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

    Pfsense with 2 modems as multiwan : cannot access webGUI of the secondary modem

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Routing and Multi WAN
    29 Posts 6 Posters 5.2k 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.
    • T
      trap16
      last edited by

      I sorted out half of the issue, it was due to bad settings.

      • I removed the gateway from the WAN1 (to fiber modem) and WAN2 (to 4G modem) interface
      • I added several LAN firewall rules to pass :
          1) LAN net to WAN1 net with no gateway
          2) LAN net to WAN2 net with no gateway
          3) LAN net to any with my failover gateway group (192.168.1.1 tier 1 and 192.168.5.1 tier 2)

      And now I can ping and access the tv receiver (192.168.1.10) from my LAN

      So I can now ping correctly my fiber box modem, my tv receiver from my LAN, but the 4G modem is still failing (can access it from a shell on pfsense but not from my LAN)

      B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • R
        riccio99
        last edited by

        hi, i had a similar problem with another firewall (Dlink).

        i added a protocol binding rule:
        Service: HTTP
        Local Gateway: the wan of the 4g modem
        Source Networks: Any
        Destination network: ip adress of the wan port of the 4g modem.

        I hope it help you

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • T
          t__2
          last edited by

          Have almost the exact situation as this. Only difference my internal LAN is 192.168.1.1/24 and the address pfSense is usng for the Netgear LB1120 4G modem is 192.168.5.2 (gateway 192.168.5.1).
          Failover works works great to the 4G modem if my primary FIOS gateway goes down for whatever reason.
          I like the original poster cannot get to the 4G modem configuration web page from a computer on my LAN. I can ping the default web page address @ 192.168.5.1 and that works just fine. I have read all the posts I can find on this starting with the common one https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Accessing_modem_from_inside_firewall. That and others I found are either not exactly the same situation or are not specific enough instructions for a noob like me to translate the shorthand used into actual settings in pfSense. Using latest 2.4.2_1 version by the way.

          Any help would be appreciated.

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

            Is the 4G modem webgui address the same address as the default gateway on that interface when it's up? Is it in the same subnet as the default gateway on that interface?

            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
              t__2
              last edited by

              Attached is what my Dashboard says . . .
              Let me know if that is not the info you want.

              gateways.png
              gateways.png_thumb

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • T
                t__2
                last edited by

                Yes the default 4G modem web page is at 192.168.5.1. Same as the Gateway.

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

                  Hmm. Seems like that should work. Do you have good outbound NAT on the WAN_CELL interface? If connections to 192.168.5.1 are source-NAT to 192.168.5.2 and it isn't working the next thing to look at would probably be a packet capture on that interface filtered on 192.168.5.1 during a connection attempt.

                  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
                    t__2
                    last edited by

                    Sorry for my ignorance how do I tell if I "have good outbound NAT on the WAN_CELL interface"? I have not set up any special NAT, routing, or firewall rules to make this work yet. Mostly because I don't know what I am doing. The instructions I find searching Google are too generic like "create a new outbound NAT rule". Until I have done a few of them I will need detailed instructions on how to do things like that in the pfSense settings.

                    On a computer on the LAN when I put 192.168.5.2 in the browser URL field I get the pfSense box log in page. If I put 192.168.5.1 I eventually get "Problem loading page" and "The connection has timed out" warnings.

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

                      Then just post a screenshot of your outbound NAT.

                      And having a LAN subnet of 10.0.0.0/8 is going to cause you nothing but grief. Why did you choose to do that?

                      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
                        t__2
                        last edited by

                        Here is my Firewall/NAT/Outbound page. (If that is what you were asking for.)

                        By the way I think you are getting postings from trap16 mixed up with mine. I don't have the 10.0.0.0/8 deal. Maybe I should have started a different thread but I have the same problem as trap16. Just a slightly different set up.

                        In my setup I think the 10.3.201.0/24 network rules in the Firewall were automatically set up when I tried to configure OpenVpn. I have deleted my attempts to set it up for now so if you think I should delete those rules let me know.

                        pfSense_outbound.png
                        pfSense_outbound.png_thumb

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

                          Yeah, you're right. I was confused. Your NAT rules look fine.

                          So what you want to do is start a packet capture on WAN_CELL for all traffic for host 192.168.5.1 then try to connect to the modem then stop the capture.

                          It would probably be best if you attached the capture since MAC addresses might be important. Or at least set the detail to Full, View Capture again and post that.

                          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
                            t__2
                            last edited by

                            Is this the settings you want me to try for packet capture?

                            How long do I run the capture? Until the browser times out?

                            pfsense_packets.png
                            pfsense_packets.png_thumb

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • T
                              t__2
                              last edited by

                              Here is the capture with the settings I posted. Ran it until the browser timed out.

                              pfSense_capture.txt

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

                                Your modem is not accepting the ARP Reply for whatever reason. You'll need to ask them. pfSense is doing everything it is supposed to there.

                                11:31:58.374001 0a:40:06:d2:5d:5d > ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, ethertype ARP (0x0806), length 60: Ethernet (len 6), IPv4 (len 4), Request who-has 192.168.5.2 tell 192.168.5.1, length 46
                                11:31:58.374014 00:08:a2:0b:8e:0e > 0a:40:06:d2:5d:5d, ethertype ARP (0x0806), length 42: Ethernet (len 6), IPv4 (len 4), Reply 192.168.5.2 is-at 00:08:a2:0b:8e:0e, length 28
                                11:32:14.614066 0a:40:06:d2:5d:5d > ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, ethertype ARP (0x0806), length 60: Ethernet (len 6), IPv4 (len 4), Request who-has 192.168.5.2 tell 192.168.5.1, length 46
                                11:32:14.614083 00:08:a2:0b:8e:0e > 0a:40:06:d2:5d:5d, ethertype ARP (0x0806), length 42: Ethernet (len 6), IPv4 (len 4), Reply 192.168.5.2 is-at 00:08:a2:0b:8e:0e, length 28

                                and on and on.

                                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
                                  t__2
                                  last edited by

                                  Thanks Derelict for your help on this.

                                  Tell me this, Why if I unplug the 4G modem from our pfSense box and plug it into a computer I can get the configuration web page at 192.168.5.1? No changes at all to the modem required to do this. Did not even power down or reset the modem. Does that mean my Linux computer talks to the modem differently then the pfSense box does?

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

                                    No idea. Would need to see a PCAP from that computer port in that situation to see what is different.

                                    Does that mean my Linux computer talks to the modem differently then the pfSense box does?

                                    ARP is ARP.

                                    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
                                      t__2
                                      last edited by

                                      OK I did a tcpdump with the Linux machine connected directly to the 4G modem. Started it then went to 192.186.5.1 and stopped it as soon as the log in page for the modem came up. Not sure I was doing it correctly but here it is.

                                      pfSense_tcpdump.txt

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

                                        Yeah that doesn't even try to ARP - it seems to have already accepted that MAC address into it's ARP table based on received traffic (as it should).

                                        You are going to have to ask the modem manufacturer/provider why it refuses to acknowledge the ARP Reply the WAN port is sending.

                                        Sorry. It's really as simple as that. pfSense is doing nothing wrong.

                                        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
                                          t__2
                                          last edited by

                                          I have some questions.

                                          What does not even try ARP? The modem or my Linux computer tied to the modem?

                                          What has already accepted what MAC address into it's ARP table?

                                          I am just wondering if either in the modem or pfSense can we put th MAC manually to get this to work.

                                          Sorry if these are dumb questions but I am new to all this.

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

                                            Christ, man.

                                            The modem doesn't try ARP because it has accepted the MAC address for that computer based on other traffic.

                                            Or at least the ARP was not included in your capture.

                                            You MIGHT be able to make it work by spoofing the MAC address on the WAN but I would CALL THE ISP AND MAKE THEM FIX IT PROPERLY.

                                            Why are people so reluctant to call the people they are actually PAYING?!?

                                            (Please tell me you have rebooted the modem.)

                                            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
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.