Process to add network card and move LAN

[MikeB]

My OPNsense firewall is running a Supermicro motherboard that has 6 embedded Intel x540 2.5gb ports that only run 1gb. Looking to add an x550-t2 card to run 10gbs to my network switch (LAN)  and 2.5gbs (its limitation) to my ISP cable modem hardware (WAN). Currently the WAN is ix0 and LAN is ix1.

What would be the process after installing the new ports that would easily change those ports to the new card? I think it should be simple but something is escaping me. Do I have to boot from console and adjust there after installing card?

Thanks

[CJ]

Firstly, double check that the x550-t2 supports 2.5.  Not all 10g cards do.

IIRC, the x550 uses a different driver(I forget the name), so you can install it and configure everything from the UI.  Log in like normal, go to the interface assignment page and change your LAN assignment to one of the x550 ports.  Once you hit apply you'll lose connectivity.  Switch the cable from the existing LAN port to the correct x550 port.  Things should come back up but you may have to bring your client interface down and back up.

Once that's done, you can repeat the process with the WAN port and the other x550 port.

The only time you'll run into issues is if you install or remove NICs that use the same driver, as that will cause the remaining ports to be renumbered, throwing off your existing assignments.

[MikeB]

Thanks CJ I'll give it a try. It was staring me right in the face use the dropdown on the interface and select the port you wand the LAN and WAN to be. OPNSense has been a joy to work with so far and it seems it keeps on giving.

I checked it out and the x540 does not work well but the x550 does 10gb and downward. I will try it and see.

Thanks
 

[CJ]

Hope it works well for you.  I ended up going with separate 10g and 2.5g cards due to what I had available.  The renumbering it caused was painful as I had to change some things besides just the assignments, but I don't recall the specific details.

[vpx]

The original post is confusing because the X540 controller does not support 2.5G. Could you please tell us the Supermicro mainboard model?