pfSense with Server 2019 AD DS and Netgear ORBI (as AP)
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@bearhntr
Your Forwarders screenshot shows that 192.168.10.254 DNS server had that green checkmark, which meant that it was visible on the network, but not resolvable to a name. I understand it is set static. BUT it does not appear to have a record in MS DNS, if it did and DNS was functioning correctly, it would resolve to a name. But the more I think about it, the 192.168.10.1 is PFSense, and 192.168.10.254 is the ORBI? If that is still UP (why?) and you want that to resolve to a name, you would need to add a static DNS record for it to the Server 2019 DNS, but frankly, now that I read through this again, that's not what I would do. If you have the DNS running on your Server 2019 box, I would disable DNS and DHCP on the ORBI as soon as MS DHCP is setup and giving out my server DNS to clients. No reason to forward to the ORBI either, unless I am missing something.
How I set mine up is, all the clients point to my two Server 2016 machines- I use MS DHCP, and I set it to provide my two servers as DNS servers, as part of the lease. I then setup DNS to forward to the lan interface of my PFSense box, which I put in resolver mode (I see no reason to forward from PFSense, but you may have a reason to).
So the DHCP scope options:
That points my stuff to my servers. I set DNS forwarding to the PFSense box:
But I set it to also use root hints in case the PFSense DNS (unbound) was borked, so it will just go directly to the internet. Yes, if my servers go down (this is why I have two) I will have no internet unless I manually set the IP info on the client using PFSense as the DNS. I only have the 'standard' version of Server 2016, but that gives me two virtual licenses, so my server box is running Vmware ESXI, and I used both my virtual licenses to create two domain controllers running DNS and DHCP. -
As @Tzvia mentions
If you want to resolve the 192.168.10.254 to a name.
That entry must be present in the M$ DNS server.If you don't use DHCP, but static ip for that entry, you have to enter it manually in the appropriate zone on the M$ server.
/Bingo
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I am still not clear, but maybe I am reading something wrong. Let me see if I can clarify things.
Version 2.5.2-RELEASE (amd64)
built on Fri Jul 02 15:33:00 EDT 2021
FreeBSD 12.2-STABLEpfSense WAN port is DHCP and DHCP6 and connected to Cable Modem (I get an address on both of them). The v6 address is 2001:558:xxxx:xxxx (it appears to me to be a 128 bit number but I have WAN set to a /64 prefix).
pfSense LAN port is STATIC at 192.168.10.254 and IPv6 is "Track Interface" and pointed to the WAN port. I appear to also be getting a V6 address on that one - but it is 2601:c9:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:cb24 (masked - but the last 2 octets appear to be some portion of the MAC address) - whereas the one from WAN does not follow that convention.
pfSense has DNS Forwarder enabled see image - are the settings.
pfSense does not have DNS Resolver enabled - when I tried to enable it I got an error. See images 1 & 2.
pfSense also has DHCP Relay enabled on LAN and the 192.168.10.250 programmed in - as my server is desired to handle all DHCP.
The ORBI is set to AP mode and does no DHCP or DNS at all. It has an RSVP on my Server 2019 Standard machine in the DHCP so that it is always 192.168.10.1 (and the satellite is always 192.168.10.2 - always RSVP). I have a SmartThings HUB which has an RSVP to .3 and a HomeSeer box which is .4. All of these work.
The Server has 2 NICs - but one I have disabled - as it was originally an ESXI box with Server and pfSense both on it. Decided to stand up a separate pfSense box. So ESXi went bye-bye for just Server 2019. It has a Static address of 192.168.10.250 (using 255.255.255.0) and the Gateway is the pfSense LAN (192.168.10.254). DENS entry 1 (is 192.168.10.250) nothing in #2 (it did have 127.0.0.1) - but made no difference in the error I was getting in DNS Best Practice Analyzer. So took it out.
So as it is now. Server is handing out address to anything on my network (1 day lease at the moment). The only device that seems to change addresses is my Samsung S10+ - as it changes its MAC address. My NAS has a Static IP address on it now. As trying to get it to allow AD DS logins would not work with it set to DHCP with an RSVP. (still fighting with that one). LOL
DNS appear to be working, and everything seems to have no issues getting to the Internet. Root Hints seem to resolve also with no problems.
The only issue I seem to have is the FORWARDERS tab in the DNS will not resolve the address of pfSense LAN - but gives me the Green check. Here are some screen shots of the DNS settings. What I guess I do not understand is making an entry in DNS for the pfSense LAN address/name.
I also have a DHCP RSVP for the Server 2019 box in DHCP - just to make sure that its v4 address is always there. There was an issue when I was playing with the v6 stuff - where it switched the IPv4 back to DHCP and not static. Had to hook up a monitor and KB to find out what address it got - so that I could RDP back into it. (that was fun - NOT)
I truly appreciate the help - as I am sure I will get into a bind when I start messing with v6 again.
Curtis
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@bearhntr Well, it looks from your screenshots like you are trying to enable both the DNS Resolver and the DNS Forwarder sections of PFSense? It's one or the other. Unless you have a need to use a particular external DNS server, like using one with porn blocks or something, the DNS resolver works fine without having to specify anything, resolving to root servers if you choose to forward from your Windows server to it.
No reason to forward to the wireless AP if that is the box at .254 - it shouldn't be doing DNS or DHCP if your Windows Server is handling it so I don't know why it's there. And if you don't have IPV6 setup the server may not be able to resolve IPV6 only root servers, causing that last screenshot (just guessing here)? So first decide if you want to just let your Windows server resolve to the internet or forward to the PFSense box and have it resolve. That's what I am currently doing but I've done it both ways and it seems to make no difference. Once IPV4 is good to go, you can tackle IPV6.
And yes with Windows server, it is best to only pass out your Windows server IP as the DNS server in DHCP scope settings, for Windows clients. -
I tried to be as clear as possible. I am sorry if there is some confusion.
192.168.10.1 - ORBI Router (in AP mode only) Does not do anything with DNS or DHCP
192.168.10.2 - ORBI Satellite (in the other end of the house so that my office can have network)
192.168.10.250 - Windows DC1 (Server 2019 Std) to handle DNS / DHCP / AD DS / LDAP
192.168.10.254 - pfSense LAN portI am guessing that I was thinking DNS Resolver on the pfSense would resolve DNS (like the DC1 box is supposed to (wanting it to) do).
Yes....IPv6 is not configured any more - but just find it odd that the Windows BPA keeps telling me that IPv6 root hints need to resolve. Nothing is setup in IPv6 any longer, but I cannot disable that protocol in the DC - Windows will yell about it. The NIC in the DC does get an IP (see below):
So I still cannot get the pfSense to resolve to a name in the DNS Forwarders setting tab. I always get this:
AS stated - it appears that everything works....but I hate 'unresolved' things. Because I want to get IPv6 going and then start working on VPN stuff for streaming and monitoring as well as other Firewall stuff.
*** Have you ever setup or used an iPerf3 server??? I see that pfSense can be setup to do that. I use the Speed Test WiFi Analyzer - analiti quite often on my FireSticks. I will eventually get CAT6 run throughout the house, but for now...everything except the pfSense, DC1 and ORBI are all wireless.
Thanks again for sticking with me.
Curtis
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UPDATE:
OK. I have performed the following:
- Disabled DNS Forwarder in pfSense:
- Enabled DNS Resolver in pfSense - not sure if all of this is correct - but, I seem to still have Internet:
- I am able to ping the pfSense now - but still not resolve a name:
- Strange that when I was playing with IPv6 - the IPv6 would resolve the name (this is an old image):
We're getting closer -- I can feel it.
Curtis
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After making the changes to the pfSense Resolver vs. Forwarder -- I performed an ipconfig /flushdns and ipconfig /registerdns from ADMIN CMD prompt on the DC.
Waited 10 minutes - which should not have needed - but I am getting this now:
WAAAAAH!!!!
Also - does this look correct? Does the Router Advertiser need to be running?
Curtis
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@bearhntr Resolving a name from an IP requires an entry in DNS. So if you want it to resolve to a name just create a static entry for it I Windows DNS. It's green because it responds and frankly doesn't need to resolve to a name. Remember, the names are for US, the IPs are for routing and MAC addresses are for delivery. Ok the 254 IP is PFSense now and you're forwarding to it and it is forwarding to some DNS you set on the general tab. My suggestion, if you don't need to use a specific public DNS, just habit you use DNS from X whoever, just leave it in resolver mode. You don't need to send your internet market usage to those data miners. PFSense will use root servers and resolve without their prying eyes.
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OK. Specifically "where" do I need to add this name/IP in the Windows DNS? This I think is where part of my confusion lies.
Now you have confused me with the comment: "Ok the 254 IP is PFSense now and you're forwarding to it and it is forwarding to some DNS you set on the general tab. My suggestion, if you don't need to use a specific public DNS, just habit you use DNS from X whoever, just leave it in resolver mode. You don't need to send your internet market usage to those data miners. PFSense will use root servers and resolve without their prying eyes."
Here is what I have in GENERAL SETUP (this is the DC address):
Curtis
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UPDATE:
OK -- By Golly -- I think I have fixed it.
Much thanks to everyone. Now to make the Document for all of this.
Curtis
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@bearhntr Yes, sorry I missed that you weren't sure where to add the static entry in DNS. And as long as the DHCP scope options are giving out your DNS server IP as the DNS server- you don't have to add it on the general tab in PFSense, or set forwarding on the DNS tab. I have nothing set on the General tab for DNS, and it works fine. In DNS Resolver, General Settings, if you scroll all the way down to the bottom, there is a Domain Override section, where you can add your domain name and point it to your server's IP.
As for RADVD, that's the Router Advertisement service. I know it is used when you setup IPV6, on the Services/DHCPv6 Server & RA/LAN/Router Advertisements.
