Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    (help request) ISP->pfSence->Cisco router

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
    7 Posts 3 Posters 1.1k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • O
      onupf
      last edited by

      I'm trying to setup pfSense although not having luck.

      Goal = ISP-> pfSense -> Cisco 3825 ( edited model )

      ISP cable modem, arris sb6141.

      pfSense, Dell R210ii,
      -Eth0 DHCP from ISP
      -Eth1 192.168.2.1/30

      Cisco 3825
      G0/0 192.168.2.2/30
      G0/1 192.168.1.1/24

      I can ping and connect to the pfSense web interface from /24.  Cannot access external IP's. PfSense can ping outside IP's from Wan interface.

      I assuming this is a pfSense Nat issue, although I'm obviously missing something.

      Any pointers?

      Thanks!

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • johnpozJ
        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
        last edited by

        So did you create route in pfsense to your downstream router network(s)..  So in such a setup pfsense lan 192.168.2/30 is your transit.. I take it you know that because of the /30 - nice to see…

        Once you create the route pfsense should auto create the outbound nat for your downstream networks.

        Also check your lan rules, it would default to allowing lan net as source, which would not include your downstream 192.168.1/24 network - so you would have to adjust that.  If you had changed your outbound nat from automatic then you would have to manually add your outbound nat for your downstream 192.168.1 network

        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
        If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
        Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
        SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • NogBadTheBadN
          NogBadTheBad
          last edited by

          Is it a router or a switch ?

          There's a 3845 Router and a 3850 switch.

          Andy

          1 x Netgate SG-4860 - 3 x Linksys LGS308P - 1 x Aruba InstantOn AP22

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • O
            onupf
            last edited by

            @NogBadTheBad:

            Is it a router or a switch ?

            There's a 3845 Router and a 3850 switch.

            My apologies, it's actually a 3825 router with a 3750 switch.  I mashed them together I guess. :o

            @johnpoz:

            So did you create route in pfsense to your downstream router network(s)..  So in such a setup pfsense lan 192.168.2/30 is your transit.. I take it you know that because of the /30 - nice to see…

            Once you create the route pfsense should auto create the outbound nat for your downstream networks.

            Also check your lan rules, it would default to allowing lan net as source, which would not include your downstream 192.168.1/24 network - so you would have to adjust that.  If you had changed your outbound nat from automatic then you would have to manually add your outbound nat for your downstream 192.168.1 network

            I'm in the process of setting up another router testing environment to configure this offline.  The kids go crazy when you take down the network on a snow day…  I have a feeling it's something to do with the lan rules as you state. I didn't mess with that. New to pfSense, so it's one of those learning curves I have to work through.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • NogBadTheBadN
              NogBadTheBad
              last edited by

              No worries :)

              TBH I'd bite the bullet and just use pfSense + a vlan capable switch and remove the Cisco in the final state.

              No need to configure it off line, connect it to your existing LAN via the pfSense WAN port..

              Once you have it working remove the Cisco and reconfigure the WAN port on the pfSense router.

              Firewall rules via ACLs on a Cisco are nasty once you start using pfSense.

              Andy

              1 x Netgate SG-4860 - 3 x Linksys LGS308P - 1 x Aruba InstantOn AP22

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • johnpozJ
                johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                last edited by

                Unless you have some actual reason for downstream router - just let pfsense route between your vlans.. Make it real easy to firewall that way, etc.

                An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • O
                  onupf
                  last edited by

                  Sorry for the late reply. This is more of a gee-wiz thing I wanted to try.

                  I'm currently running a Cisco ASA although it's an older device that's showing it's age compared to appliance potentials like pfSense and Sophos. My Cisco devices maybe see 1-2 restarts a year and always because of configuration changes on my behalf. Granted it's an overkill for a home network, but I do this for a living as-well not to mention the equipment was free.

                  I did bypass the 3825 and ran pfSense as a standalone router for the time being. It's nice to see an actual graphical interface for a change. Setup couldn't get any easier.  I am noticing a slight delay in loading webpages although that could be anything and I haven't really tried to troubleshoot it at all.

                  Anyways, I'll definitely be going back to a Cisco router behind some type of IDS/IPS. Just personal preference over anything else I guess.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • First post
                    Last post
                  Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.