How To Get Other VM's Using pfSense LAN

Soarin

Hello!

I just setup my first pfSense VM and I'm running esxi 6.5 for the first time ever, it works perfectly except for a couple issues and I'd like to hopefully get that solved.

When I create new VM's, how do I get them on the same LAN as pfSense? pfSense is 10.10.10.1 and the router that gives my VM server internet is 192.168.1.1, when I create VM's they end up on the 192.168.1.x network even if I set the NIC to the same network card as my pfSense. (LAN)

Here's a picture of how I have it setup, I have my WAN from my 192.168.1.x router and LAN is my pfSense output that plugs into my home switch.

I'd love for this to get solved or link me to a place that could help, thanks a bunch in advance!

KOM

You typically have 2 vSwitches, one tied to your Internet connection and the other to act as the LAN, and 2 vNICs for your pfSense VM, one for WAN and one for LAN. If you only have one NIC then you can use VLANs to segment I believe. When you create VMs, you would put their NIC on the LAN vSwitch.

vmware.png_thumb

Soarin

Hi KOM!

Thanks for the response, I have my network setup relatively the same (although no failovers like you have and private network), I have my WAN from my modem and then my LAN vswitch goes into a physical switch for my computer and AP, and I have machines on my LAN vswitch like you do, but they receive the same IP as my modem computers do.

It's as if my VM's are getting internet from the WAN port even though I have the LAN selected. I can post any pics that are needed!

KOM

Are you sure you don't have your interfaces assigned backwards?

they receive the same IP as my modem computers do.

Modem computers?? Perhaps a simple diagram of your network might help.

It's as if my VM's are getting internet from the WAN port even though I have the LAN selected.

Did you configure pfSense's DHCP server during installation or afterwards?

Soarin

Modem computers?? Perhaps a simple diagram of your network might help.

I was half asleep when I wrote that, sorry lol. By modem I mean my MoCA, my MoCA hands out 192.168.1.x IP's

Are you sure you don't have your interfaces assigned backwards?

I may have done that, I was a little confused (first time ever seeing esxi). I'll swap them and get back to you.

I'll try to make a diagram if we can't get this working soon, I know it'd probably be sloppy since I have no idea what I'm doing. I'd have to bring out Microsoft Paint. Thanks for the response, I'll try swapping the interfaces.

Soarin

My interface isn't backwards, is this normal? I don't know how having it hooked up to a MoCA effects it.

KOM

OK, in your first diagram you're showing one single physical NIC in your computer and your pfSense VM with only one connection showing even though the console view shows two. Do you have any other NICs in your computer? Did you create a second vSwitch to act as the LAN?

Soarin

Yes, I have 2 dual port NIC's on my server machine. Here's all the networking pics if this helps, I wish I could be more descriptive but I'm pretty ignorant to this myself.

gjaltemba

On Ubuntu what is the output of

ifconfig
sudo dhclient -d -nw eth0

replace eth0 with the interface that is shown in ifconfig command

KOM

Are you sure you have DHCP server turned off on your AP? Is pfSense even running a DHCP server? Look under Services. If it's enabled & running, is it serving the correct IP address range?

Soarin

Thanks for the help everyone! I found out I had my vswitches setup wrong & my pfSense was also corrupt (I got a bad iso I suppose). It works flawlessly now

KOM

Thanks for coming back and letting everyone know what happened.