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

    ADSL RJ11 & RJ45 On Old Laptop (Setup)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    19 Posts 6 Posters 3.4k 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.
    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      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

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • D
        DanC
        last edited by

        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!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • D
          DeLorean
          last edited by

          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

          ![PCMCIA 100Mbps.jpg](/public/imported_attachments/1/PCMCIA 100Mbps.jpg)
          ![PCMCIA 100Mbps.jpg_thumb](/public/imported_attachments/1/PCMCIA 100Mbps.jpg_thumb)
          ![Expresscard 1000Mbps.jpg](/public/imported_attachments/1/Expresscard 1000Mbps.jpg)
          ![Expresscard 1000Mbps.jpg_thumb](/public/imported_attachments/1/Expresscard 1000Mbps.jpg_thumb)
          ![Expresscard 2x 1Gb.jpg](/public/imported_attachments/1/Expresscard 2x 1Gb.jpg)
          ![Expresscard 2x 1Gb.jpg_thumb](/public/imported_attachments/1/Expresscard 2x 1Gb.jpg_thumb)

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

            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.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              @DanC:

              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

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

                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.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • D
                  DeLorean
                  last edited by

                  @TheHermit:

                  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

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

                    @DeLorean:

                    @TheHermit:

                    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

                    Honestly 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.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • B
                      biggsy
                      last edited by

                      @TheHermit:

                      . . . 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.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • D
                        DeLorean
                        last edited by

                        @TheHermit:

                        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

                        @TheHermit:

                        Honestly 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 :

                        1. Enable the first router in bridge-mode, so that your pfSense box gets a public ip-adress or
                        2. 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

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          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

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • D
                            DanC
                            last edited by

                            @TheHermit:

                            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

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