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    How to make use of VLANs

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • JKnottJ
      JKnott
      last edited by

      You have to set up a trunk port on the switch to connect to the AP and also pfSense.  This will allow it to carry all VLANs.  You then configure pfSense with VLANs.  However, I have that same AP and it doesn't handle VLANs/SSIDs well.  TP-Link doesn't seem to understand the concept of VLANs and how they're supposed to be logically separate.  As I result, traffic from the native LAN will be mixed in with the VLAN.  After much frustration, I gave up on the idea of VLANs & multiple SSIDs on it.

      BTW, I had a lot of discussion with first level support about this issue and that person insisted it was normal.  It was only the person at 2nd level support who understood the problem, but there was no fix forthcoming.

      PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
      i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
      UniFi AC-Lite access point

      I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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      • johnpozJ
        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
        last edited by

        there is bunch of discussion in another thread heard about the tplink switches and a hack to remove the vlan 1 nonsense.

        But I would suggest you get a different switch the dsg1100 from dlink is same price point and handles vlans correctly.

        I have lack of confidence that the tp-link AP handles vlans correctly either.  I would suggest another AP, the unifi line handles vlans correctly.  And very reasonable priced.

        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
        If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
        Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
        SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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        • JKnottJ
          JKnott
          last edited by

          Another possibility is the D-Link DAP-2660.  While I haven't used this AP, I trust D-Link, more than I do TP-Link, to handle VLANs properly.
          http://ca.dlink.com/products/access-points/wireless-ac1200-simultaneous-dual-band-poe-access-point/

          PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
          i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
          UniFi AC-Lite access point

          I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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          • K
            kcallis
            last edited by

            Thanks for the suggestions… I have just did a factory reset and for the time I will just use the TL-Link as a simple AP until I move over to something else.

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            • K
              kcallis
              last edited by

              @johnpoz:

              there is bunch of discussion in another thread heard about the tplink switches and a hack to remove the vlan 1 nonsense.

              But I would suggest you get a different switch the dsg1100 from dlink is same price point and handles vlans correctly.

              I have lack of confidence that the tp-link AP handles vlans correctly either.  I would suggest another AP, the unifi line handles vlans correctly.  And very reasonable priced.

              The issue is not with the switch (which is a Netgear GS108E) which working fine, it seems to be an issue with the TL-Link AP and it's poor understanding of VLANS.

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              • JKnottJ
                JKnott
                last edited by

                The issue is not with the switch (which is a Netgear GS108E) which working fine, it seems to be an issue with the TL-Link AP and it's poor understanding of VLANS.

                While your issue may be about the AP, the overall point is that TP-Link should be avoided when VLANs are going to be used.  As I mentioned, they don't seem to understand them.  Regardless, when you get an AP that properly supports VLANs, you will still have to configure the switch with trunk ports for both pfSense and the AP.

                PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                UniFi AC-Lite access point

                I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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                • K
                  kcallis
                  last edited by

                  @JKnott:

                  You have to set up a trunk port on the switch to connect to the AP and also pfSense.  This will allow it to carry all VLANs.  You then configure pfSense with VLANs.  However, I have that same AP and it doesn't handle VLANs/SSIDs well.  TP-Link doesn't seem to understand the concept of VLANs and how they're supposed to be logically separate.  As I result, traffic from the native LAN will be mixed in with the VLAN.  After much frustration, I gave up on the idea of VLANs & multiple SSIDs on it.

                  BTW, I had a lot of discussion with first level support about this issue and that person insisted it was normal.  It was only the person at 2nd level support who understood the problem, but there was no fix forthcoming.

                  What I was able to do was to more or less replicated port 1 that is the trunk back to the OPT1 and did the same on port 2 with the TL-Link AP connected. At first, everything was moving along well, VLAN 15 (My wireless access to the net) gave out an address and the same is true with VLAN 50 (which are my streaming devices). I was able to see the SSIDs so it looked like a win. I have been banging around with the firewall rules because not a single rule seems to be working. For instance, I am able to get a receive an address and I am able to ping each of the gateway of each interface, but as for as pinging other devices, it is a no go. I am also not able to route through the WAN, so no internet for me right now.

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                  • johnpozJ
                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                    last edited by

                    Lets see your rules..

                    An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                    If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                    Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                    SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                    • K
                      kcallis
                      last edited by

                      @johnpoz:

                      Lets see your rules..

                      I have attached what I am working with…

                      guest_rules.PNG
                      guest_rules.PNG_thumb
                      wan_rules.PNG
                      wan_rules.PNG_thumb

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                      • DerelictD
                        Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                        last edited by

                        You are passing all traffic from the Guest network. If your Layer 2 is good, you have good DHCP, good DNS, and have good outbound NAT it should be working.

                        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)

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                        • K
                          kcallis
                          last edited by

                          Thanks for all of the pointers from everyone. I decided to forgo the VLAN multi SSID feature of the TL-Link AP and move it over to the LAN. I do have a Ubiquiti NanoStation loco M2 that I thought that I would swap with the TL-Link, but until I can understand the VLAN process, I will save that for another time.

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