Dell R220 Configuring WAN problems

Robert1956

We are using a new Dell R220 with a i386 2.1.5 image.

If we are using just the two build-in network interfaces bge (Broadcom 5720) everything is working well. However if we add an additional dual port card from Dell (also 5720) we will have a hanging system on Configuring WAN during startup.

Just to check if these are driver issues we also tried the 2.2 i386 beta op 6 october, and see that we can not configure the WAN port. The machine will however do a full startup.

Any idea?

Robert

jasonlitka

Have you tried the 64-bit version? You really should be using that if you have hardware that supports it.

Check the BIOS for any mention of PCI-e power features and turn them off.

stephenw10

Since you are using Broadcom NICs in Dell hardware you should try the tuning options suggested here:
https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Tuning_and_Troubleshooting_Network_Cards#Broadcom_bge.284.29_Cards

That advise may be a bit dated now and you aren't running 64bit so I would not exepect nmbclusters to be the issue. Could well be TSO though.

Steve

Robert1956

Thanks for the advices. Sofar the results with 2.2 beta i386:

I did use the tuning settings
I did set all power settings to maximum in Bios

If the expansion card is added: than the existing WAN interface (bge0) is losing its DHCP address. As soon as the card is removed it will gets its DHCP WAN address back again.

I will reinstall with 64 bit image 2.1.5 and possible 2.2 and report back.

Thanks,
Robert

stephenw10

Have you considered that adding further NICs that also use the bge driver could potentially re-arrange the NIC numbering order? When you add the card bge0 may change port.

Steve

cmb

Don't use i386 on any 64 bit capable hardware. Guessing it'll more than likely "just work" with amd64, given that's a widely used piece of hardware (but one likely no one runs 32 bit on).