pfSense WAN dhcp client exiting (error)

Nosense 0 · Mar 31, 2024, 6:07 PM

I tested this with WAN DHCP.

However, I now have a new problem.

I haven't changed the gateway configuration for years.

When I pull the network plug now, the gateway suddenly disappears in the dashboard and also under system/routing/gateways

Is that normal?

Where can you get a default config?

stephenw10 · Mar 31, 2024, 6:24 PM

If it's dynamic and you have never set anything custom on it (which seems unlikely here!) then it might. Resaving the gateway to create a config entry for it should allow to show as present but down.

Nosense 0 · Apr 6, 2024, 8:06 PM

What a mess!

At a Thin Client, Pfense threw me out when I configured via WAN (RJ45) and a WLAN defined as a LAN before I could activate the WLAN (changed the WAN rule); However, did not work because the Pfense had not tolerated the WLAN stick :-(

An old PC reactivated, but had to buy network cards and wanted to give it an SSD, but no clon program worked :-(

Well on the PC now Pfense from newly installed and only the backup (XML file) recorded from the production machine and the error reappears and it loops without end :-)

Okay the test machine is of course not identical to production, so I had to delete a lot on the log, but the error remains identical.

There seems to be an automatic that automatically creates the gateway wan_dhcp and a script which classifies this gateway as invalid and deletes and then the automatism creates it again and so the whole thing turns in a loop.

Is just wondering what that is?

Nosense 0 · Apr 6, 2024, 8:12 PM

Protocol was already marked as spam :-(

stephenw10 · Apr 6, 2024, 8:18 PM

So what error do you see exactly in this new setup?

Nosense 0 · Apr 6, 2024, 8:23 PM

Exactly what I had already sent:

Apr 6 21:53:17 TEST php-fpm[74527]: /rc.filter_configure_sync: The gateway: WAN_DHCP is invalid or unknown, not using it.
Apr 6 21:53:17 TEST php-fpm[74527]: /rc.filter_configure_sync: The gateway: WAN_DHCP is invalid or unknown, not using it.
Apr 6 21:53:17 TEST php-fpm[74527]: /rc.filter_configure_sync: The gateway: WAN_DHCP is invalid or unknown, not using it.
Apr 6 21:53:15 TEST check_reload_status[294]: Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 6 21:53:09 TEST php-fpm[65707]: /rc.linkup: HOTPLUG: Configuring interface wan
Apr 6 21:53:09 TEST php-fpm[65707]: /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet attached event for wan
Apr 6 21:53:09 TEST php-fpm[65707]: /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)

stephenw10 · Apr 6, 2024, 9:11 PM

Hmm, the log ordering there is odd since the WAN_DHCP gateway should be valid at that point having just connected the WAN.

Unless maybe you have another gateway named WAN_DHCP that's conflicting?

Nosense 0 · Apr 7, 2024, 8:25 PM

No, there is no other gateway, only the WAN_DHCP, which is automatically created by the firewall.

Hmm, has to search the backup file (.xml) of production, maybe something will happen.
But that will take a while.

stephenw10 · Apr 7, 2024, 8:50 PM

So if you save the gateway when it's present does that create the config entry? And does that prevent the invalid gateway logs?

Nosense 0 · Apr 8, 2024, 3:39 PM

I deleted all gateways and then entered a fixed IP under Interface/WAN first under IP4 (as a workaround). Then I again changed the IP4 to DHCP (converted for testing) and added the gateway in the same menu item using Add Gateway. Since then, the gateway has been invalid, is deleted and immediately created.

stephenw10 · Apr 8, 2024, 1:22 PM

Ah, sounds like you may have added a second gateway. If an interface is set to DHCP the gateway is always added auto automatically and you should not have to add anything.

Nosense 0 · Apr 8, 2024, 3:26 PM

And that's exactly why I deleted all gateways.
There is no second gateway!

stephenw10 · Apr 8, 2024, 3:38 PM

Hmm, do you have any policy routing rules with a gateway set perhaps?

stephenw10 · Apr 8, 2024, 3:39 PM

@Nosense-0 said in pfSense WAN dhcp client exiting (error):

and added the gateway in the same menu item using Add Gateway.

What exactly did you do for that then?

Nosense 0 · Apr 8, 2024, 7:21 PM

@stephenw10 said in pfSense WAN dhcp client exiting (error):

@Nosense-0 said in pfSense WAN dhcp client exiting (error):

and added the gateway in the same menu item using Add Gateway.

What exactly did you do for that then?

Deleting all gateways, so I con setup the Gateway directly in the same menu where I set the static IP4 Address.

Nosense 0 · Apr 8, 2024, 7:26 PM

Policy:

Production=Yes
Test=No

But I will only work with the test system.

Nosense 0 · Apr 8, 2024, 7:32 PM

Since the Pfense offers the possibility of a partial backup (backup area) I have now saved the production according to Backup Area and, according to a factory reset of the test system, the individual backup on the test restored.

The loop performed in the restore of the backup area "Interface".
The log has only changed a little.

Apr 8 21:10:46 php-fpm 65216 /rc.linkup: HOTPLUG: Configuring interface wan
Apr 8 21:10:46 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:10:46 kernel re0: link state changed to DOWN
Apr 8 21:10:46 rc.gateway_alarm 5106 >>> Gateway alarm: WAN_DHCP (Addr:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Alarm:down RTT:0ms RTTsd:0ms Loss:100%)
Apr 8 21:10:46 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns WAN_DHCP
Apr 8 21:10:46 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:10:46 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting OpenVPN tunnels/interfaces
Apr 8 21:10:47 php-fpm 3497 /rc.newwanip: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:10:47 php-fpm 3497 /rc.newwanip: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:10:47 php-fpm 3497 /rc.newwanip: IP Address has changed, killing states on former IP Address 0.0.0.0.
Apr 8 21:10:47 php-fpm 3497 /rc.newwanip: Resyncing OpenVPN instances for interface WAN.
Apr 8 21:10:47 php-fpm 3497 /rc.newwanip: Creating rrd update script
Apr 8 21:10:50 php-fpm 3497 /rc.newwanip: pfSense package system has detected an IP change or dynamic WAN reconnection - 0.0.0.0 -> xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx - Restarting packages.
Apr 8 21:10:50 check_reload_status 4169 Starting packages
Apr 8 21:10:50 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:10:50 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:10:50 kernel re0: link state changed to UP
Apr 8 21:10:51 php-fpm 70335 /rc.start_packages: Restarting/Starting all packages.
Apr 8 21:10:51 check_reload_status 4169 rc.newwanip starting re0
Apr 8 21:10:51 php-fpm 65216 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:10:51 php-fpm 65216 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:10:51 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:10:51 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns wan
Apr 8 21:10:51 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:10:51 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:10:51 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet detached event for wan
Apr 8 21:10:52 php-fpm 65072 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: Info: starting on re0.
Apr 8 21:10:52 php-fpm 65072 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: on (IP address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) (interface: WAN[wan]) (real interface: re0).
Apr 8 21:10:52 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:10:52 php-fpm 70335 /rc.filter_configure_sync: dpinger: No dpinger session running for gateway LAN_DHCP
Apr 8 21:10:52 php-fpm 30297 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:10:52 php-fpm 30297 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet attached event for wan
Apr 8 21:10:52 php-fpm 30297 /rc.linkup: HOTPLUG: Configuring interface wan
Apr 8 21:10:52 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:10:52 kernel re0: link state changed to DOWN
Apr 8 21:10:52 rc.gateway_alarm 64399 >>> Gateway alarm: WAN_DHCP (Addr:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Alarm:down RTT:0ms RTTsd:0ms Loss:100%)
Apr 8 21:10:52 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns WAN_DHCP
Apr 8 21:10:52 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:10:52 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting OpenVPN tunnels/interfaces
Apr 8 21:10:56 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:10:56 kernel re0: link state changed to UP
Apr 8 21:10:58 check_reload_status 4169 rc.newwanip starting re0
Apr 8 21:10:58 php-fpm 30297 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:10:58 php-fpm 30297 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:10:58 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:10:58 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns wan
Apr 8 21:10:58 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:10:58 php-fpm 65216 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:10:58 php-fpm 65216 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet detached event for wan
Apr 8 21:10:59 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: Info: starting on re0.
Apr 8 21:10:59 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: on (IP address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) (interface: WAN[wan]) (real interface: re0).
Apr 8 21:11:00 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:00 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:11:00 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet attached event for wan
Apr 8 21:11:00 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: HOTPLUG: Configuring interface wan
Apr 8 21:11:00 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:00 kernel re0: link state changed to DOWN
Apr 8 21:11:00 rc.gateway_alarm 49508 >>> Gateway alarm: WAN_DHCP (Addr:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Alarm:down RTT:0ms RTTsd:0ms Loss:100%)
Apr 8 21:11:00 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns WAN_DHCP
Apr 8 21:11:00 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:11:00 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting OpenVPN tunnels/interfaces
Apr 8 21:11:01 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:01 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:01 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: IP Address has changed, killing states on former IP Address 0.0.0.0.
Apr 8 21:11:01 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: Resyncing OpenVPN instances for interface WAN.
Apr 8 21:11:01 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: Creating rrd update script
Apr 8 21:11:03 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: pfSense package system has detected an IP change or dynamic WAN reconnection - 0.0.0.0 -> xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx - Restarting packages.
Apr 8 21:11:03 check_reload_status 4169 Starting packages
Apr 8 21:11:03 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:03 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:03 kernel re0: link state changed to UP
Apr 8 21:11:04 php-fpm 3586 /rc.start_packages: Restarting/Starting all packages.
Apr 8 21:11:05 check_reload_status 4169 rc.newwanip starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:05 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:05 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:05 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:11:05 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns wan
Apr 8 21:11:05 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:05 php-fpm 99632 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:11:05 php-fpm 99632 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet detached event for wan
Apr 8 21:11:06 php-fpm 65216 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: Info: starting on re0.
Apr 8 21:11:06 php-fpm 65216 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: on (IP address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) (interface: WAN[wan]) (real interface: re0).
Apr 8 21:11:06 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:06 php-fpm 3586 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:11:06 php-fpm 3586 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet attached event for wan
Apr 8 21:11:06 php-fpm 3586 /rc.linkup: HOTPLUG: Configuring interface wan
Apr 8 21:11:06 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:06 kernel re0: link state changed to DOWN
Apr 8 21:11:06 rc.gateway_alarm 1708 >>> Gateway alarm: WAN_DHCP (Addr:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Alarm:down RTT:0ms RTTsd:0ms Loss:100%)
Apr 8 21:11:06 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns WAN_DHCP
Apr 8 21:11:06 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:11:06 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting OpenVPN tunnels/interfaces
Apr 8 21:11:10 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:10 kernel re0: link state changed to UP
Apr 8 21:11:12 check_reload_status 4169 rc.newwanip starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:12 php-fpm 3586 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:12 php-fpm 3586 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:12 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:11:12 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns wan
Apr 8 21:11:12 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:12 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:11:12 php-fpm 69818 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet detached event for wan
Apr 8 21:11:13 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: Info: starting on re0.
Apr 8 21:11:13 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: on (IP address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) (interface: WAN[wan]) (real interface: re0).
Apr 8 21:11:13 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:13 php-fpm 99632 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:11:13 php-fpm 99632 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet attached event for wan
Apr 8 21:11:13 php-fpm 99632 /rc.linkup: HOTPLUG: Configuring interface wan
Apr 8 21:11:13 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:13 kernel re0: link state changed to DOWN
Apr 8 21:11:13 rc.gateway_alarm 88492 >>> Gateway alarm: WAN_DHCP (Addr:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Alarm:down RTT:0ms RTTsd:0ms Loss:100%)
Apr 8 21:11:13 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns WAN_DHCP
Apr 8 21:11:13 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:11:13 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting OpenVPN tunnels/interfaces
Apr 8 21:11:15 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:15 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:15 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: IP Address has changed, killing states on former IP Address 0.0.0.0.
Apr 8 21:11:15 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: Resyncing OpenVPN instances for interface WAN.
Apr 8 21:11:15 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: Creating rrd update script
Apr 8 21:11:17 php-fpm 70335 /rc.newwanip: pfSense package system has detected an IP change or dynamic WAN reconnection - 0.0.0.0 -> xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx - Restarting packages.
Apr 8 21:11:17 check_reload_status 4169 Starting packages
Apr 8 21:11:17 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:18 check_reload_status 4169 Linkup starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:18 kernel re0: link state changed to UP
Apr 8 21:11:18 php-fpm 65216 /rc.start_packages: Restarting/Starting all packages.
Apr 8 21:11:20 check_reload_status 4169 rc.newwanip starting re0
Apr 8 21:11:20 php-fpm 99632 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:20 php-fpm 99632 /rc.linkup: Gateway, NONE AVAILABLE
Apr 8 21:11:20 check_reload_status 4169 Restarting IPsec tunnels
Apr 8 21:11:20 check_reload_status 4169 updating dyndns wan
Apr 8 21:11:20 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:20 php-fpm 30297 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:11:20 php-fpm 30297 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet detached event for wan
Apr 8 21:11:21 php-fpm 69818 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: Info: starting on re0.
Apr 8 21:11:21 php-fpm 69818 /rc.newwanip: rc.newwanip: on (IP address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) (interface: WAN[wan]) (real interface: re0).
Apr 8 21:11:21 check_reload_status 4169 Reloading filter
Apr 8 21:11:21 php-fpm 65216 /rc.linkup: Hotplug event detected for WAN(wan) dynamic IP address (4: dhcp)
Apr 8 21:11:21 php-fpm 65216 /rc.linkup: DEVD Ethernet attached event for wan
Apr 8 21:11:21 php-fpm 65216 /rc.linkup: HOTPLUG: Configuring interface wan
Apr 8 21:11:21 kernel re0: link state changed to DOWN

stephenw10 · Apr 8, 2024, 8:48 PM

@Nosense-0 said in pfSense WAN dhcp client exiting (error):

Deleting all gateways, so I con setup the Gateway directly in the same menu where I set the static IP4 Address.

You shouldn't add anything manually if the WAN is set to DHCP. At the very least it can't have the same name.

However it looks like you're back to the same link flapping issue here after restoring part of the config. It's still odd. Nothing that's shown as running there should cause the WAN NIC to lose link

Have you tried setting that device to fixed speed/duplex?

Nosense 0 · Apr 19, 2024, 10:18 AM

I had bought an extra mini NIC for a thin client (the computer is much faster than my old test computer) and it only arrived from China last week and so I now have one Pfsense for production and two with different hardware to test.

You won't believe me now, all three computers, despite having different hardware, showed the same error.

It took me ages to restore the individual backups (one per backup era) of the production onto the two test servers and then test them.

None of this made any difference. So in the end, completely frustrated, I went and deleted every single configuration on the test server, step by step. That took a really long time because I had rebooted the test server in the meantime, just to be sure that the change had an effect.

After that didn't help, I compared the configuration of a new, fresh installation, line by line from the XML backup file, what an amazing job and was actually able to find the error, this line triggers the loop:

<media>autoselect</media>

The entry "autoselect" is under Interfaces/WAN Speed and Duplex, which the programmers can now find out and also why the loop begins with it (see script rc.linkup Line "interface_configure($iface, true, true);").

Even a fixed value didn't solve the problem for me.

You just need to switch back to "Default (no preference, typically autoselect)"; ATTENTION do not set autoselect to "typically" where the text "WARNING: MUST be set to autoselect (automatically negotiate speed) unless the port this interface connects to has its speed and duplex forced." is misleading.

Ugh, what an act!!!

stephenw10 · Apr 19, 2024, 12:50 PM

Urgh. Well nice to actually find the issue at least. Were all three devices using the same NIC type, all Realtek NICs?