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    First time Pfsense install and I'm scratching my head!

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
    37 Posts 4 Posters 4.3k Views
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    • R
      rory4881
      last edited by

      Hi All,

      I was hoping for a smooth install and to not be posting on here quite so quickly.

      Although it must be noted I'm by no means tech proficient. An Unraid server build being the highlight of my technical prowess.

      I'm wondering if anyone with a similar setup can help?

      After months of becoming infuriated with my BT homehub, I decided to go for a pfsense install on an old Dell vostro intel core2duo I had laying around.

      I picked up a Draytek Vigor 130 modem and connected to the pfsense build after install.
      The modem is now in Bridge mode, but I'm getting no wan address at all.

      I can login in to the draytek web gui and it shows a positive connection.
      Pfsense web gui has a green up sign on the connection but no wan ip.

      I'm not sure of how to set the PPOE details (might be wrong here) or even if I can manually add in wan details from previous router.

      Any help with this pairing would be great.

      I'm using the latest pfsense build and the wan nic is Intel EXPI9301CTBLK PRO1000.

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      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        You may need to set a VLAN, I can't recall if the V130 does that for you or not. Certainly using an Openreach modem you do not need to.
        Is BT actually your ISP? If so you probably don't need any real credentials.
        Go to Interfaces > WAN and set the connection type as PPPoE and enter the login, I use bthomehub@btbroadband.com/1234

        Steve

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        • R
          rory4881 @stephenw10
          last edited by

          @stephenw10 Thanks, I'll give it a try tomorrow night.

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          • R
            rory4881
            last edited by

            So I’ve tried that and the wan connection goes from up to off.
            BT is my isp.

            Any suggestions for next troubleshooting step?

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            • NinoM4sterN
              NinoM4ster
              last edited by

              Hello, Rory!

              I'd certainly call them (your ISP) and ask what type of connection they use.

              If it's really PPPOE, ask them for the credentials. It may be the same for all clients, or may be different for each one.

              Good luck with it!

              ~Henrique

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              • R
                rory4881
                last edited by

                I can always give BT a call tomorrow, but based on this I think the pppoe details should be fine.

                https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/Configuration-of-third-party-router/td-p/1040540

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                • NinoM4sterN
                  NinoM4ster
                  last edited by

                  Hmm.. If you have tried everything from that forum post, even VLAN setup, I don't really know what else you can try.

                  Have you tried copying all the WAN settings from the modem as you mentioned?

                  Also, something unlikely but possible, is that you may be mistyping the PPPoE username, because in this case, not only the password is case-sensitive, and I noticed that somewhere on that forum, the guy typed the first character of the username as upper case.. idk, who knows the problem is something that simple. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

                  Good luck,

                  ~Henrique

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                  • R
                    rory4881
                    last edited by

                    I’ve not tried Vlan setup as I’ve read it’s not required.

                    Would an older version suit my hardware better do you think?

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                    • NinoM4sterN
                      NinoM4ster
                      last edited by

                      I'm sorry, older version of what? pfSense?

                      About the VLAN, I think it's worth trying.

                      It may work without it for some people, but who knows, maybe it depends on the region.

                      ~Henrique

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                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by stephenw10

                        Can we maybe see some screenshots of your settings?

                        The credentials should be fine on BT. They know who you are by the actual line you're connecting on.

                        You do need to have VLAN 101 set somewhere. That might be in the modem, it does appear to have that option:
                        https://www.draytek.co.uk/support/guides/kb-vigor-130-vlantag

                        In fact it appears to be configured like that by default if you have a UK model.

                        That is how the BT modems are configured.

                        Steve

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                        • R
                          rory4881
                          last edited by

                          Once I'm home from work tonight I'll send over screenshots.

                          Are there particular screenshots that would be more useful for you to help me?
                          I'm guessing gui pages from modem and pfsense.
                          Would a screenshot of pfsense connected to monitor help?

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                          • stephenw10S
                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                            last edited by

                            Yes, check the modem setup for it's VLAN tag setting, or lack of one.

                            Then I would want to see the Interfaces > WAN page in pfSense.

                            Probably also the Interfaces > Assignments page and Interfaces > PPPs > Edit pppoe0

                            The PPP entry pppoe0 should be automatically generated when you switch the WAN type to PPPoE and on the correct parent interface.

                            Steve

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                            • NinoM4sterN
                              NinoM4ster
                              last edited by

                              Good morning, Rory!

                              Would a screenshot of pfsense connected to monitor help?

                              Unless there are any errors on the console, not really.

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                                rory4881
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                                  rory4881
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