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    Speed issues PPPoE

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • DaddyGoD
      DaddyGo @Lieven
      last edited by

      @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

      Cats bury it so they can't see it!
      (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

      JKnottJ L 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • JKnottJ
        JKnott @DaddyGo
        last edited by 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.

        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...

        DaddyGoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • DaddyGoD
          DaddyGo @JKnott
          last edited by

          @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.

          Cats bury it so they can't see it!
          (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

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

            @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.

            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...

            DaddyGoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • DaddyGoD
              DaddyGo @JKnott
              last edited by 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

              Cats bury it so they can't see it!
              (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                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

                L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • L
                  Lieven @DaddyGo
                  last edited by

                  @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.

                  DaddyGoD JKnottJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • L
                    Lieven @stephenw10
                    last edited by

                    @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.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • DaddyGoD
                      DaddyGo @Lieven
                      last edited by

                      @Lieven

                      Now it is clear... THX

                      Cats bury it so they can't see it!
                      (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

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

                        @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.

                        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...

                        L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • L
                          Lieven @JKnott
                          last edited by

                          @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...

                          DaddyGoD JKnottJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • DaddyGoD
                            DaddyGo @Lieven
                            last edited by

                            @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...

                            Cats bury it so they can't see it!
                            (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

                            L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • L
                              Lieven @DaddyGo
                              last edited by

                              @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...?)

                              DaddyGoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • DaddyGoD
                                DaddyGo @Lieven
                                last edited by 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."

                                Cats bury it so they can't see it!
                                (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

                                L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • L
                                  Lieven @DaddyGo
                                  last edited by

                                  @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!!

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

                                    @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.

                                    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
                                    • stephenw10S
                                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                      last edited by

                                      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

                                      L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • L
                                        Lieven @stephenw10
                                        last edited by

                                        @stephenw10
                                        I tried following setups:

                                        1. modem connects to ISP by PPPoE and pfSense to modem by DHCP/fixed IP = 50Mbps
                                        2. modem connects to ISP by PPPoE and PC to modem by DHCP/fixed IP = 50Mbps
                                        3. PC connects to ISP by PPPoE (physically with modem in between) = 50Mbps
                                        4. 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

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                                        • stephenw10S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          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

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • kiokomanK
                                            kiokoman LAYER 8
                                            last edited by

                                            funny indeed,
                                            I have pppoe on my pfsense, connected to an upstream DSL modem in pass-through mode.
                                            In my case here in Italy, we have vpi 8 vci 35 vlan none, so I have PPPoE untagged.
                                            speed is 70Mbps with or without pfsense
                                            found this on a search idk if it apply to you.
                                            https://www.reddit.com/r/belgium/comments/9pj6sd/diy_vdsl2_modem_with_proximus_xdsl_network/

                                            but again in other discussions I recall that something similar was caused if the correct vlan was not used

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