Plugging SFP transceiver from AT&T box directly into SG-2100
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I have a client with AT&T fiber internet. I am not on site, currently, but the client has a BG320-500:
AT&T has it turned into bridge mode, so that I can use the client’s SG-2100 to control the LAN⇄internet interface.
What I am wondering is, whether I can eliminate the BG320-500 altogether by simply unplugging the Ethernet cable between the AT&T and pfSense box and plugging the SFP transceiver from AT&T directly into the SG-2100.
Before I experiment with this, I would love to hear some opinions on this. I am also wondering, whether AT&T will have to make additional configuration changes to make this work.
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@dominikhoffmann That will very likely work just fine (i have similar setups in France and Denmark).
However - Some/most ISP’s does require a specific VLAN tag, and at times special DHCP options and priorities “to make life difficult” for those of us that want’s to do this.So you should search this site and reddit to see if others has discovered specific settings you need to configure (VLAN/ DHCP) to get it to work.
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@keyser: Maybe AT&T’s tech support can be forthcoming on what I have to do.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
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@dominikhoffmann said in Plugging SFP transceiver from AT&T box directly into SG-2100:
@keyser: Maybe AT&T’s tech support can be forthcoming on what I have to do.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
hahaha, no they won't. This would be an un-supported configuration and the ISP won't give you any guidance on how to do it.
AT&T usually uses 802.11x auth. This is the first I've seen them use this new unit, so I'm not familiar with it. It may work... but the SG-2100's ethernet controller has to accept the module as well. It looks like a Marvell switch. Marvell is used as the switch chip in many of my MikroTik switches, and they are generally accepting of anything. The module would have to be an SFP module, 1Gbps and you might have to set negotiation. Please post a photo of the make and model of the SFP module they use. I am genuinely curious.
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If the internet provided is greater than 1Gb the SFP will be 10Gb.
The fiber is a single fiber, not a pair, so the SFP may not be 'standard'
ATT uses VLAN 0 which is problematic with FreeBSD.
According to the pfATT project, ATT uses a certificate to validate the end point. It is hard to get the cert.However, if it works I would be super interested in the details.
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@andyrh said in Plugging SFP transceiver from AT&T box directly into SG-2100:
If the internet provided is greater than 1Gb the SFP will be 10Gb.
Yep, if it's XGS-PON it would be a 10Gbps module. The specs for the RG show
One port SFP/SFP+ Cage for GPON/XGS-PON optic moduleSo if they used an SFP module for GPON, it may work. If they used SFP+ for XGS-PON, no.
@andyrh said in Plugging SFP transceiver from AT&T box directly into SG-2100:
The fiber is a single fiber, not a pair, so the SFP may not be 'standard'
Yes, the SFP module will be GPON or XGS-PON, the module acts as the ONT. It will work as long as the ethernet controller accepts the module, being Marvell it's likely.
@andyrh said in Plugging SFP transceiver from AT&T box directly into SG-2100:
ATT uses VLAN 0 which is problematic with FreeBSD.
VLAN 0 support should be fixed in the next upcoming pfSense Plus release, see
https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/12070
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/releases/23-01.html#interfaces@andyrh said in Plugging SFP transceiver from AT&T box directly into SG-2100:
According to the pfATT project, ATT uses a certificate to validate the end point. It is hard to get the cert.
802.1x auth appears to be done at the ONT level. The SFP module being the ONT, it may not require this.
See https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r33442912-AT-T-Fiber-Bye-bye-802-1x-you-will-not-be-missed -
@andyrh: I will see, what I can do, when I get back to the client’s house. Hopefully, I will be able to pull it out and take a picture without disrupting the client’s work. Not sure about that, though.
I have never operated an SFP module. Do you know of instructions on what to do mechanically, in order to pull it out?
I have since my original post found out that the client does not have a line-item charge for the rental of the equipment. It may be included in the 1 Gbit/s plan from AT&T. Consequently, it will not be worth if to pay me for doing the configuration change, if it doesn’t result in cost savings.
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@dominikhoffmann I would unplug the RG (residential gateway) first before pulling the module, it may not like the module being removed from it and borke something.
You'll probably have to unplug the fiber first from the module before the module un-latches. The module will just pull out. Be careful with the fiber, don't touch the end of it and don't look at it.
If you haven't messed with SFP modules before, then I'm confused as to why you'd want to do this. This is usually done by geeks that are familiar with such modules and know why they want to do it.
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@dominikhoffmann Well what Internet speed does the client pay for? If it's more than 1Gbps then it'll be using XGS-PON which would use an SFP+ module, which would not work with the SG-2100.
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@dominikhoffmann SFP removal - Remove the fiber. There will be a small handle that will easily swing out, typically opposite of the locking side of the fiber. Gently pull on the extended handle, this will release the lock and the SFP will slide out. A small amount of force (~1lbs) may be needed to remove the SFP, but it should slide easily once the lock releases.
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@gtaxl: I have actually spliced fibers in a laboratory before and connectorized them. However, those were multimode and of the FC type. In the late ’90s I was working on a fingernail-sized 10 Gbit/s datalink.
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@dominikhoffmann Then doing this procedure shouldn't be much of an issue. The fiber is likely going to be a Singlemode fiber with a SC APC connector.
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My ATT fiber is a single mode SC connector. Doing this will bring you back to the GBICs used for FC in the 90's.
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@andyrh said in Plugging SFP transceiver from AT&T box directly into SG-2100:
My ATT fiber is a single mode SC connector. Doing this will bring you back to the GBICs used for FC in the 90's.
Out of curiosity, do you have one of these units? Or a standalone ONT?
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@gtaxl: I will hopefully be able to pull out the modules, take pictures of it and plug it back in, at the very least. We’ll have to see. I’ll come back to this thread, once I have accomplished something on site.
I am trying to talk my client into going with a lower-speed package. Most people willingly pay for way too much bandwidth.
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@gtaxl I have a standalone ONT.
I was told it was 1Gb to my house. If you get a greater than 1Gb ATT changes the SFP at both ends to 10Gb. The throttling is done at the CO. -
@andyrh Yeah likely the OLT is doing the traffic shaping for the line. I don't have AT&T in my area, my brother does. I'm waiting on Spectrum to finish RDOF for my area, they will be deploying EPON based FTTH. Their ONTs give you a 10Gbps Ethernet port, which will pair well with my XG-1541. FS.com makes EPON and GPON ONT SFP modules that you can ssh into and configure the serial number and other parameters and will take an SC APC fiber connector, generally used by these ONT units, but if Spectrum's ONT has a 10G port and just acts as a layer 2 uplink only, I probably won't bother. It definitely is neat though plugging an SFP module directly into your pfSense box.
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@gtaxl: I thought Spectrum was a cable company…
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@dominikhoffmann They are, but for new deployments they use FTTH including their RDOF (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund) deployments. In some areas it will start out as RFoG in other areas they are using EPON. RFoG areas will eventually be upgraded to full EPON. EPON they will give you the Spectrum SONU unit, which is an EPON ONT with a 10G Ethernet port. Upload will be limited to 500Mbps until they change their minds on that.
