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

    How to setup pfsense with wireless router bridged?

    Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
    2
    15
    3.2k
    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.
    • T
      toxicdog
      last edited by

      I'm bridging my comcast router and I cannot login to my pfsense. I will be running my ddwrt router for wifi access from my pfsense box. I can login to pfsense before I bridge my other router. i go thru setup and then save settings and I can't get any access to pfsense. I set my wan and lan and subnet  mask. I'm not sure what i am doing wrong. Is there a tutorial out there? I found one on youtube and it isn't helping.

      HP T5740
      1.6Ghz Intel Atom
      4GB Ram
      PCIe riser
      3 Gigabit network ports
      Wireless HP N Atheros card
      16GB Flash stick.
      AP Linksys E8400

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • DerelictD
        Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
        last edited by

        Why hassle with bridging?

        https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=81014.0

        Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
        A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
        DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
        Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

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

          my ddwrt is setup as an ap. it is plugged into the lan on pfsense. my wan is plugged into my bridged router modem with comcast. wan 10.0.0.2/24
          lan 192.168.1.1 static I can't access pfsense  any thoughts?

          HP T5740
          1.6Ghz Intel Atom
          4GB Ram
          PCIe riser
          3 Gigabit network ports
          Wireless HP N Atheros card
          16GB Flash stick.
          AP Linksys E8400

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • DerelictD
            Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
            last edited by

            What is the IP setting for the AP?  What is your DHCP scope on LAN on pfSense?  Are your wireless clients getting DHCP?

            If there's a communication problem, post screenshots.

            Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
            A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
            DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
            Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

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

              this is the setttings for my ddwrt ap          First do a ‘hard reset’ (look up 30/30/30 on the DD-WRT site)
              Connect to the ‘dd-wrt’ device, then connect to the router through a web browser (http://192.168.1.1).  The built in DHCP server will work for now.
              Disable the WAN connection (Setup->Basic Setup->WAN Connection Type:  Disabled)
              Change the Router Name (Setup->Basic Setup->Router Name: <whatever>– this is helpful later)
              Assign WAN port to Switch (Setup->Basic Setup->Assign WAN Port to Switch: Check – Optional, but I like to do this to gain the extra port)
              Disable DHCP Server (Setup->Basic Setup->DHCP Server:  Disable)
              Optionally set up NTP
              Change Operating Mode to ‘Router’ (Setup->Advanced Routing->Operating Mode:  Router)
              Set Wireless SSID (Wireless->Basic Settings->Wireless Network Name:  <your ssid="">)
              Set Wireless Security (Wireless->Wireless Security [It's optional, but just do it.])
              Recommend WPA2, AES, Complex key
              Disable DNSMasq (Services->Services->DNSMasq: Disable)
              Disable Firewall (Security->Firewall->SPI Firewall:  Disable)
              Disable Routing (Administration->Management->Routing:  Disable)
              Set Wireless Power (Wireless->Advanced Settings->TX Power:  50mW)
              This may be specific to this model of hardware, but it’s not a bad idea anyway
              Save & Apply
              That was easy – now the tricky bit:

              You can’t set DD-WRT to use DHCP for the LAN interface from the web.  You can, however, configure a start-up script to accomplish the same thing.  This is done from Administration->Commands – Copy in the following code and save it as the startup script.

              ln -s /sbin/rc /tmp/udhcpc
              /usr/sbin/udhcpc -i br0 -p /var/run/udhcpc.pid -s /tmp/udhcpc -H nvram get router_name
              route add default gw nvram get wan_gateway
              nvram set wds_watchdog_ips="nvram get wan_gateway"

              Config DNS

              /bin/cat /etc/resolv.conf | /bin/grep -v nameserver > /tmp/resolv.conf
              /bin/echo nameserver nvram get wan_get_dns >> /tmp/resolv.conf
              /bin/cp /tmp/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf     </your></whatever>

              HP T5740
              1.6Ghz Intel Atom
              4GB Ram
              PCIe riser
              3 Gigabit network ports
              Wireless HP N Atheros card
              16GB Flash stick.
              AP Linksys E8400

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • DerelictD
                Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                last edited by

                I don't understand how AP mode is called Router mode.  I also don't understand why you need to get a WAN gateway.  And AP is a bridge.  It bridges wireless to the wired ethernet.  All you need is a static IP on the unit so you can get at its web interface - and that's optional for client connectivity.

                If I was setting this up I would set something like this:

                pfSense LAN: 192.168.1.1/24
                DHCP Pool: 192.168.1.129 - 192.168.1.254

                LAN address of AP: 192.168.1.17

                Then set up your Wireless network and disable DNS/DHCP/etc like you have.

                Are your wireless clients getting DHCP from pfSense?

                Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
                A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
                DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
                Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

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

                  my clients are getting dhcp from pfsense. I will try your suggestion

                  HP T5740
                  1.6Ghz Intel Atom
                  4GB Ram
                  PCIe riser
                  3 Gigabit network ports
                  Wireless HP N Atheros card
                  16GB Flash stick.
                  AP Linksys E8400

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

                    Operating Mode:
                    If the router is hosting your Internet connection, select Gateway mode. If another router exists on your network, select Router mode.

                    HP T5740
                    1.6Ghz Intel Atom
                    4GB Ram
                    PCIe riser
                    3 Gigabit network ports
                    Wireless HP N Atheros card
                    16GB Flash stick.
                    AP Linksys E8400

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

                      I found out from comcast my Technicolor modem/router they provided me with will not bridge properly. they are sending me an arris or cisco that will bridge properly. I hope that is the issue.

                      HP T5740
                      1.6Ghz Intel Atom
                      4GB Ram
                      PCIe riser
                      3 Gigabit network ports
                      Wireless HP N Atheros card
                      16GB Flash stick.
                      AP Linksys E8400

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • DerelictD
                        Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                        last edited by

                        Hmm.  In the interim if you are getting a private IP from DHCP from your modem you should be able to uncheck "Block private networks" on your WAN interface and get online, albeit with double NAT.

                        Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
                        A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
                        DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
                        Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

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

                          I broke my ddwrt router going bananas over this! I can login with my wan plugged into my modem/router from comcast. 10.0.0.2  I then configure my lan and I go thru setup fine when it  saves the config it kicks me out??? I have to reboot to log back in and try the config again and same thing and yes I believe you are right It sets up nat so I'm assuming I have double nat. I also unchecked block bogon networks

                          HP T5740
                          1.6Ghz Intel Atom
                          4GB Ram
                          PCIe riser
                          3 Gigabit network ports
                          Wireless HP N Atheros card
                          16GB Flash stick.
                          AP Linksys E8400

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

                            i'm rinning pfsense on a old laptop. Everytime I hook up the usb ehternet card it picks it up but i lose connection to the rouer

                            HP T5740
                            1.6Ghz Intel Atom
                            4GB Ram
                            PCIe riser
                            3 Gigabit network ports
                            Wireless HP N Atheros card
                            16GB Flash stick.
                            AP Linksys E8400

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

                              I'm still unable to access the login page with pfsense with my laptop alone.  My wan and lan are set and not conflicting

                              HP T5740
                              1.6Ghz Intel Atom
                              4GB Ram
                              PCIe riser
                              3 Gigabit network ports
                              Wireless HP N Atheros card
                              16GB Flash stick.
                              AP Linksys E8400

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • DerelictD
                                Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                                last edited by

                                Show us your screenshots of your interfaces.

                                Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
                                A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
                                DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
                                Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

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

                                  I now have wifi with pfsense. It was something from comcast blocking they said. I now cannot login to pfsense still with 192.168.1.1 the machine is working and allowing internet. I would like t add packages now :D

                                  HP T5740
                                  1.6Ghz Intel Atom
                                  4GB Ram
                                  PCIe riser
                                  3 Gigabit network ports
                                  Wireless HP N Atheros card
                                  16GB Flash stick.
                                  AP Linksys E8400

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