Setting up a PfSense box

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slvR

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Greetings all,

I have an old Intel PC that I setup to run as a PfSense router for my home. The setup should look like this;

Wall Jack->Modem->PfSense Router->Devices

The router has 2 NICs and a Wireless N card to achieve this. PfSense has been installed and I can access the webui and maker changes to the config. What I need to find out is the config between the modem and the router to have the router dial in the connection through the modem for easy change of logins in the event I need to.

The modem I have it the Dlink 2500U

Assume no IPs have been assigned to any device, what would be the cleanest setup?

Thanks!
Mike
 
Don't use PfSense myself but it should be as simple as putting the DSL-2500U into bridge mode and letting PfSense handle the rest.
 
MickZA said:
Don't use PfSense myself but it should be as simple as putting the DSL-2500U into bridge mode and letting PfSense handle the rest.
Click to expand...

If the modem is set to bridge mode what will the IP I need to set on the router be? 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.0.2?
 
Here is a quick way to create multiple PPPoE connections so it's easy to switch between them.

1. Set the IP on the D-Link router to any unique IP you want, as long as you turn off the DHCP server on it. It will be easier to put it on the same subnet as your PfSense box so you can easily get into the router config. For instance if your PfSense box is 192.168.0.1, you can set the router to 192.168.0.2.

2. Turn off the DHCP server on the D-link and set it to bridged mode.

Screenshot%202014-04-18%2015.37.38.png


3. Connect the D-Link to the WAN interface on the PfSense box.

4. Connect your PC to the LAN interface.

5. Log in to your PfSense box, under interfaces select "(assign)".

Screenshot%202014-04-18%2015.40.24.png


6. Click the PPPs tab and press the plus (+) button.

7. Change Link type to PPPoE and select the interface your router is connected to (WAN interface), put in your ISP details. Click save.

Screenshot%202014-04-18%2015.40.55.png


8. Go back to "(assign)" under Interfaces menu and click the dropdown box on your WAN connection and select the newly created PPP you just created. Click apply.

Screenshot%202014-04-18%2015.46.28.png



Voila, easy way to switch connections or create multiple WAN interfaces (using the same interface) to dial multiple PPPoE connections like my screenshot above.
 
Woodlands said:
I love you.
Click to expand...

Can you cook? :D

Anyway, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what you can do with Pfsense. Once you start using it you'll wonder how you could have ever got by using the crappy firmwares on consumer routers.

The options on pfSense are endless, for instance one nice thing I'm doing now because I'm using an Openweb and AH account, is to use both the AH and IS news servers and just route them accordingly on the firewall. I also set up a schedule so that all NNTP will be routed through the AH capped account during the day and then switches over to the OW account after hours.

The shaper is also pretty good if you need it.
 
All setup and working like a beast :D
Thanks to all who contributed and enjoy your weekends'!
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Can you cook? :D

Anyway, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what you can do with Pfsense. Once you start using it you'll wonder how you could have ever got by using the crappy firmwares on consumer routers.

The options on pfSense are endless, for instance one nice thing I'm doing now because I'm using an Openweb and AH account, is to use both the AH and IS news servers and just route them accordingly on the firewall. I also set up a schedule so that all NNTP will be routed through the AH capped account during the day and then switches over to the OW account after hours.

The shaper is also pretty good if you need it.
Click to expand...

Just a quick question on this. I've been reading a bit about this since your post and have been thinking of using esxi on my hp microserver to do openmediavault/pfsense.

If I went the latter route would I require two nics and thus would I need to get another network card? Also as far as I can gather wifi is limited on freebsd and still resticted to wireless g so it can't be an all in one solution right?

Not sure If you have this type of setup but you seem to explain things better then the pfsense elitists.

thx
 
Doodler said:
Just a quick question on this. I've been reading a bit about this since your post and have been thinking of using esxi on my hp microserver to do openmediavault/pfsense.

If I went the latter route would I require two nics and thus would I need to get another network card? Also as far as I can gather wifi is limited on freebsd and still resticted to wireless g so it can't be an all in one solution right?

Not sure If you have this type of setup but you seem to explain things better then the pfsense elitists.

thx
Click to expand...

I don't have any experience with setting up PfSense on Esxi, but it's a popular option so I don't see you having any issues. I would most definitely recommend two NICs, you can get it done with a single interface but it would be a pain.

Check here: https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/PfSense_2_on_VMware_ESXi_5

I also don't run my Wifi direct on my pfSense box, but I highly doubt it's limited to G, I know you have to select your hardware carefully though. I would check in the pfSense forums for more on this.
 
Dr Zoidberg, could I set it up to switch to AccountA during the day and automatically switch to AccountB at say 5pm and then back to AccountA at 8am? I tried this with cron but it didn't work out too well. It didn't connect when the WAN interfaces switched.
Could you share how you did it?
Thanks<3

DrJohnZoidberg said:
The options on pfSense are endless, for instance one nice thing I'm doing now because I'm using an Openweb and AH account, is to use both the AH and IS news servers and just route them accordingly on the firewall. I also set up a schedule so that all NNTP will be routed through the AH capped account during the day and then switches over to the OW account after hours.

The shaper is also pretty good if you need it.
Click to expand...
 
I am running 2 ESXi 5 HOSTS. The one I am busy configuring is to run pfSense on. (Have a look for more technical doco on http://aubreykloppers.wordpress.com)

You do not need two nics, you can use the same PHYSICAL nic and 'fake' that you have more than one nic within the ESXi box. I did write a driver (it is now in the ESXi kernal, but you can see more on the WordPress and VM's site about the driver) to get a VERY CHEEP R90.00 dLink card into ESXi. You can even load 20 cards into a machine if you have the slots :)

I also write technical documentation on OpenElec, OpenMediaVault, VM and pfSense. Just search for "cyber7", else pop me a request on FB: https://www.facebook.com/aubrey.kloppers and I will gladly assist.

cyber7-out (aka Aubrey, Cape Town)
 
Woodlands said:
Dr Zoidberg, could I set it up to switch to AccountA during the day and automatically switch to AccountB at say 5pm and then back to AccountA at 8am? I tried this with cron but it didn't work out too well. It didn't connect when the WAN interfaces switched.
Could you share how you did it?
Thanks<3
Click to expand...

So this is a bit of a thread revival although I do not want to create a new thread.

Any feedback regarding the above - being able to schedule PfSense to switch between accounts at specific times automatically?

If so then I need to get myself another NIC and setup PfSense! :D
 
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