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

    Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
    54 Posts 6 Posters 9.4k 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.
    • JKnottJ
      JKnott @landman16
      last edited by

      @landman16 said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

      Zen are not even able to tell me how they are routing the IPs to me. This is half the battle if they could I wouldn’t be where I am now

      If they're just giving you a block of addresses, then use them that way. No need to route them. As I mentioned above, you just need a bridge/firewall, to pass the addresses to the servers. Take a computer, configure it with a static address from that list. If it works, that's all you need to do for each server. Also, if those servers run Linux, they will already have a good firewall built in. Just configure and you wouldn't even need pfSense, though an extra layer of protection is better.

      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...

      DerelictD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • JKnottJ
        JKnott @NogBadTheBad
        last edited by

        @nogbadthebad said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

        OK then you need to nat those addresses, but not 217.13.XX.207

        NO! NO! NO! NAT. He has a block of public addresses. If he has an address for a router, then set up pfSense as a router/firewall. If he doesn't then set up pfSense as a bridge/firewall. Which config he uses depends on what the ISP provides. My own ISP provides 2 IPv4 addresses, so I could directly connect 2 devices to my cable modem, if I choose. However, as I have more than 2 devices, I am forced to use NAT for IPv4.

        I wish people would get out of the habit of thinking NAT is the way things are done. NAT is a hack, created to get around the IPv4 address shortage and, due to problems it causes, shouldn't be used when not needed. The OP has a block of 16 addresses, so NAT most definitely should not be used.

        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...

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

          Call your ISP.

          Tell them to give you a /29 on the WAN interface.

          Tell them to route 217.13.XX.192/28 to your address on that.

          If they want justification for the /29 tell them you need to run VRRP. (Even though it's not really possible on PPPoE. You might have to settle for something else there, like a static address. Try for the /29 anyway)

          Put 217.13.XX.193/28 on an inside interface.

          Make a NO NAT Hybrid outbound NAT rule for 217.13.XX.192/28

          Put your servers on that inside interface. Give them addresses 217.13.XX.194 - 217.13.XX.207.

          And you're done - and it's done correctly.

          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)

          L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • DerelictD
            Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate @JKnott
            last edited by

            @jknott said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

            The OP has a block of 16 addresses, so NAT most definitely should not be used.

            Neither should any silly bridging.

            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 1
            • L
              landman16 @Derelict
              last edited by

              @derelict I will give them a call in a bit and ask them to give me a /29 and see where I go from there. If they will issue a /29 Will that allow me to assign the servers behind pfsense the public IPs directly to the NIC cards on the physical servers?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • NogBadTheBadN
                NogBadTheBad
                last edited by NogBadTheBad

                It's what @Derelict said 2 posts up, you need to make it clear to Zen you want the /28 subnet routed via a /29 transit network.

                Out of interest when you asked for additional IP addresses did you get an option of how you wanted them ?

                Andy

                1 x Netgate SG-4860 - 3 x Linksys LGS308P - 1 x Aruba InstantOn AP22

                L 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • L
                  landman16 @NogBadTheBad
                  last edited by

                  @nogbadthebad They gave me no option on how I wanted them to be routed to me, but previously with my old supplier that I had 3 days ago. They issued them to me directly I would assume via a /29 transit network. As all I had to do is assign one to my router (at the start of the range (217.13.XX.193) and then all the public IPs between 217.13.XX.194 through to 217.13.XX.207 were signed directly to each nodes NIC cards this was the settings I gave the each Nodes NIC card

                  Node 1: -
                  Static IP: 217.13.XX.194
                  Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.240
                  Gateway IP: 217.13.XX.193

                  Node 2: -
                  Static IP: 217.13.XX.195
                  Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.240
                  Gateway IP: 217.13.XX.193

                  So on, and so on...All the way to 217.13.XX.207 with the final IP 217.13.XX.208 being the broadcast address (unusable)

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • L
                    landman16 @NogBadTheBad
                    last edited by

                    @nogbadthebad the issue is here is as before when I was with my old supplier they gave the IP's to me like this

                    217.13.XX.193 (router/firewall)
                    217.13.XX.194
                    217.13.XX.195
                    217.13.XX.196
                    217.13.XX.197
                    217.13.XX.198
                    217.13.XX.199
                    217.13.XX.200
                    217.13.XX.201
                    217.13.XX.202
                    217.13.XX.203
                    217.13.XX.204
                    217.13.XX.205
                    217.13.XX.206
                    217.13.XX.207
                    217.13.XX.208 (broadcast address)

                    Now Zen Internet issue them to me like this

                    217.13.XX.193
                    217.13.XX.194
                    217.13.XX.195
                    217.13.XX.196
                    217.13.XX.197
                    217.13.XX.198
                    217.13.XX.199
                    217.13.XX.200
                    217.13.XX.201
                    217.13.XX.202
                    217.13.XX.203
                    217.13.XX.204
                    217.13.XX.205
                    217.13.XX.206
                    217.13.XX.207 (router/firewall)
                    217.13.XX.208 (broadcast address)

                    So when the router is assigned 217.13.XX.207 automatically , its causing issues with my setup. When I try and tell the system it can use the other IP's available to me. It just returns an error basically saying they overlap with the WAN address.

                    JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • JKnottJ
                      JKnott @landman16
                      last edited by

                      @landman16 said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

                      So when the router is assigned 217.13.XX.207 automatically , its causing issues with my setup. When I try and tell the system it can use the other IP's available to me. It just returns an error basically saying they overlap with the WAN address.

                      That router address would be on the LAN side, not WAN. On the WAN side, you need an address that's outside of that block of addresses. This is why we've been asking about what you're being provided. If they expect you to use a router, then they need to provided an appropriate WAN address, which I haven't seen yet. If they're only providing those 16 addresses and no WAN address, then they're expecting you to use them as is, unusual but possible. In that case, you need to configure pfSense as a bridge. Please call your ISP's support and find out what they are providing and expecting you to provide. Until we know that, we're just guessing.

                      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...

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • L
                        landman16 @NogBadTheBad
                        last edited by

                        @nogbadthebad said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

                        It's what @Derelict said 2 posts up, you need to make it clear to Zen you want the /28 subnet routed via a /29 transit network.

                        Out of interest when you asked for additional IP addresses did you get an option of how you wanted them ?

                        Looks like they have not routed the block of 16 IP's to me correctly, I have just phoned Zen and asked them if they can route my public subnet of 16 IP's via a /29 transit network. Maybe then I will get a WAN address that is outside of my allocated IP range, so I able then to use my public subnet without it erroring and saying "It cant do it as it overlaps the auto allocated WAN IP. Not sure if this will work, but its worth a go.

                        Thank you to everyone so far for your help, this has been a tricky one as Zen are/were sure it was my end. Im waiting on a call back. Will be back to update once they have come back to me with the verdict!

                        JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • JKnottJ
                          JKnott @landman16
                          last edited by

                          @landman16 said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

                          /29 transit network

                          Transit networks are commonly /30, though /31 might also be used. With the IPv4 shortage, they're not likely to give you more than you need.

                          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...

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • L
                            landman16
                            last edited by

                            Well Zen say "NO!" they do not have the tech onboard their network to route the IPs over a /29 transit network. They are telling me that they are telling me they are only able to route the block of 16 IP's via a Ip frame unnumbered where the wan ip is included within the public subnet range. So not entirely sure what to do here, since they did tell me that they were able to accommodate my needs from the outset. So this is a little disappointing to say the least

                            JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • NogBadTheBadN
                              NogBadTheBad
                              last edited by

                              You’ll need to NAT the addresses then as suggested.

                              Out of interest is this for business use or home use.

                              Zen do offer business ethernet and MPLS.

                              I wish I’d have asked for the 8 public IP addresses that they were handing out FOC when I originally placed my ADSL order with them years ago.

                              Andy

                              1 x Netgate SG-4860 - 3 x Linksys LGS308P - 1 x Aruba InstantOn AP22

                              JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • JKnottJ
                                JKnott @NogBadTheBad
                                last edited by

                                @nogbadthebad said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

                                You’ll need to NAT the addresses then as suggested.

                                What's this obsession with NAT? If he has a valid WAN address, then set up pfSense as a regular router. However, if that list of addresses is correct, they're expecting him to run without a router, meaning he configures each server to use that router address as the default gateway, just as you'd configure any computer behind a router. The only difference is the router is at the ISP's and not his location. This is why I suggested configuring a computer with one of those addresses and seeing if it works. If it does, then the ISP does not want a router at his site and pfSense has to be configured as a bridge. It would be really nice if the OP would confirm what arrangements the ISP wants, so we're not speculating. Either way, forget NAT. It's not needed, as he apparently has all the addresses he needs for his servers.

                                Please remember, NAT is a hack to get around the IPv4 address shortage and should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Based on the info provided, it's not, assuming he has no more than 13 servers.

                                Incidentally, there appears to be a minor error in that list. Shouldn't the last octet range from 192 to 207? That would be the normal range for a /28, with 217.13.XX.192 the network address and 217.13.XX.207, broadcast.

                                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...

                                NogBadTheBadN L 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • JKnottJ
                                  JKnott @landman16
                                  last edited by JKnott

                                  @landman16 said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

                                  So this is a little disappointing to say the least

                                  Try using it as a block of "LAN" addresses as I suggested. As I mentioned, that's easily tested by configuring a computer using one of those addresses. As noted above, verify the actual addresses, as there seems to be a discrepancy for a /28.

                                  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...

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • johnpozJ
                                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                    last edited by johnpoz

                                    .192/28

                                    .192 = wire
                                    .193 = first address
                                    .207 = last address
                                    .208 = broadcast.

                                    That aint right is it.. jknot is correct .207 would be broadcast not last host.

                                    .208 would be the next net
                                    .208/28

                                    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

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

                                      Yeah .207 is broadcast in .192/28.

                                      If you CANNOT get a subnet routed to you and you CANNOT NAT, then the only other thing you can do is bridge as has been suggested.

                                      Personally, I would 1:1 NAT in that case. Not for any love of NAT, but that would be my preferred way of dealing with this ISP crap unless the application was NAT-sensitive like FTP or VoIP. In that case I would look for an ISP that could deliver the provisioning correct for the application.

                                      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)

                                      JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • JKnottJ
                                        JKnott @Derelict
                                        last edited by

                                        @derelict said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

                                        Not for any love of NAT, but that would be my preferred way of dealing with this ISP crap

                                        Why not just use bridge mode and filter that way. Unless I'm mistaken, pfSense can do that, though I have never tried it.

                                        Transparent layer 2 firewalling capable - can bridge interfaces and filter traffic between them, even allowing for an IP-less firewall (though you probably want an IP for management purposes).

                                        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...

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

                                          I consider bridging to be a last resort.

                                          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)

                                          JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • JKnottJ
                                            JKnott @Derelict
                                            last edited by

                                            @derelict said in Issue with a block of 16 IPv4 addresses:

                                            I consider bridging to be a last resort.

                                            What's the issue? I'd consider NAT to be a last resort.

                                            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...

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