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    NIC/MAC addresses changing for interface name

    General pfSense Questions
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      The interfaces are assigned in the order they are parsed at boot so if you add NICs using the same driver as a NIC you already have the order may change. Add in NICs are often parsed before on-board NICs which makes this more likely.

      It's possible to set the order using PCI device wiring. However doing so is not worth it IMO. If you have to reinstall the ordering would go back to the default until you reapplied it potentially causing more problems than just reassigning the NICs.

      Steve

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        ericreiss @viragomann
        last edited by

        @viragomann Thank you.

        I hear what you are saying but two things.

        First, if the interface that you use to administer pfSense changes, you would have to use the console as I found in other posts after @johnpoz mentioned @stephenw10 was a guru on the subject.

        The second thing is that my OPT1 MAC that I was not using yet is on the Motherboard of an HP PC. looking up the MAC for manufacturer codes, said it was an HP network card.

        The WAN and LAN NICs, one was an Intell PCI-E card and the other a Broadcom PCI-E Card.

        But these two cards were at either end of the exxpansion slots. Therre was a Video card in between and two open slots.

        I added the Dual NIC cards into those two slots.

        So the WAN and LAN MACs did not get shuffled.

        It was the HP NIC on the MOBO that moved from the one shown with OPT1 to the end of the list with the new four MACs listed above it and the first Dual NIC MAC selected for OPT1.

        Thanks for the support.

        Like I said this is not a big problem but I was just surprised. I almost didn't catch it. I was adding the dual NIC cards as I wanted to look at setting up multiple LAN subnets.

        Thanks @johnpoz and @viragomann

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        • S
          SteveITS Rebel Alliance @ericreiss
          last edited by

          @ericreiss The HP is probably a rebranded NIC. The interface displays should show the driver+number used.

          IOW when pfSense gets to assigning interfaces, igb0 is OPT1 and igb0 exists so we’re done. If you replaced a card and igb0 didn’t exist it would stop and ask.

          Changing hardware will also change your NDI I believe so double check you’re still registered and/or reregister.

          Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
          When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
          Upvote 👍 helpful posts!

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            ericreiss @SteveITS
            last edited by

            @SteveITS Thanks, will check the registration.

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              ericreiss @SteveITS
              last edited by

              @SteveITS turns out you were correct about the NDI and having added the two Dual network cards.

              I wanted to add some packages and it was not going thru.

              Finally ran "pfSense-upgrade -d -c" from a SSH window and received:

              pfSense-repoc-static: invalid signature
              failed to read the repo data.
              failed to update the repository settings!!!
              failed to update the repository settings!!!

              So requested a new subscription rather than asking for the original to get reset or whatever they do.

              I think read in another thread that @stephenw10 did that for someone having package issues.

              All is now good.

              Thank you.

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                Either is fine currently. If you have an active support subscription and hit that open a ticket and we can address it.

                Steve

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                  ericreiss @stephenw10
                  last edited by

                  @stephenw10 Thanks.

                  I will keep that in mind.

                  I am working hard to verify that pfSense will do all that we need it to do and the boss is pushing my to buy.

                  So I did not want to wait if you or support was busy.

                  Just asked sales to give me an actual quote on a 6100 after getting off a virtual meeting with two bosses.

                  They want me to move forward based on what I ahve tested so far.

                  Thanks.

                  Eric

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                    ericreiss @ericreiss
                    last edited by

                    @ericreiss
                    Hey @stephenw10, looks like I need to take you up on your offer.

                    Was starting to look at setting up Graylog on another PC and needed to get it online for installing the Ubuntu and getting it up to date. Decided I should just get it up on the one LAN subnet of the pfSense and tried to boot the pfSense PC.

                    First it POST-ed about the video card but then booted. Then it complained about one of the single port NICs. Shut it down to check that and then it would not boot. FANs just spun up loudly.

                    A bunch of troubleshooting, pulling one DIMM at a time, there are 8 DIMMS.

                    Finally gave up and since I have another identical HP Z420, I pulled the network cards and hard drive out and put in the other one.

                    I have it up and running but now it looks like my NDI is invalid again.

                    Can you either Reset it or shoudl I just "buy" another free subscription?

                    Thanks.

                    Eric

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                    • stephenw10S
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                      last edited by

                      Send me the old and new NDI in chat and I can update it.

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                        ericreiss @stephenw10
                        last edited by

                        @stephenw10 I can see the current NDI, but I don't know how to get the previous one.

                        I did not save it.

                        I have the previous Activation Token for the last NDI and the original Activation Token but never saved that NDI.

                        Is there a way to retrieve it?

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