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    Pfsense not responding to large packet pings

    General pfSense Questions
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    • G
      GemeenAapje
      last edited by

      Thanks for the replies.

      I think the problem is with the speed reassembling the packets. I don't know why though.

      Forgot to mention I have a HP NIC:
      https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c04111479&doctype=quickspecs&doclang=EN_US&searchquery=&cc=th&lc=en

      It has 2 10gbps SFP+ adapters (1 fibre and 1 ethernet).

      I have the hardware offload settings disabled. I think that was default.

      I'm not actually sure at what level the packets are reassembled if fragmented. Can anyone advise?

      GertjanG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GertjanG
        Gertjan @GemeenAapje
        last edited by Gertjan

        @gemeenaapje

        Read : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model : Layer 3 - Network Layer.

        No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
        Edit : and where are the logs ??

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        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          Mmm, I'd guess it exhausted the frags table if you're sending a lot of pings. Though that is normally logged in the system log.

          You can increase it in Sys > Adv > Firewall > 'Firewall Maximum Fragment Entries'.
          5000 is normally more than sufficient though.

          Why are you sending huge packets like that?

          Steve

          johnpozJ G 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • johnpozJ
            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @stephenw10
            last edited by

            @stephenw10 said in Pfsense not responding to large packet pings:

            Why are you sending huge packets like that?

            Exactly

            curious.png

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            • G
              GemeenAapje @stephenw10
              last edited by

              @stephenw10
              Morning
              I'm trying to do some testing for my day job. I support a bunch of products for hospitals, one of which is very old (like 25 years old foundation software). It's known to have problems when large packets don't make it through the switches.
              I also found it weird, so I started to do some checks on my own network at home.
              To my surprise I found that I also had problems with fragmented packets not being reassembled.

              Now, if I can figure out how to fix it on my own network at home, I'll be better positioned to help our customer out. Not only that but I will have learned something new.

              Thanks

              GertjanG JKnottJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GertjanG
                Gertjan @GemeenAapje
                last edited by

                @gemeenaapje said in Pfsense not responding to large packet pings:

                It's known to have problems when large packets don't make it through the switches.

                That is, if a switch support 'RFC' Jumbo frames, then you'll find it in their product description. I can imagine some just don't.

                No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                Edit : and where are the logs ??

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

                  @gertjan 25 year old software wouldn't be doing jumbo ;)

                  @GemeenAapje I don't think the switch would be the problem, it wouldn't be fragmenting or reassembling - so its not the switches that would be an issue.. It would be the routers. Or the end device.

                  The device putting the data on the wire would break it up according to its mtu. If it put larger sized than the switch supports ie a jumbo then yeah that would be problematic. But you testing large pings to pfsense, wanting an answer - isn't the switch having an issue.

                  As you see on the sniff I did on pfsense - he got the fragments at 1514. A better test might be to send the packets to something through the router with such a large size..

                  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
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                  GertjanG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • JKnottJ
                    JKnott @GemeenAapje
                    last edited by

                    @gemeenaapje said in Pfsense not responding to large packet pings:

                    It's known to have problems when large packets don't make it through the switches.

                    Why is it sending large packets? Is it using jumbo frames? What is the MTU? Other than on token ring, back when I was at IBM, I've never seen MTUs set beyond 1500, except for my own testing. If it is using jumbo frames, then you have to make sure the switch can handle them. IIRC, when jumbo frames are used, the usual MTU is 9000. Even then, you have to make sure everything on the local network can handle that MTU.

                    PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                    i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                    UniFi AC-Lite access point

                    I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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                    • GertjanG
                      Gertjan @johnpoz
                      last edited by

                      @johnpoz said in Pfsense not responding to large packet pings:

                      25 year old software wouldn't be doing jumbo ;)

                      25 year old software isn't jumbo aware. Software from 2021 : same thing.
                      The ISO network stack is far older then that. I recall, somewhere in the eighties, @school, that they started to tell me about this new 7 layer model (some say 8 layers) thing.
                      So, the program would hand over 'the file' to be transmitted to the OS.
                      And deep down somewhere, the data stream is cut down in chunks of XX bytes, as that is the way how info is send over.
                      The program doesn't need to know about headers, sessions, MAC addresses or even IP addresses. It doesn't care that 'TCP' or IPv4 or IPv6 is used.

                      I guess @GemeenAapje is talking about Jumbo frames because he want to push to the limit his local traffic from/to a file server or a NAS.
                      With these jumbo frame settings, locally, on PC's using Macrium (backup disk clone tool) I can backup a disk to my Syno NAS with true 100 % 1 Gigabit / sec. With classic 1500 byte frames there is little bit more overhead. Jumbo frame cram out that extra zero dot x % speed gain.

                      No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                      Edit : and where are the logs ??

                      johnpozJ JKnottJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • johnpozJ
                        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @Gertjan
                        last edited by

                        @gertjan good point actually.. Really need to just sniff on the device sending the traffic and see what its putting on the wire.

                        Are they jumbo frame or just fragmented down to 1500 mtu.. If the sender is putting jumbo on the wire - then yeah your going to need jumbo support on the switches. And the router as well..

                        And you can have all kinds of issues when you have one network doing jumbo, and then another network your trying to route to for the receiver device that isn't using jumbo, etc.

                        @GemeenAapje we really need to more info - but causing a problem by sending large pings to pfsense is prob not related to the problem..

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                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          @johnpoz said in Pfsense not responding to large packet pings:

                          but causing a problem by sending large pings to pfsense is prob not related to the problem..

                          ...though I would expect it to work with arbitrarily sized packets. I have never tried 64K though. Until now.

                          [2.5.2-RELEASE][admin@t70.stevew.lan]/root: ping -s 65500 172.21.16.246
                          PING 172.21.16.246 (172.21.16.246): 65500 data bytes
                          65508 bytes from 172.21.16.246: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=1.942 ms
                          65508 bytes from 172.21.16.246: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=1.825 ms
                          65508 bytes from 172.21.16.246: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=1.878 ms
                          65508 bytes from 172.21.16.246: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=1.764 ms
                          ^C
                          --- 172.21.16.246 ping statistics ---
                          4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0.0% packet loss
                          round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 1.764/1.852/1.942/0.066 ms
                          

                          A similar test to another device in my network fails:

                          [2.5.2-RELEASE][admin@t70.stevew.lan]/root: ping -s 2000 172.21.16.185
                          PING 172.21.16.185 (172.21.16.185): 2000 data bytes
                          ^C
                          --- 172.21.16.185 ping statistics ---
                          2 packets transmitted, 0 packets received, 100.0% packet loss
                          

                          The difference there is that 172.21.16.185 is behind a PoS TP-Link switch which doesn't pass packet fragments. Because.... no clue!

                          But bad switches aside it should work.

                          Steve

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                          • johnpozJ
                            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @stephenw10
                            last edited by johnpoz

                            @stephenw10 said in Pfsense not responding to large packet pings:

                            PoS TP-Link switch which doesn't pass packet fragments.

                            What kind of shit switch? Yeah that belongs in the trash!

                            So what I have been able to duplicate.. Is if I try it "through" pfsense it fails.. But if on the same L2 network then works

                            $ ping -l 65500 ntp
                            
                            Pinging ntp.local.lan [192.168.3.32] with 65500 bytes of data:
                            Request timed out.
                            Request timed out.
                            
                            root@pi-hole:/# ping -s 65500 ntp
                            PING ntp.local.lan (192.168.3.32) 65500(65528) bytes of data.
                            65508 bytes from ntp.local.lan (192.168.3.32): icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=12.1 ms
                            65508 bytes from ntp.local.lan (192.168.3.32): icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=12.1 ms
                            65508 bytes from ntp.local.lan (192.168.3.32): icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=12.1 ms
                            

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                            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
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                            • stephenw10S
                              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                              last edited by stephenw10

                              Same one that loves VLAN 1. šŸ™„

                              Yeah, needs recycling!

                              Just for reference here's two 3100s on different subnets routed through a 2.5.2 box:

                              [21.05.1-RELEASE][admin@fw1.stevew.lan]/root: ping -s 65500 -c 3 3100-2.fire.box
                              PING 3100-2.fire.box (192.168.10.103): 65500 data bytes
                              65508 bytes from 192.168.10.103: icmp_seq=0 ttl=63 time=3.832 ms
                              65508 bytes from 192.168.10.103: icmp_seq=1 ttl=63 time=3.512 ms
                              65508 bytes from 192.168.10.103: icmp_seq=2 ttl=63 time=3.583 ms
                              
                              --- 3100-2.fire.box ping statistics ---
                              3 packets transmitted, 3 packets received, 0.0% packet loss
                              round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 3.512/3.642/3.832/0.137 ms
                              

                              That's also through some VLANs over a LAGG just for fun.

                              Steve

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                              • johnpozJ
                                johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @stephenw10
                                last edited by johnpoz

                                Odd so through pfsense seems largest I can get is 34276

                                $ ping -l 34276 ntp
                                
                                Pinging ntp.local.lan [192.168.3.32] with 34276 bytes of data:
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                
                                $ ping -l 34277 ntp
                                
                                Pinging ntp.local.lan [192.168.3.32] with 34277 bytes of data:
                                Request timed out.
                                Request timed out.
                                

                                problem is I think if you loose like 1 packet - you run into problem where they all have to be transmitted again..

                                $ ping -l 34276 ntp -t
                                
                                Pinging ntp.local.lan [192.168.3.32] with 34276 bytes of data:
                                Request timed out.
                                Request timed out.
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=8ms TTL=63
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                Request timed out.
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                Reply from 192.168.3.32: bytes=34276 time=7ms TTL=63
                                

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                                If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
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                                • stephenw10S
                                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                  last edited by

                                  That's between local subnets? The ping time is very high compared with what I'm seeing at double the packet size. So presumably twice the number of fragments.

                                  Unable to replicate here.

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                                  • johnpozJ
                                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @stephenw10
                                    last edited by johnpoz

                                    @stephenw10 yeah that is between 2 local segments..

                                    Its to a pi, so the pi might have some issues with reassembly that is slowing up the response?

                                    I do see sub ms response normal sized pings

                                    C:\tools>hrping ntp
                                    This is hrPING v5.07.1148 by cFos Software GmbH -- http://www.cfos.de
                                    
                                    Source address is 192.168.9.100; using ICMP echo-request, ID=fc2f
                                    Pinging ntp [192.168.3.32]
                                    with 32 bytes data (60 bytes IP):
                                    
                                    From 192.168.3.32: bytes=60 seq=0001 TTL=63 ID=f41c time=0.931ms
                                    From 192.168.3.32: bytes=60 seq=0002 TTL=63 ID=f42d time=0.808ms
                                    From 192.168.3.32: bytes=60 seq=0003 TTL=63 ID=f45b time=0.829ms
                                    From 192.168.3.32: bytes=60 seq=0004 TTL=63 ID=f481 time=0.820ms
                                    
                                    Packets: sent=4, rcvd=4, error=0, lost=0 (0.0% loss) in 1.511180 sec
                                    RTTs in ms: min/avg/max/dev: 0.808 / 0.847 / 0.931 / 0.049
                                    Bandwidth in kbytes/sec: sent=0.158, rcvd=0.158
                                    

                                    edit: You know what also could be contributing?? Pi is only connected at 100, while my pc is at gig.. hmmmm

                                    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
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                                    • bingo600B
                                      bingo600
                                      last edited by bingo600

                                      I can do 25100 to the pfsense , 25200 fails

                                      $ ping -s 25100 fw-01
                                      PING fw-01 (10.17.11.1) 25100(25128) bytes of data.
                                      25108 bytes from fw-01 (10.17.11.1): icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=3.40 ms
                                      
                                      

                                      I do 25200 wo probs to my RasPi3 , on another subnet.

                                      $ ping -s 65500 raspi3
                                      PING raspi3. (192.168.17.34) 65500(65528) bytes of data.
                                      65508 bytes from raspi3. (192.168.17.34): icmp_seq=1 ttl=63 time=24.0 ms
                                      
                                      

                                      Tests done via wifi C2702i , and passing two HP 1820 switches (No Jumbo)

                                      If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a šŸ‘ - "thumbs up"

                                      pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

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                                      • GertjanG
                                        Gertjan @johnpoz
                                        last edited by

                                        ping -l 65500 192.168.2.2

                                        Where 192.168.2.2 is an ancient Linksys E1200 access point, cabled up with 100 Mb - not 1 Gb.
                                        This device is 10,12 years old.

                                        I ping from 192.168.1.15, a windows 10 on LAN, through pfSense, to the other network 192.168.2.0.

                                        From 192.168.2.2Ā : bytes=65500 time=15 ms TTL=63

                                        "15 ms" probably because the10x slower "192.168.2.x network.

                                        Windows - the ping command, doesn't allow me to use values above "65500".

                                        No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                                        Edit : and where are the logs ??

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                                        • johnpozJ
                                          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @Gertjan
                                          last edited by johnpoz

                                          Well this sure seems like a crazy rabbit hole to have gone down ;) hehehe

                                          So my 2 pis can ping each other at 65500, but neither can ping pfsense interface on that same network.. But my PC can ping pfsense on my lan can ping just fine at 65500

                                          but a vm I have on a different vlan can ping pfsense IP on its vlan just fine with 65500..

                                          Yeah this is a crazy rabbit hole ;)

                                          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

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                                          • stephenw10S
                                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator @johnpoz
                                            last edited by

                                            @johnpoz said in Pfsense not responding to large packet pings:

                                            Well this sure seems like a crazy rabbit hole to have gone down ;)

                                            Ha, indeed! 64K packets.... who knew.

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