How to install iphone driver on pfsense?

cicciopap

hi, how can I install the drivers for iphone so that I can use it with tethering? Could someone guide me step by step? I wanted to create a load balancing between 2 wan.Una fixed network and one with the iphone with lte connection.
Sincerely

NollipfSense

@cicciopap Please see here: https://forum.netgate.com/topic/115954/using-wireless-mobile-hotspot-device-as-wan

And here: https://forum.netgate.com/topic/117126/how-to-connect-pfsense-wan-to-a-wireless-access-point

stephenw10

The drivers are shipped with pfSense but need to be loaded. At the command line run: kldload if_ipheth then a connected iphone should appear as a USB Ethernet device you can assign.

Steve

cicciopap

@stephenw10 said in How to install iphone driver on pfsense?:

kldload if_ipheth

Thanks for the reply. I tried typing "kldload if_ipheth" but nothing is detected no Iphone. I have tried with an android device and it works. But I must necessarily use an iphone. What do you suggest?

johnpoz

So I have a iphone XR, and just plugged it in, and while I see it once I load the driver.. Haven't tried to actually assign it to interface yet..

You can see in dmesg

ugen0.4: <Apple Inc. iPhone> at usbus0

And then from usbconfig

[21.02-RELEASE][admin@sg4860.local.lan]/: usbconfig
ugen0.1: <Intel EHCI root HUB> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=SAVE (0mA)
ugen0.2: <vendor 0x8087 product 0x07db> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=SAVE (0mA)
ugen0.3: <Generic Ultra Fast Media> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (96mA)
ugen0.4: <Apple Inc. iPhone> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (500mA)

You can see it there listed as ugen0.4... I have to run out - but hope to play with this more when I get back.

you prob have to do something with usbconfig and set config.. Off the top don't know the full details.. Will hope to look into when get back.. Would be a nice failover feature if my isp goes out and want my network to still have internet ;)

cicciopap

@johnpoz
following this guide it now also works with iphone.

https://joshspicer.com/iphone-pfsense

johnpoz

Yeah that worked here too - great to have in the back pocket.

I did have to toggle the interface a few times to get an IP.. But came up.. and routed some traffic through it via a policy route..

BTW - make sure you have the correct number when you do your set_config, and your picking your phone :) I put in wrong number and pfsense rebooted ;)

stephenw10

@cicciopap said in How to install iphone driver on pfsense?:

https://joshspicer.com/iphone-pfsense

Only thing I would do differently there is use the provided usb_quirk method to set the config index to use.
E.g. hw.usb.quirk.0="0x04d9 0xfa50 0 0xffff UQ_CFG_INDEX_3"

But with the VID/PID from your phone. That makes it independent of the ugen number.

Be aware that assigning the created ue interface and then disconnecting the phone will render pfSense unable to boot!

Steve

NogBadTheBad

BTW if people are tempted to connect their pfSense box to the iPhone with Wi-Fi to use the hotspot, the SSID won't be visible in pfSense if your phone is named with the traditional Fred's iPhone, I just spent a few hours trying to get it to work.

If you take out any spaces and apostrophes you can then see the SSID

NollipfSense

Glad to know this solution confirmed working and is a great hurricane or other disaster back.