XG-7100 Slow WAN w/ Bell Five (LAN is okay)
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Looks like my ISP's GPON (Nokia) doesn't; work with this unit.. it requires synching at 2.5Gbps. Apparently, the Dell Broadcom 57810S Dual Port DA/SFP+ 10Gb Network Adapter can do this with some driver modifications.
Will this nic fit properly in the 7100 with pcie expansion board?
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The port is standard, it will fit in there. I would expect it to work but I don't think it's ever been tried so I couldn't guaranty it.
Steve
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Thanks. I have the part(s) on order. I will follow up with my results for anyone interested
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The pfsense will not boot with the Broadcom nic installed with the expansion card. I see the light on the nic, but the pfsense fans just spin loud and nothing on the console.
If I remove the nic, it boots normally.
If I insert the nic its detected normally on my ubuntu server.
This is the last resort I have to get this configuration working, since the onboard Intel NIC doesn't work well with my goon.
can anyone help?
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Make sure you're running the latest Coreboot version. Some updates there did allow older cards to boot. That was while ago though.
It does sound like a low-level incompatibility, there may be nothing we can do there.Steve
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I installed the coreboot updat package, and did the update, but its still the same version.
[5/5] Installing pfSense-pkg-Netgate_Coreboot_Upgrade-0.29...
[5/5] Extracting pfSense-pkg-Netgate_Coreboot_Upgrade-0.29: ……… doneVersion: ADI_PLCC-01.00.00.11
Release Date: Tue Jan 8 2019I think I need to return this and build my own server, something that doesn't use coreboot. I purchased this netgate thinking it would "just work" since it was an "officiallly" supported device, but the experience has been pretty much the opposite of this goal and disappointing to say the least.
@stephenw10 said in XG-7100 Slow WAN w/ Bell Five (LAN is okay):
Make sure you're running the latest Coreboot version. Some updates there did allow older cards to boot. That was while ago though.
It does sound like a low-level incompatibility, there may be nothing we can do there.Steve
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Mmm, that's unfortunate. As I said though that card is (was) untested in an XG-7100.
The only 2.5 NIC I have seen that is reported to work with pfSense/FreeBSD is the Intel X710-T2L (https://forum.netgate.com/post/928212).
That Broadcom card works for some with the patched drivers and firmware.I have tested an X710 based card in the XG-7100 but not that one so I couldn't guaranty that either. The only way to be sure it will work is to use an external 2.5/10G switch.
Steve
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I'm willing to give this a try, but we're getting past the 30d return window. Testing is slow having to order hardware, but as long as I have assurance a return is not an issue while we explore options, I will purchase an X710 nic to try.
Please advise
@stephenw10 said in XG-7100 Slow WAN w/ Bell Five (LAN is okay):
https://forum.netgate.com/post/928212
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The Intel X710-T2L is a 10Gbase-T NIC, can you even use that in this context?
Does the GPON have copper out? You would need a media converter otherwise and finding one that links 2.5G could be a problem.
Steve
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Went down the road of modifying the bxe drivers, taping the SMBus pins on the Broadcom (otherwise would not boot). It worked, but speeds were not there. The challenge is faking this to sync at 2500Mbps properly to match the gpon (which provisions at 1500Mbps down 940 up).
I have purchased an X710 DA2 which I dont really expect to work either, but I will be able to use it elsewhere. Some have reported success at 2500 with an older firmware, so I will explore that briefly.
Lastly -- today I've purchased a Ubiquiti ES-16-XL which I believe is the current and only reliable way to make this work at 2.5Gbps. My gpon will plug into this and then another SFP+ out to the pfsene which SHOULD work... at about double my intended cost... but I'm this far in already and I'd rather keep the 7100 b/c its a nice little unit and pfsense is amazing.
I should have results in a couple weeks.
