My ISP router connects to a firewall called PFSense, which then links to my computer's network switch.
My ISP router connects to a firewall called PFSense, which then links to my computer's network switch.
Hi there! The problem is that my internet service provider gives me a modem with both Wi-Fi and a LAN connection. All my hardwired network cables go to an old computer. This PC only has one firewall called PFsense, which sits behind a switch. The switch gives out IP addresses like 192.168.1.XXX for all the wired things, but it only allows you to log in at 192.168.1.1 for PFsense. On the other hand, my modem handles the Wi-Fi stuff and uses an address like 10.0.0.235 with a login of 10.0.0.1. Because of this mix-up, my computer and all my wireless devices can't talk to each other at all. For example, I can't share files or print from my iPhone using the wired printer on that network. Any ideas or help would be really appreciated.
Get a cheap router, plug it into your pfSense PC or switch. This lets you use pfSense's built-in WiFi radios. You should turn off WiFi on your ISP router. If you are really using pfSense for something and want to keep it running, then be careful. The problem is the standard NAT issue. Since the WiFi devices sit on the WAN side of pfSense, they don't have access to your LAN side network like normal internet users do.
Thanks a bunch mate, really appreciate it. I'll probably need to come back with some advice on how to set things up.
Does this go into the PFsense box? And do I need to turn off my internet connection on the IPS modem too? Something like: run ISPmodem as an AP, then select a new AP called PFsense, and finally switch.
You don't really need an actual AP. An AP is just something that can be powered by Ethernet cable so if you put one in the ceiling where there are no power outlets it will work fine. You basically just need a cheaper router and turn it on in AP mode. Most routers will do this, it only depends on which wifi radio bands your device needs. The newest wifi6e devices run on 2.4gigahertz, 5 gigahertz, and 6 gigahertz frequencies. Your best option is to tell the ISP router to work as a bridge but some you can't do that so just turn off those specific wifi radios. That way your device will only be able to connect to the new wifi in the AP. You would plug the AP into the pfSense box, but it depends on how many ethernet ports the pfSense has. Many boxes only have one internet port and one internal port, so you need a switch to link all those devices together. The wiring looks like this: your internet comes from the isp modem/router, connects to the pfSense box which is connected via a switch to the AP and then to all other devices.