A little support for a home user.

DaddyGo

Every system is different...but you have looked at some good topics in the forum so far (MAC spoofing, compatibility issue with my cable, etc.)
@badfrogg Is pfsense just not meant for residential use?

not pfSense is much more serious than that!

at what speed do you connect to your modem?
(if you find out, turn off auto - negotional)

badfrogg

Thanks. I haven't seen that recommended before. Will give it a try.

So, what I was asking about pfsense is more along the lines of, is it not meant to be compatible with a residential ISP modems and an ISP with DHCP?

DaddyGo

It's not that simple.
PfSense uses generally accepted tested packages for DHCP, but this does not mean that there should be no problems.

for example:

This is usually not a fault of pfSense
rather, ethernet controller to ethernet controller issue (modem eth. port to pfSense WAN interface eth, port

edit: many cable ISPs use a MAC ACL
plus MAC usability rules can be set up by the ISP (tied to time, frequency, etc.)

for you, since this is an intermittent error, ethernet controller compatibility is the possible error

badfrogg

I wish I understood. Regardless, thanks for taking the time to respond. I thought it would be good to play around and DIY a router but it is quite a bit more over my head then I realized.

badfrogg

Can I take away from this that it is likely a software issue and that buying a branded Netgate box would likely not fix this problem?

DaddyGo

check this, pls:

and try to preserve the speed negotiation
by not allowing auto-negotiation

Netgate dedicated hardware is a good choice, but it may not solve your problem.
The cause must be investigated first...

DaddyGo

and try not to use the Realtek or noname ethernet controller on pfSense interfaces ...
use these:

Intel I340 / I350 / i210-At / i211

edit: unfortunately, you cannot select the ethernet controller in the ISP CPE (this is given already by ISP)

badfrogg

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Got it. Will disable auto.

I am using an intel pro/1000 dual card now. But the problem is identical to the old box that ha the Realtek NIC.

Should I disable IPv6?

DaddyGo

@badfrogg said in A little support for a home user.:

Can I take away from this that it is likely a software issue and that buying a branded Netgate box would likely not fix this problem?

Definitely NOT a software bug

DaddyGo

I don't use IPv6 on my home network, it's unnecessary yet, but my service provides it ensure anyway

BTW, I use it in my work as it is needed in those systems...

if you don't need it much IPv6 for something (lot of IoT, etc.), turn it off

behemyth

That is an ARP issue - thats what arpresolve is doing i assume. ARP is Layer 2. What interface is EM0? Is that your WAN interface? You can go under interfaces to see what interface that is tied to. I dont know why you would be having an ARP issue between your cable modem and the WAN port, that is really odd.

If you google that error, they talk about that generally means the device cant find its gateway. That is why I'm asking what interface EM0 is. Your using a non-netgate box, so that interface might not be your WAN.

If this interface is not your WAN, then you have the wrong network (IP Space) assigned to that interface. If you have 1.1.1.0/24 assigned to an interface and the gateway is on 1.1.2.0/24, your going to have that exact issue.

badfrogg

EM0 is connected to my Cable Modem. EM1 is connected to my home switch.

What do you mean by VM? I have pfsence booting directly from an SSD. It was the serial img.

behemyth

Yah I updated my comment. Is your WAN interface using DHCP, or are you assigning a static IP?

badfrogg

I have Spectrum Cable Internet. It is DHCP. 400 downand 50 up.

behemyth

OK, I use Comcast - the only thing you should have set on your WAN is DHCP for IPv4, and then DHCP for v6 if spectrum supports it - and you should be good. You dont need any other settings configured for the WAN interface other than the default two block statements at the bottom that are checked by default.

What Cable modem are you using by chance? Is it the Arris Surfboard 8200 I think it is? The little white box?

badfrogg

It is an Arris TG1682G

behemyth

Alright, so that' an all in one modem, your definitely not just using a "cable modem". All in one modems generally require more work to work with an external router. Those have built in firewalls, and other services that could definitely be causing your problem. Have you disabled just about everything on it? Using those with wireless is very tricky too.

Does that have a pass-through setting that you can pass the WAN IP to the pfsense box? If so, have you enabled it?

Is it still acting as a Wireless Access Point for your devices?

This would be a lot more straight forward if you just bought a pure cable modem, and didnt use an all in one. My guess is you would need a wireless solution then as well.

badfrogg

When I had it installed I call the ISP and had them disable the router and wifi. I asked for the public IP to be passed thorough directly to my own personal router.

My home network is already set up with a PoE switch and access points. Its just the router that I am lacking right now.

behemyth

Does your internet connectivity come back automatically when it stops working, or do you have to power cycle either pfsense or the cable modem?

I have a suspicion that what's actually happening is your cable modem isn't responding to dhcp requests from pfsense, and because its not your wan interface is dropping because the lease time is expiring. Does this happen right around 8 hours or so?

badfrogg

Its is random throughout the day and it comes back on its own after a minute or two.