HELP! After some days of downtime, suddenly I can't get an IP via DHCP

Kalle13

Hello,

long story short. After some days of downtime, suddenly I can't get an IP via DHCP on the WAN after the first bootup. All that changed was the Modem before the the pfSense. It' s now a Technicolor TC4400. The pfSense runs on a Super Micro C2758 with 4 Ethernet ports.
I resetted the system to factory defaults. I did the configuration on the terminal via VGA: With all the 4 Nics as WAN I can't get an IP! No single NIC get' s an IP. It's so frustrating! With my normal Laptop I get my offitial fixed IP via DHCP through the TC4400.

My whole Network stands still. I don't know what to do!
Do you have any ideas?

Best regards
Kalle

Gertjan

Try this : Note down the MAC of your "normal laptop", and clone that on the WAN of pfSense interface that is connected to your modem.

@Kalle13 said in HELP! After some days of downtime, suddenly I can't get an IP via DHCP:

With all the 4 Nics as WAN I

4 WAN's for one modem ?

Rico

@Gertjan said in HELP! After some days of downtime, suddenly I can't get an IP via DHCP:

4 WAN's for one modem ?

I think this means he tried to connect NIC by NIC for troubleshooting.

-Rico

Kalle13

@Rico That's right. It configured NIC by NIC as WAN to the Modem.

Gertjan

MAC cloning helped ?

Or : if your modem has some GUI - reset it first.

JKnott

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stephenw10

If it worked with your laptop try spoofing that MAC address on the pfSense WAN.
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/interfaces/interface-settings.html#mac-spoofing

Check the DHCP logs for dhclient entries.

Steve

Kalle13

This post is deleted!

Kalle13

The spoofing was the right hint (I did not reset the Modem, because it was new), THANK YOU!! BUT why would they cache the MAC address and block it? Can I clear the cache (I think not)? How can I get them to clear the cache?

But know I have my old problem: an unstable WAN connection. My WAN switches between an IPv4, IPv6 address and disconnected. I switched the interface with "ifconfig" on and of but no success. ONLY a reboot helps. This seems to be a bug. I read about it one some threads so I am not the only one with this issue.

Best regards,
Kalle

stephenw10

A lot of ISPs do that. Usually the modem locks to one MAC address and resetting it will allow a new MAC to be used. Some ISPs log that upstream though and you have to call and get it reset.

Check the dhcp and system logs when that is happening. Something will be logged there.

Steve