Speed issues PPPoE

Lieven

I've been looking for a while now for a solution, but haven't found a thing...

When I use the modem provided from my provider, pfsense connected to that network by the WAN port (DHCP) I reach speeds arround 50Mbs.
However when I set the WAN as PPPoE, I only get a speed of 8Mbs.

Is there a solution to this problem?

DaddyGo

@Lieven said in Speed issues PPPoE:

Is there a solution to this problem?

PPPoE is preferred by ISPs (in many more places) for identification and parameterization.
PPPoE is a tunnel protocol...

It is always slower than an identical Dynamic IP (DHCP), IPoE, fixed IP solution.

Oddly enough, the big difference is 50/8 this is not typical

Does your ISP have any diferrent settings (bandwidth) for PPPoE connection and DHCP?

You may want to try connecting directly to your ISP device with a laptop or other option and measure the speed for PPPoE and DHCP.

+++edit:

otherwise in front of the firewall I would avoid PPPoE especially, if you have DHCP capability.
PPPoE only complicates your life

JKnott

@DaddyGo

????

In my experience your choices are either DHCP or PPPoE depending on the provider and you can't just pick one. PPPoE adds an 8 byte header, resulting in the 1492 MTU. Those 8 bytes should cause only a slight decrease in throughput. PPPoE is generally used with ADSL and DHCP with cable. With ADSL, you're much more likely to see a decrease due to the line quality and distance.

DaddyGo

@JKnott said in Speed issues PPPoE:

In my experience your choices are either DHCP or PPPoE depending on the provider

It was not me who wrote that I had both methods, this was written by OP

Strange to me too.

Btw: It is not generalizable to be ADSL + PPPoE, but they can actually be connected.

We have now terminated the PPPoE connection of one of our GPON subscriptions because there were constant problems with Snort.

Now the same optical fiber (GPON) is running on a fixed IP and Snort is satisfied, no tunnel protocol.

Indeed the speed reduction, as I have written, should not be significant. PPPoE vs. Dynamic IP, but exists especially at high loads.

Not to the same extent as for OP.

Currently, PPPoE and fixed IP are still available on our GPON connection

the figure shows that we get the maximum out of 1000/400 with the fixed IP, but with PPPoE the reach is slower than by 6-8%.

Nearly 50 IceCast2 servers with 2,000 to 2,500 listeners run daily on this connection.

JKnott

@DaddyGo

If you're seeing a problem with PPPoE, it's elsewhere, not with the protocol, as it takes only 8 bytes from the frame. As for GPON, if it comes from a phone company, it will likely use PPPoE, as they use on ADSL. If DHCP, then it's likely a cable TV company, as they generally use. You can get static from either.

BTW, I have set up many business customers over ADSL, SDSL, cable and fibre, with static or dynamic addresses. I have even set up some with PPP over fractional T1, through a CSU.

DaddyGo

@JKnott said in Speed issues PPPoE:

If you're seeing a problem with PPPoE,

You know, the joke is that in this area we are the ISP and cable TV and FM URH radio broadcast service provider.

Only another department is dealing with it GPON / DOCSIS systems.
We have not used ADSL / VDSL for a thousand million years.

I am well acquainted with the PPPoE protocol and "I am in the picture", but thanks for the ongoing clarification and confirmation... (MTU, etc.)

btw:
In the EU, very serious investments have been made in broadband internet infrastructure, so most Member States have optics and DOCSIS.

You can check **ASN 59869 that is the block of our Hungarian company.
(although I work in the Western European division)

+++edit:

yeah, what I forgot to repeat, we’re not talking about a significant difference...

and under a very serious load - under the same conditions (GPON) - only protocols differ

as:
50 pcs. IceCast2 stream with 320 mp3 CBR - 2000 - 2500 user

stephenw10

I think what the OP is saying here is that they get full 50Mbps if they allow the ISP provided device to do the PPPoE and connect to that from pfSense with DHCP.

I would expect to get the same speed using PPPoE directly from pfSense assuming the correct parameters are used.

Some ISPs will allow you to connect but at a much reduced rate if you do have the correct VLAN or priority set. Or the correct login even.

Steve

Lieven

@DaddyGo

Maybe I was not clear enough in my description.

When I connect Pfsense by PPPoE, I get slow speeds.
When I set the WAN interface to DHCP, I get an IP from the modem of my provider. On its local network. The modem itself connects also by PPPoE.

The reason I want to use PPPoE is because on the modem I adjust certain settings to be able to remotely access my network.

Lieven

@stephenw10
Yes Stephen, that's exactly my problem.

@stephenw10 said in Speed issues PPPoE:

I would expect to get the same speed using PPPoE directly from pfSense assuming the correct parameters are used.

Some ISPs will allow you to connect but at a much reduced rate if you do have the correct VLAN or priority set. Or the correct login even.

So you think that maby not all parameters are set correctly then? I must say I didn't think about the VLAN and priority settings. But also have no idea at the moment where to set these in pfSense.
I'll see what I can do about that this evening.

DaddyGo

@Lieven

Now it is clear... THX

JKnott

@Lieven said in Speed issues PPPoE:

When I set the WAN interface to DHCP, I get an IP from the modem of my provider. On its local network. The modem itself connects also by PPPoE.

You don't use PPPoE on the LAN side of the modem. That's only used from the modem back to the ISP. Years ago, you'd configure computers for PPPoE, as the modem didn't do it. If you're using it on a modem that's already using it, it's no wonder you're having problems.

Lieven

@JKnott I understand.

But... The modem is configured as passthrough. So theoretically it should be the same connecting straight to the ISP. (right?)

Also, everything works, I get an IP, having internet,... But only slower speed.

The other problem is that on my pfSense, I do not have an RJ11 connection. (connection to ISP) So connecting it to the ISP without the modem is not possible.
Also I still need the modem for my TV, so I cannot eliminate it completely...

DaddyGo

@Lieven said in Speed issues PPPoE:

The other problem is that on my pfSense, I do not have an RJ11 connection. (connection to ISP)

Because there is no ADSL modem built into pfSense
The RJ11 connector standard is POTS or ISDN 2 wire or 4 wire

So this is a separate theme...

Lieven

@DaddyGo said in Speed issues PPPoE:

Because there is no ADSL modem built into pfSense
The RJ11 connector standard is POTS or ISDN 2 wire or 4 wire

I agree, so I still need the modem...
But how can I find out what's slowing down my connection?
This evening I will settup the same PPPoE connection from my PC. If it is also slow, then the modem is the cause. If it's high speed, it's pfSense...
(Why didn't I think about this sooner...?)

DaddyGo

@Lieven
(Why didn't I think about this sooner...?)

if you look, I have already suggested this above...

"You may want to try connecting directly to your ISP device with a laptop or other option and measure the speed for PPPoE and DHCP."

Lieven

@DaddyGo said in Speed issues PPPoE:

@Lieven
(Why didn't I think about this sooner...?)

if you look, I have already suggested this above...

"You may want to try connecting directly to your ISP device with a laptop or other option and measure the speed for PPPoE and DHCP."

Yeah, for some reason I did't connect the correct dots in my head... Maybe to busy with working...?
I'll try this evening!!

JKnott

@Lieven said in Speed issues PPPoE:

So theoretically it should be the same connecting straight to the ISP. (right?)

Not necessarily. I have set up ADSL modems in pass through, but they still did PPPoE back to the ISP. It's been many, many years since the last time I had to configure PPPoE on a computer. If you get a working Internet connection when using DHCP on the LAN side, you can be certain the modem is already using PPPoE. Your performance issue is proof of that.

stephenw10

PPPoE WAN connections in pfSense are very common. Both of mine are that. Both are connected to an upstream DSL modem in pass-through mode.

However modems configured like that may or may not apply the required VLAN settings. In my case here in the UK most DSL providers require VLAN 101 and the modems do that by default so pfSense just uses PPPoE untagged.

Yes, try connecting a laptop to the modem directly and establishing a PPPoE session form there. If you still get limited speed then you are probably missing some connection parameter. Who is your ISP.

Steve

Lieven

@stephenw10
I tried following setups:

modem connects to ISP by PPPoE and pfSense to modem by DHCP/fixed IP = 50Mbps
modem connects to ISP by PPPoE and PC to modem by DHCP/fixed IP = 50Mbps
PC connects to ISP by PPPoE (physically with modem in between) = 50Mbps
pfSense connects to ISP by PPPoE (physically with modem in between) = 16Mbps

So it is only with pfSense in combination with PPPoE that I experience slow speeds.

I'm located in Belgium
ISP is Proximus

stephenw10

Hmm, that's fun!

Is it actually linked to the modem correctly? What does ifconfig -a show about the PPPoE parent interface when it's connected?
It could be something simple like a bad cable.
Try putting a switch in between the modem and pfSense as a test if you can.

Steve