Hi all,
I'm bit lost after sitting a couple of long evenings trying to make my new setup to work. Actually I have never played with not standard other than ISP supplied Router/Modem box. My vision was to replace all in one router to a dedicated box as a modem that works as a dump bridge device. Dedicated box as a router that uses his WAN port to lease an external IP from ISP and if anything else it must to do. As a modem, I chose HC612 and router pFsense.
Now I'm in a situation that I've bought Huawey HG612, also I've got temporary pFsense VM in VMware ESXi host and hopefully I do understand how virtual networks and devices must be interconnected and not sure if I understand correctly how pFsense must be set up. And seems that nothing is really working. In other words - it's too many moving parts. So my ideas is that I need to make work one thing at the time.
1. To understand correctly how HG612 router/modem does works and other things related to it.
2. To make HG612 work on its own without the external router.
3. How to set-up HG612 as a modem only and offload routering works to my temporary pFsense Virtual Machine.
4. Make pFsense VM work with HG612 as a modem only.
5. When No.4 deployed successfully, move pFsense to stand alone box.
My ISP is EE broadband, Plan speed: ~60/20 Mbits. I'm next street to exchange box, quite close. They have internet settings displayed here https://ee.co.uk/help/help-new/broadband-and-landline/home-broadband/what-are-my-home-broadband-internet-settings
The details that I know is:
* protocol: PPPoE
* broadband username: PRODUCTIONHXXXXXXXXX@fs
* pass: HQXXXXXXXX
* authentication: CHAP
* internet IP address: DHCP
* MAC address: (leave blank/disabled)
* Multiplexing method: VC-Based
* Virtual circuit:
VPI=0
VCI=38
* Modulation: Multi mode
* Authentication: CHAP
* MTU (in case of problems with a third-party router, change MTU to): 1492If you would help me out with this, please? This would be a nice checklist for other beginners too. I even would like to speak with someone who has a clear idea how to make it work, please text me PM and we can have a chat. This would be very welcome and I would donate £ for some beer.
I would like to start with number one.
HG612 as router/modem basic and advanced stuff
I was never interested in how DSL broadband works. I understand that a modem is the first piece as Customer Premises Equipment and it converts two-wire media to Ethernet. And to make it work need some setting applied.
1.1 Do I understand it right that Huawey HG612 supplied by Openreach BT are pre-configured and configuration is injected in the firmware? As I read this that if you messed up and for simple setup, it needs to be reset to defaults and should work?
1.1.2 Reset when you pushing on the rested button when the router is powered (I call it soft reset) defaults the only configuration? Also, holding rested button when powering on will reset firmware? Or even will erase the firmware and will idle for the new firmware to be uploaded via the web interface on LAN2 accessible on 192.168.1.1?
1.2 If it's 1.1 true, also standard (or not flashed in any other way) configuration the device has no access to Web configuration page? As I received my box from ebay I could not access it via any IP, this was my doubt if this device works at all.
1.3 Firmware hacks are mostly just to get access to specific statistics and also to have access to Web configuration?
I don't mind to have some kind of extra statistics if it's possible. I did upload firmware B030SP08_webgui and after access config, via the web interface, I was a bit blown away from amount of configuration options that I'm not familiar with. Let's start with the Basic configuration.
1.4 DSL Configuration modulation type. I think is [VDSL2] as my plan is fibre 60/20Mbps. Or even would work if to select [ALL]. ? This was easy to get.
1.5 ATM. Should be one interface created called [atm1] with settings:
1.5.2 VPI/VCI: [0/38] as given per IS provider.
1.5.3 DSL latency: [Path0] as per default? I'm not sure what this relates?
1.5.4 DSL link type: [EoA] As my provider require PPPoE. (PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE), actually works "on top" of the EOA protocol.
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/DSL-302G/Router_Files/home/hag/help/eoa.ssi ) correct?
1.5.5 Encapsulation: [VCMUX] it stands for Virtual circuit multiplexing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_circuit_multiplexing this is required by my ISP (Multiplexing method: VC-Based).
1.6 PTM. I have no clue what this is. But according to defaults in my existing situation, there is interface [ptm1] created.
1.6.2 DSL latency: by default [Path0] Should I change it? What is related to?
1.6.3 PTM priority: by default [NormalPriority] Should I change it? What is this about?
1.6.4 Service type: by default [UBR Without PCR] and I guess it's ok, otherwise, there are more unknown fields to be entered. Let me know if I should change here somethings?
1.7 WAN. Where things are getting complicated and I even don't know where to start? :))
1.7.2 By default there are two interfaces created: [ptm1.101] and [ptm1.301] and only the first one is [Enabled]. If I understand right that ptm1.301 is required for ISP configuration TR069, and I don't need it and will be left in [Disabled] state? So I will configure the [ptm1.101]?
1.7.3 Layer2 interface: by default in drop down menu [ptm1/(1_0_1)] is selected. And it's [Enabled].
1.7.4 Service list: [INTERNET]?
1.7.5 Port binding: [LAN1] which is OK for me if I'm not planning anything else for now. ?
1.7.6 Now were things getting more complicated. Connection mode. [Route] or [Bridge].
1.7.7 So if to choose [Route] this device will become Modem with integrated router, which will serve NATing and IP leases with DHCP if required, and user name and password must be entered below in the same page, correct?
1.7.7.a Connection type: [PPPoE]? as required by ISP.
1.7.7.b WAN 802.1q: [Enable] for VLAN ID [101]? or not required? I finding many conversations that it's required for others is not. Where is the through? And WAN 802.1p [Enabled] too? with value [2] or I have seen somewhere [5]? Probably not very makes much difference?
1.7.7.c LAN 802.1q/p: probably not required for any simple case?
1.7.7.d NAT: [Enable] as this will serve more than one IP?
1.7.7.e User Name and pass: I have got it given by my ISP, they actually officially have listed it for customers.
1.7.7.f DHCP spoofing: I understand is for WAN side? and not required? Unless I would be installing DSL for the bank branch :)
1.7.7.g Authentication mode: [CHAP] as required by ISP recommendations. I just want to make sure this is exactly the place where I enable it?
1.7.7.h Dialing method: [Auto] this is standard for today's networks home networks.
1.7.8 If to choose an [Bridge] option, this device will lose the router's function and will function as Modem only? Correct?
1.7.8.a Bridge type: I guess [PPPoE_Bridged]? Because [IP_Bridged] therm doesn't make much sense for me what is for?
1.7.8.b DHCP transparent transmission: ?? Not sure if this required, hard to match it from this manual
https://support.huawei.com/enterprise/en/doc/EDOC1000177799/c1600117/configuring-a-router-to-transparently-transmit-dhcp-packets-through-a-cellular-interface 1.7.8.c WAN 802.1q: so again is [101] with dot1p value [2] or [5]? (or it may be necessary to apply it on external router?)
1.7.8.d LAN 802.1q/p: not required, correct?
1.8 LAN. I understand if [Route] chosen in WAN section then it's all required? Just not understand very last few bits in DHCP Server section. What WAN-side address allocation mode: [] [Normal] [Passthrough]? What this for and how it can be used? Is this relates somehow if I use the device as Modem only and router must obtain a public IP address, this is PPPoE thing? So its a bit grey area for me. ?
1.9 Advanced. I have no changes made in this section.
So far I have no luck to connect. I'm trying with my method described in 1.7.7 sequence. In logs I have {PPP dial-up failed: authentication failed}. This is with WAN 802.1q ID:101 If I'm not using it then I have only {PPP dial-up failed} without the extension {authentication failed}
Logs I have:
2000-1-1 0:0:57 Alert 104505 PPP dial-up failed: authentication failed
2000-1-1 0:0:41 Alert 104505 PPP dial-up failed
2000-1-1 0:0:26 Notice 104500 DSL activate succeed
2000-1-1 0:0:17 Debug 104500 LAN1 up
2000-1-1 0:0:14 Debug 104500 LAN2 up
I have tried some other configurations obviously unsuccessfully.
Thanks for any help in advance.