No Internet: Troubleshooting AP Connected to pfSense

Rebuilding Network: Setting up pfSense Separate Device

In this article, we will discuss troubleshooting a network that is connected to an access point (AP) using pfSense as the main firewall. We assume that you have already set up your pfSense device with a WAN interface connected to a modem, and a LAN interface connected to a managed switch. We will also cover the steps to set up an old router, Netgear R7800, as an access point.

Setting up pfSense Device

To begin, you will need to set up your pfSense device. Connect your modem to the WAN interface and a managed switch to the LAN interface. Once connected, power on your pfSense device and complete the initial setup. This will include configuring basic settings, such as the network IP address, DHCP settings, and NAT settings. Once complete, you should be able to connect devices to the managed switch and access the internet.

Setting up Netgear R7800 as an Access Point

If you have an old router, such as the Netgear R7800, you can use it as an access point. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Reset the router to its factory settings.
2. Connect the router to the managed switch.
3. Access the router's web interface.
4. Disable the DHCP server.
5. Change the router's IP address to a different subnet than the pfSense device. For example, if the pfSense device has an IP address of 192.168.1.1, you can set the router's IP address to 192.168.2.1.
6. Save the changes and reboot the router.

Once complete, you should be able to connect devices to the Netgear R7800 and access the internet. Note that any devices connected to the Netgear R7800 will be isolated from devices connected directly to the managed switch. This is because the Netgear R7800 has its own DHCP server, which is why we disabled it in step 3.

Troubleshooting AP Connected Network

If you are experiencing issues with your AP connected network, here are some steps you can take:

1. Check that all cables are securely connected.
2. Check that the WAN interface on the pfSense device is connected to a working modem.
3. Check that the LAN interface on the pfSense device is connected to a working managed switch.
4. Check that the pfSense device has the correct network settings, including the IP address, DHCP settings, and NAT settings.
5. Check that the Netgear R7800 has the correct IP address and is not conflicting with any other devices on the network.
6. Check that devices can connect to the Netgear R7800 and have access to the internet.

• Rebuilding a network with pfSense as the main firewall involves setting up the WAN interface to connect to a modem and the LAN interface to connect to a managed switch.
• An old router, such as the Netgear R7800, can be used as an access point.
• To set up the Netgear R7800 as an access point, reset it to its factory settings and disable the DHCP server.
• Troubleshooting AP connected network includes checking cables, network settings, and device connectivity.

References

• PfSense: The Definitive Guide by Christopher Buechler and Jim Pingle

• Netgear R7800 Access Control guide

• Official pfSense documentation