz
DeLorean -
I am not sure how to log in too Web Configurator as the only thing I can think of is it would be the LAN Address and not the WAN Address.
Do you use HTTPS://192.168.1.X and not HTTP://192.168.1.X ?
Without the S (secured connection) , or just 192.168.1.X it won't work to login to the Web Configurator.Grtz
DeLoreanHonestly speaking I think I am seriously getting confused over a lot of this.
I have currently my pfSense box booted. I have went threw option 1 (Set Interfaces) and I have not been able to visibly see an address for LAN,
I have the WAN and LAN but the router is showing pfSense as 192.168.1.2 and under WAN on the Terminal in pfSense its showing as 192.168.1.2. Their is nothing listed under LAN.
I think I have set this up wrong. Also under WAN within the pfSense Terminal I have an additional "/24" at the end of the WAN Address. I don’t know what that means.
Were it says LAN and the arrow in the middle their is nothing on the right hand side Unlike WAN listed above.
http://https://192.168.1.x is not working.
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. . . under WAN on the Terminal in pfSense its showing as 192.168.1.2. Their is nothing listed under LAN.
This looks very much like you have pfSense behind another router (probably a modem/router).
You need to bridge your modem/router so that it acts as a modem and your pfSense box gets your public IP on WAN.
Bridging your modem/router may be as simple as changing one setting but you should be able to turn or NAT and DHCP, which has the same effect. If it is a WiFi modem/router you will probably lose the WiFi.
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I am not sure how to log in too Web Configurator as the only thing I can think of is it would be the LAN Address and not the WAN Address.
Do you use HTTPS://192.168.1.X and not HTTP://192.168.1.X ?
Without the S (secured connection) , or just 192.168.1.X it won't work to login to the Web Configurator.Grtz
DeLoreanHonestly speaking I think I am seriously getting confused over a lot of this.
I have currently my pfSense box booted. I have went threw option 1 (Set Interfaces) and I have not been able to visibly see an address for LAN,
I have the WAN and LAN but the router is showing pfSense as 192.168.1.2 and under WAN on the Terminal in pfSense its showing as 192.168.1.2. Their is nothing listed under LAN.
I think I have set this up wrong. Also under WAN within the pfSense Terminal I have an additional "/24" at the end of the WAN Address. I don’t know what that means.
Were it says LAN and the arrow in the middle their is nothing on the right hand side Unlike WAN listed above.
http://https://192.168.1.x is not working.
i'm sorry, it must be HTTPS ://192.168.1.X (without the space behind the S) not HTTPS://192.168.1.X
forum had messed up the link that i provided.
Also, boot your firewall without the WAN connected, if you then can login , then you have a IP-adress conflict with your WAN.
This usually is the case, if your pfSense box is behind another router that reach out IP-adresses in the same range as your pfSense box does.
You have then 2 options :- Enable the first router in bridge-mode, so that your pfSense box gets a public ip-adress or
- Change the range from your pfSense box to 192.168.3.X or something, as long as it's different then the 192.168.1.X range.
Grtz
DeLorean -
Seems like you have the 192.168.1.X subnet on both WAN and LAN interfaces which is an invalid setup.
Try configuring the LAN to a different subnet. For example set it to 192.168.100.1/24. That should allow it to come up with the WAN as 192.168.1.2.
You should be able to connect to the GUI using http or https. It runs as https by default but will redirect your brower if you try http.
Steve
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I think I have set this up wrong. Also under WAN within the pfSense Terminal I have an additional "/24" at the end of the WAN Address. I don’t know what that means.
/24 is shorthand for a 24 bit subnet mask. On clients, you'd typically see this as 255.255.255.0
They are the same thing. For the most part, it means there are 256 addresses available in that subnet. It does a few other things like specifying broadcast and network addresses, but you can read up on that from the link below.
Further Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subnetwork
Reference for the Future: https://www.aelius.com/njh/subnet_sheet.html
