Internet connection hangs when downloading any file

dimangelid · Jul 26, 2016, 1:49 AM

Hello to all, this is my first post at pfSense forum!

I recently bought an Asus E35M1-M motherboard in order to build a pfSense router.
The motherboard has an onboard Realtek Gigabit Ethernet card (i'm almost sure it's a 8168) .

I had an old 3com 100mbps PCI network card (xl0 driver), so i put it at a PCI port on the Asus motherboard, i downloaded the latest snapshot pfSense ISO and proceeded to the installation. I selected the 3COM as WAN and the onboard Realtek as LAN.

I successfully completed all the installation, i setup up my internet connection, my NAT rules, i installed a TAP OpenVPN server bridged with my LAN interface. I checked that all these worked correctly and i installed the router as a production machine.

After the installation i went to download a CentOS 7 torrent, the torrent client reached the full speed of my line (14mbps).
At the time of the download i tried to visit a webpage but it was opening really slow. I tried a lot of other pages and they had the same problem. I stopped the download and all the pages started opening normally.
I started again the torrent and i tried to make a VoIP call. The call was connected immediately but i had some (acceptable) voice distortion.
I tried to download the same CentOS 7 iso from an FTP server from Firefox (one concurrent connection) and i had exactly the same problem with opening web pages.
All the tests were done with different computers, tried WiFi and cable connection, no difference at all.
I tried a clean installation of the stable pfSense but i had exactly the same problems.
The options "Hardware Checksum Offloading" and "Hardware TCP Segmentation Offloading"
I replaced the old 3COM card with a brand new TP-Link TG-3468 (Realtek 8168 chipset, exactly the same as the onboard motherboard card) but the problem still exists.

I connected back my TP-Link WDR3600 (with OpenWRT) and all the problems disappeared.
I attach the output of the command pciconf -lv . I would be really grateful to anyone who can help me solve the problem.

hostb0@pci0:0:0:0: class=0x060000 card=0x84a51043 chip=0x15101022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 14h Processor Root Complex'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
vgapci0@pci0:0:1:0: class=0x030000 card=0x84a51043 chip=0x98021002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'Wrestler [Radeon HD 6310]'
class = display
subclass = VGA
hdac0@pci0:0:1:1: class=0x040300 card=0x84a51043 chip=0x13141002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'Wrestler HDMI Audio'
class = multimedia
subclass = HDA
ahci0@pci0:0:17:0: class=0x010601 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43911002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 SATA Controller [AHCI mode]'
class = mass storage
subclass = SATA
ohci0@pci0:0:18:0: class=0x0c0310 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller'
class = serial bus
subclass = USB
ehci0@pci0:0:18:2: class=0x0c0320 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller'
class = serial bus
subclass = USB
ohci1@pci0:0:19:0: class=0x0c0310 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller'
class = serial bus
subclass = USB
ehci1@pci0:0:19:2: class=0x0c0320 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller'
class = serial bus
subclass = USB
none0@pci0:0:20:0: class=0x0c0500 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43851002 rev=0x42 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SBx00 SMBus Controller'
class = serial bus
subclass = SMBus
hdac1@pci0:0:20:2: class=0x040300 card=0x84451043 chip=0x43831002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)'
class = multimedia
subclass = HDA
isab0@pci0:0:20:3: class=0x060100 card=0x84961043 chip=0x439d1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 LPC host controller'
class = bridge
subclass = PCI-ISA
pcib1@pci0:0:20:4: class=0x060401 card=0x00000000 chip=0x43841002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x01
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge'
class = bridge
subclass = PCI-PCI
ohci2@pci0:0:20:5: class=0x0c0310 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43991002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI2 Controller'
class = serial bus
subclass = USB
pcib2@pci0:0:21:0: class=0x060400 card=0x00001002 chip=0x43a01002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB700/SB800/SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 0)'
class = bridge
subclass = PCI-PCI
pcib3@pci0:0:21:1: class=0x060400 card=0x00001002 chip=0x43a11002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB700/SB800/SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 1)'
class = bridge
subclass = PCI-PCI
pcib4@pci0:0:21:2: class=0x060400 card=0x00001002 chip=0x43a21002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 2)'
class = bridge
subclass = PCI-PCI
ohci3@pci0:0:22:0: class=0x0c0310 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller'
class = serial bus
subclass = USB
ehci2@pci0:0:22:2: class=0x0c0320 card=0x84961043 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]'
device = 'SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller'
class = serial bus
subclass = USB
hostb1@pci0:0:24:0: class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17001022 rev=0x43 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 12h/14h Processor Function 0'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
hostb2@pci0:0:24:1: class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17011022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 12h/14h Processor Function 1'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
hostb3@pci0:0:24:2: class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17021022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 12h/14h Processor Function 2'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
hostb4@pci0:0:24:3: class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17031022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 12h/14h Processor Function 3'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
hostb5@pci0:0:24:4: class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17041022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 12h/14h Processor Function 4'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
hostb6@pci0:0:24:5: class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17181022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 12h/14h Processor Function 6'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
hostb7@pci0:0:24:6: class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17161022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 12h/14h Processor Function 5'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
hostb8@pci0:0:24:7: class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17191022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]'
device = 'Family 12h/14h Processor Function 7'
class = bridge
subclass = HOST-PCI
re0@pci0:2:0:0: class=0x020000 card=0x34687470 chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.'
device = 'RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller'
class = network
subclass = ethernet
re1@pci0:3:0:0: class=0x020000 card=0x84321043 chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.'
device = 'RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller'
class = network
subclass = ethernet
pcib5@pci0:4:0:0: class=0x060401 card=0x84891043 chip=0x10801b21 rev=0x01 hdr=0x01
vendor = 'ASMedia Technology Inc.'
device = 'ASM1083/1085 PCIe to PCI Bridge'
class = bridge
subclass = PCI-PCI
fwohci0@pci0:5:2:0: class=0x0c0010 card=0x81fe1043 chip=0x30441106 rev=0xc0 hdr=0x00
vendor = 'VIA Technologies, Inc.'
device = 'VT6306/7/8 [Fire II(M)] IEEE 1394 OHCI Controller'
class = serial bus

dimangelid · Jul 26, 2016, 7:13 PM

Today i installed Proxmox 4 at that PC and installed pfSense as a virtual machine. I tried all the available virtual network cards with no difference at all.

I have started thinking that the problem are the Realtek cards. Maybe i should buy Intel?

Paint · Jul 27, 2016, 2:26 PM

@dimangelid:

Today i installed Proxmox 4 at that PC and installed pfSense as a virtual machine. I tried all the available virtual network cards with no difference at all.

I have started thinking that the problem are the Realtek cards. Maybe i should buy Intel?

some people experience issues with broadcom and realtek cards, though issues exist with various Intel cards as well.

I would stick with the Intel i350-t4 or i350-t2 card.

badgast · Jul 27, 2016, 2:32 PM

Seems to me that you don't have any QoS enabled (Quality of Service). Search for QoS or traffic shaper on the forum may help you a bit (Its a complex matter….).
Personally I have no experience with QoS and/or Traffic Shaper, but others may have.

Other option is limiting your torrent traffic in the Torrent application, if possible.

dimangelid · Jul 27, 2016, 9:01 PM

@Paint:

@dimangelid:

Today i installed Proxmox 4 at that PC and installed pfSense as a virtual machine. I tried all the available virtual network cards with no difference at all.

I have started thinking that the problem are the Realtek cards. Maybe i should buy Intel?

some people experience issues with broadcom and realtek cards, though issues exist with various Intel cards as well.

I would stick with the Intel i350-t4 or i350-t2 card.

I ordered a used Intel PRO1000PT Dual Port from eBay, I will receive it after 2nd of August. I will try a clean installation with that card and check the results. Do you have some specific hints for installations with Realtek cards?

@badgast:

Seems to me that you don't have any QoS enabled (Quality of Service). Search for QoS or traffic shaper on the forum may help you a bit (Its a complex matter….).
Personally I have no experience with QoS and/or Traffic Shaper, but others may have.

Other option is limiting your torrent traffic in the Torrent application, if possible.

I tried to setup a Traffic Shaper with the pfSense wizard. I setted torrents at low priority, all other protocols at default and VoIP at highest priority. At the status I saw data at the torrent queue as expected, but it was not possible to do any other activity at the time of the download. I had ping over 550ms at any ip on the internet. The problem not only exists with torrents but also with a simple http/ftp download from any browser… The strangest of all is that if I try to make a VoIP call (SIP protocol) i have very little distortion. It seems that small packets do not have a problem.

Regarding the QoS again, with my OpenWRT router (TP-Link WDR 3600) even if I disable completely its QoS, it does not have the problems of the pfSense box.

As I also answered to the other user, I have ordered an Intel card. Are there some hints or tricks for Realtek cards?

justsomeguy6575 · Aug 5, 2016, 7:21 AM

Did you get this resolved with new network cards? I'm having this exact issue using D-Link DGE-530T cards. I believe it only started after a recent update to 2.3.2 as I hadn't experienced this before. I haven't had a chance to revert back to an older version to test yet but probably will this weekend.

dimangelid · Aug 6, 2016, 6:01 AM

@justsomeguy6575:

Did you get this resolved with new network cards? I'm having this exact issue using D-Link DGE-530T cards. I believe it only started after a recent update to 2.3.2 as I hadn't experienced this before. I haven't had a chance to revert back to an older version to test yet but probably will this weekend.

Unfortunately not… I received the Intel 3 days ago, I did a fresh install of the stable build with no luck. After that, I tried to install the 32bit stable version and the PC did not boot :p :p I finally fresh installed the 64bit daily snapshot which appears to have a little bit better performance. I tried to play with the QoS and I realized that if I find the way to find tune it, I will solve the problem. I'm looking for a guide for a simple QoS but I can't find something complete and for beginners...