192.168.0.x is a subnet that is not normally in use on my local network.
I am trying to install OPNSense (26.1) Firewall on a small system with an N350 CPU. I get it installed and it assigns device igc0 (an intel i226V chipset) to ip 192.168.1.1. I set up a laptop and/or or a desktop with static addresses on this isolated subnet (usually 192.168.1.3 or .4) and connect them to this firewall box. But I am unable to see the new device or connect to it using ssh or https. I have used several cables, tried to use direct point to point connections, and also tried to use an intervening MicroTik switch. None of this works. What is wrong?
I have a small display connected by HDMI that lets me see the the text-mode setup menu. A keyboard allows me to change settings, reboot, etc. But I have no way to open a serial console as the instructions suggest. I can open the shell, but I remember very few FreeBSD commands. However, 'ifconfig -a' shows that the interface is active and seems to be operating. Another, similar interface - igc1 - shows status 'no carrier'. It is not connected to any network at this point.
By running 'dmesg | less' I see nothing abnormal. The final entries seem to reflect only the igc0/igc1 UP and igc0/igc1 DOWN changes I expect when I exchange the ports. I really do not know enough BSD commands to diagnose the problem further.
What can I do?
OBTW, in case it matters, I did pay for a one year license.
Dave
By default on a fresh OPNsense installation you'll get the first port (igc0 in your case) configured as the LAN interface with 192.168.1.1 (subnet 192.168.1.0/24). Your second port (igc1) would be the WAN port, which it sounds like it's not able to get an internet connection yet. That's not needed if you're just trying to access OPNsense, anyway.
The DHCP server should already be running on OPNsense so you don't need any static config on your laptop.
Make sure you are connecting to the igc0 port and not any of the others. Hopefully your router has the first port marked in some way. They aren't always obvious or in left-to-right order.
Quote from: dooda on May 01, 2026, 11:08:30 PMI have a small display connected by HDMI that lets me see the the text-mode setup menu. A keyboard allows me to change settings, reboot, etc. But I have no way to open a serial console as the instructions suggest.
Since you already have a VGA console then the serial console should not be needed.
Quote from: dooda on May 01, 2026, 11:08:30 PMOBTW, in case it matters, I did pay for a one year license.
Doesn't matter here- this is a community support forum :) Though thank you for supporting them. We all benefit.
Since you paid for the business edition license, don't forget to switch your configuration to it once you have access to the OPNsense UI. The one you have installed now (26.1) is a Community edition. The latest Business edition is 26.4:
https://docs.opnsense.org/releases.html
You can activate your Business edition under System->Firmware->Settings
@OPNenthu: Thanks for the response. I was unaware that the initial install would provide DHCP. I was using statics in hope that it would make what is going on more visible. Perhaps it causes some problem.
I deliberately left the 'wan' port disconnected so that it wouldn't get assigned. Everything I read told me that this wouldn't cause a problem. I'm not ready yet to connect this thing to the real Wan.
There are also a couple of 10 Gb SFP+ that I have been trying to keep out of the picture. My ISP provides a fairly unconfabulated 2.5 Gb F-Dplx fiber connection. But they include a fiber -> 2.5 G conversion, so I don't need those ports right now.
I am most concerned that there is some problem with pre-installed drivers. But I see no indication of that so far. I don't know if there are particular logs that I should check.
Dave
I don't think setting a static IP would cause a problem. It's been a while since I did a fresh install but I think Dnsmasq is the default DHCP server now and as long as you took all the defaults during the installation and didn't change anything it should be set up already with a DHCP range for the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet.
During the installation the system might have asked you if you want to make manual interface changes or IP assignments. I'm assuming you didn't. In that case you should probably be seeing a screen like this:
https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/install.html#initial-configuration
Unfortunately you can't copy/paste because you're using VGA, but if you could take a picture or let us know what you see on the bootup screens maybe something will stand out.
The 'igc' driver for the i226V ports is very well supported in FreeBSD/OPNsense out of the box so at a bare minimum your LAN interface should be working, barring any problems with your hardware of course.
EDIT: You can replay the kernel messages with the "dmesg" command from the shell (menu option 8 when you log in as root). Use "dmesg | more" to page your way through with the space bar.