Connection dropping between pfSense and cable modem
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We are having an issue where every few minutes the connection between our pfSense firewall and our cable modem is dropping for about 1-2 minutes.
The connection drop does not affect the LAN at all, and I'm able to ping the modem from outside, it appears to be the connection between these two devices that is going down.
What are some steps I can take to troubleshoot? Is there anymore information I can provide that would help?
Thanks,
-Brian
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I'm able to ping the modem from outside
Does that mean that your modem has your public IP? And your pfSense WAN is on a private subnet?
Look in the system logs to see what triggered the disconnect.
Steve
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OK, further investigation has told me a few things:
Both the WAN and the modem each have a separate static IP.
The WAN has been going down but the modem can still be pinged from the outside. Also a computer hooked up directly to the modem can connect to the internet when the WAN goes down.
Here's the system log for the most recent drop:
Nov 24 09:07:05 check_reload_status: Linkup starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:06 php: : Hotplug event detected for wan but ignoring since interface is configured with static IP (75.150.44.1)
Nov 24 09:07:06 check_reload_status: rc.newwanip starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:08 php: : Hotplug event detected for wan but ignoring since interface is configured with static IP (75.150.44.1)
Nov 24 09:07:09 kernel: re1: link state changed to DOWN
Nov 24 09:07:09 check_reload_status: Linkup starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:11 kernel: re1: link state changed to UP
Nov 24 09:07:12 php: : rc.newwanip: Informational is starting re1.
Nov 24 09:07:12 php: : rc.newwanip: on (IP address: 75.150.44.1) (interface: wan) (real interface: re1).
Nov 24 09:07:12 php: : ROUTING: setting default route to 75.150.44.2
Nov 24 09:07:12 apinger: Exiting on signal 15.
Nov 24 09:07:13 check_reload_status: Reloading filter
Nov 24 09:07:13 apinger: Starting Alarm Pinger, apinger(35607)
Nov 24 09:07:14 kernel: re1: link state changed to DOWN
Nov 24 09:07:14 check_reload_status: Linkup starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:14 php: : Hotplug event detected for wan but ignoring since interface is configured with static IP (75.150.44.1)
Nov 24 09:07:15 php: : Hotplug event detected for wan but ignoring since interface is configured with static IP (75.150.44.1)
Nov 24 09:07:15 check_reload_status: rc.newwanip starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:19 php: : Hotplug event detected for wan but ignoring since interface is configured with static IP (75.150.44.1)
Nov 24 09:07:21 php: : rc.newwanip: Informational is starting re1.
Nov 24 09:07:21 php: : rc.newwanip: on (IP address: 75.150.44.1) (interface: wan) (real interface: re1).
Nov 24 09:07:21 php: : ROUTING: setting default route to 75.150.44.2
Nov 24 09:07:21 apinger: Exiting on signal 15.
Nov 24 09:07:22 check_reload_status: Reloading filter
Nov 24 09:07:22 apinger: Starting Alarm Pinger, apinger(46675)
Nov 24 09:07:25 kernel: re1: link state changed to UP
Nov 24 09:07:25 check_reload_status: Linkup starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:30 kernel: re1: link state changed to DOWN
Nov 24 09:07:30 check_reload_status: Linkup starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:30 php: : Hotplug event detected for wan but ignoring since interface is configured with static IP (75.150.44.1)
Nov 24 09:07:30 check_reload_status: rc.newwanip starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:32 kernel: re1: link state changed to UP
Nov 24 09:07:32 check_reload_status: Linkup starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:35 php: : Hotplug event detected for wan but ignoring since interface is configured with static IP (75.150.44.1)
Nov 24 09:07:36 php: : rc.newwanip: Informational is starting re1.
Nov 24 09:07:36 php: : rc.newwanip: on (IP address: 75.150.44.1) (interface: wan) (real interface: re1).
Nov 24 09:07:36 php: : ROUTING: setting default route to 75.150.44.2
Nov 24 09:07:36 apinger: Exiting on signal 15.
Nov 24 09:07:37 check_reload_status: Reloading filter
Nov 24 09:07:37 apinger: Starting Alarm Pinger, apinger(20810)
Nov 24 09:07:37 php: : Hotplug event detected for wan but ignoring since interface is configured with static IP (75.150.44.1)
Nov 24 09:07:37 check_reload_status: rc.newwanip starting re1
Nov 24 09:07:43 php: : rc.newwanip: Informational is starting re1.
Nov 24 09:07:43 php: : rc.newwanip: on (IP address: 75.150.44.1) (interface: wan) (real interface: re1).
Nov 24 09:07:43 php: : ROUTING: setting default route to 75.150.44.2
Nov 24 09:07:43 apinger: Exiting on signal 15.
Nov 24 09:07:44 check_reload_status: Reloading filter
Nov 24 09:07:45 apinger: Starting Alarm Pinger, apinger(29719) -
I found the issue. It turned out to be a bad switch. There was an unmanaged ethernet switch between the modem and the WAN, I replaced the switch and haven't had a drop since.