<![CDATA[2nd WAN randomly dropping]]>Hello all,

I’ve been racking my brains on this issue that I have been experiencing. I have a dual WAN network that is configured for load balancing. I set it up by watching this video.
https://youtu.be/XRijP4_0xog?si=VpWxh3MXX1ExLqK1

The problem is that randomly my 2nd wan connection goes to 100% packet loss and goes offline. It will eventually come back online itself or if I disable / re-enable the interface it comes back online as well. I have tried the following troubleshooting steps.

-Swapped out ethernet cables
-Swapped out coaxial cables
-Tried a different modem
-Restored defaults on pfsense

  • Reinstalled pfsense
  • Upgraded to pfsense plus
    -Tried different Ethernet ports on the mini pc firewall
    -Reset cmos on mini pc firewall
    -Tried different monitoring IP’s
    -Swapped Ethernet cables from wan1 to wan2 but the problem follows wan2.

This is sounding like a config issue with pfsense but I am out of ideas of what it could be. I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thank you,
Randman76

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/topic/185653/2nd-wan-randomly-droppingRSS for NodeTue, 09 Jun 2026 08:42:40 GMTSat, 20 Jan 2024 17:58:30 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Sat, 24 Feb 2024 18:09:53 GMT]]>I found the problem. Appears to be related to this thread. I implemented the fix and both wans have been stable for 48 hours.

https://forum.netgate.com/topic/185334/pfsense-wan-gateway-randomly-goes-down

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1153920https://forum.netgate.com/post/1153920Sat, 24 Feb 2024 18:09:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Sat, 10 Feb 2024 03:58:27 GMT]]>experiencing the same issue - fiber + cable lines

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1151815https://forum.netgate.com/post/1151815Sat, 10 Feb 2024 03:58:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Sun, 04 Feb 2024 23:19:12 GMT]]>Well, looks like my optimism was not well placed. I am still having the problem. But I did learn more. For some reason, either WAN1 or WAN2 will go out depending on the default. For example. if WAN1 is the default, then WAN2 intermittently drops due to packet loss. If I swap the defaults, (WAN2 is the default) then WAN1 intermittently drops. Not quite sure what kind of setting would cause that and I don't think it is a hardware issue. Smells like more of a bug. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1151004https://forum.netgate.com/post/1151004Sun, 04 Feb 2024 23:19:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Wed, 24 Jan 2024 18:15:59 GMT]]>I was able to figure out the problem. On the Gateways page, the default gateway IPv4 & IPV6 was set to automatic. Not exactly sure what that means but for IPV4 I changed to the name of my load balancing gateway group and for IPV6 I set to "None" since I don't have IPV6 enabled on either of my WANS.

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1149457https://forum.netgate.com/post/1149457Wed, 24 Jan 2024 18:15:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Sun, 21 Jan 2024 19:33:53 GMT]]>@randman76 Always possible they don't respond to pings, but then they can't be monitoring IPs.

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148864https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148864Sun, 21 Jan 2024 19:33:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Sun, 21 Jan 2024 18:07:10 GMT]]>I'll try that next time it goes down. But I tried to ping it while it's up and it's timing out. I tried pinging both modems and they both time out even though they are up and accepting traffic.

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148857https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148857Sun, 21 Jan 2024 18:07:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Sun, 21 Jan 2024 17:58:53 GMT]]>@randman76 While WAN2 is down can you ping that modem?

We had a client that wanted to use DSL as a backup. Worked ok for a couple years I think then was full of packet loss. AT&T tried a few times to fix it, DSL distance limitations, etc, couldn’t get it to work reliably again.

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148855https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148855Sun, 21 Jan 2024 17:58:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Sun, 21 Jan 2024 17:46:34 GMT]]>Thank you for your reply. I have tried different monitoring IP's and also disabled the monitoring for that WAN as well. If I change the monitoring IP it still drops. If I disable monitoring while the WAN is down I have intermittent connectivity. So it does appear that something is getting blocked. But it is always WAN2. If I swap out the modem and all the cables, WAN2 is still dropping out.

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148850https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148850Sun, 21 Jan 2024 17:46:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to 2nd WAN randomly dropping on Sat, 20 Jan 2024 19:09:38 GMT]]>@randman76 if relatively often try a constant ping to see if it’s really dropping.

You can change the monitoring IP or disable monitoring completely for it in System/Routing.

]]>https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148773https://forum.netgate.com/post/1148773Sat, 20 Jan 2024 19:09:38 GMT