PfSense 2.2.4 - WAN Interface speed/duplex settings WebConfigurator bug
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Hi all,
Having issues with my WAN cable internet connection on dropping if the speed/duplex is set to "autoselect", no issues occur if it is left on "Default", or if speeds are manually set (I avoid this because 1000BaseT standard requires auto negotiation). On the LAN side, no issues have occurred with speed/duplex settings in "autoselect", but I left it at "Default". This bug has been recreated at will on PfSense versions 2.2.1 and 2.2.4 and tested with two different SBG6580 modems.
Setup:
The firewall box is a Dell Optiplex 760 (Core2 Duo E8400, 3.2Ghz, and 2GB ram) running PfSense 2.2.4 x64 with two NICs. The NICs are an Intel 82567-LM3 integrated gigabit (em0) for the LAN, and an HP Broadcom gigabit server NIC (bge0) for the WAN. LAN is connected to a Netgear 8 port switch, and the WAN is connected to an Arris/Motorola SBG6580 cable modem provisioned at 200M/10M IPv4 DHCP.Steps to cause bug:
1. Go to Interfaces > WAN > click the Advanced button > set speed/duplex to "Default" for both NICs if not already there
2. Check Interface status page and verify WAN is up, dhcp is up, has IPv4 address, and that the speed link is 1000BaseT Full Duplex
3. Go to Interfaces > WAN > click the Advanced button > set speed/duplex to "Autoselect", apply changes, and get to step 4 fast
4. Check Interface status page immediately, WAN won't pull IP right away, and oscillates between up/down/no carrier. DHCP accordingly will be down most of the time and only for a few seconds might be up with or without an IP.Notes: This was tested with em0 and bge0 alternated in different configs as the WAN side to eliminate the NICs themselves. I suspect this is a glitch somewhere between PfSense's Interface handlers and the SBG6580 reacting to the odd behavior from the PfSense box. I have swapped cable modems with the cable company (currently at the mall they only had SBG6580s in stock, for another issue on the cable co side, I have another truck roll coming and requested a different Arris model be given to the tech coming)
Optional: Have indefinite ping on a LAN workstation set to 192.168.100.1 to monitor link condition to modem.Steps to avoid bug:
DO NOT set WAN NIC to "autoselect" if you have an SBG6580, leave at "Default" or if troubleshooting then set the speed/duplex required.If anyone can recreate this unstable gigabit WAN link symptom with their cable modem please reply.
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Just had a modem swap to an Arris DG2470 and confirmed the above bug happens with it also - so I suspect it has something to do with PfSense or the underlying FreeBSD 10.x kernel.