Speed issues PPPoE

Lieven

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

kiokoman

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

stephenw10

Mmm, if the modem in question was not playing nicely then, sure I could believe it. But here we have the same modem that gives correct speeds when establishing the PPP directly from a PC. Windows?
It could still be a bad link 16Mbps is about what you might get if the modem is linked at 100Mb half duplex.

Steve

Lieven

@stephenw10

Is it actually linked to the modem correctly? What does ifconfig -a show about the PPPoE parent interface when it's connected?

re1: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
options=8209b<RXCSUM,TXCSUM,VLAN_MTU,VLAN_HWTAGGING,VLAN_HWCSUM,WOL_MAGIC,LINKSTATE>
	ether 00:30:18:xx:xx:xx
	hwaddr 00:30:18:xx:xx:xx
	inet6 fe80::230:18xx:xxxx:xxxx%re1 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x2
	nd6 options=21<PERFORMNUD,AUTO_LINKLOCAL>
	media: Ethernet autoselect (100baseTX <full-duplex>)
	status: active

It could still be a bad link 16Mbps is about what you might get if the modem is linked at 100Mb half duplex.

So it looks like the connection is OK? There is full-duplex on the interface.

It could be something simple like a bad cable.

I tried with the same cable from the laptop test. No change.

Try putting a switch in between the modem and pfSense as a test if you can.

something for this evening

@kiokoman

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

I already tried to use vlan10 on the pfSense WAN, but then the connection failed. (Don't know if I set it correctly, never done it before)

stephenw10

If it worked from a laptop directly and got full speed then you can assume the modem is applying any VLAN tags required.
Was that a Windows laptop?

Steve

Lieven

Yes -> Windows 10 Pro v1903

AKEGEC

@Lieven, I think that has to do with manufacturing id, some are whitelisted and others not.
I suggest not to use ISP’s modem/router as they can sniff, remote and manipulate. Even if you bought those modem/router, it is still property of ISP and if something happens, you can not sue them.

JKnott

@AKEGEC said in Speed issues PPPoE:

Even if you bought those modem/router, it is still property of ISP and if something happens, you can not sue them.

On the other hand, they can't blame your equipment if there are problems. I ran into that with my ISP, because I run pfsense. Also, if you bought it, it is not their property, though they may have access to it.