Cannot access any of my PCs in my network

[foxint]

Hi guys. Thank you for having this forum it makes an impossible task almost possible.
Thank you.

Looks like with OPNsense in the chain, I am unable to connect to any PC in my network. It is only me - 1 user.

I have just set up a basic OPNsense setup: (I have done the minimal).
ISP Modem > OPNsense PC WAN: OPNsense LAN> Switch – IS THIS SETTING CORRECT?

(OPNsense LAN 192.168.100.1 ISP modem 192.168.1.1)

All other PC’s are connected to the Switch.

(Just as a test, I took the OPNsense and the router out of the system and I can access the PC's via the switch.)

Now I cannot connect to any PCs in my network while using OPNsense.

I disconnected the OPNsense PC LAN from the Switch and still I cannot access any PC’s that are connected to the switch.
I then connected the Switch to my ISP router, and I can connect to the PCs on the network.

I then connect the OPNsense LAN to the switch.
From my PC ethernet 2 the Network swaps from Network 2 (102.168.1.3) to Network 5 (192.168.100.10) - when using OPNsense
When I disconnect the cord from OPNsense LAN my PC Network swaps to Network 2.

I can only connect to my networked PC via Network 2 and ONLY with the cord from the switch to the ISP router. Without this cord I cannot connect to anything on my network.

What have I done, not done.?

Yes, I am new and yes, I am not good at this.

Thank you.

(As a test I removed the OPNsense PC and connections and the router and I can access the PC’s on the network)

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Did you adjust the DHCP settings for the 192.168.100.x network?

Services > DHCPv4 > LAN ...

[foxint]

Hi Patrick

Thank you. Nice to see you back

Yes

[Patrick M. Hausen]

So your PCs are all plugged into the same switch? How is the system from which you try to "access" them connected? Same switch?

[foxint]

Thank you.

My main PC is connected to the same switch as are all the other PC’s. The other PC;s provide backup and host a programme that likes to be on it own.

[cookiemonster]

when you put opn in play and remove the isp router, did you get your devices to request a new dhcp lease? if not, they're still with the old ip range assignment.

[foxint]

Thank you.

“when you put opn in play and remove the isp router, did you get your devices to request a new dhcp lease”.  I do not know.

Take out ISP modem/router – not connected to anything. Now

*OPN WAN to Internet (my ISP modem/router is not connected to anything)
*OPN LAN to Switch

*Main PC to Switch……………….It took some time, but I have the internet. I updated OPN to 23.1.
But still cannot get to see my other PC’s on the network.


I have now disconnected the OPN LAN. Internet works, but cannot connect to my other PC’s. Then the internet stops.
Unplug all OPN cords, reconnect ISP Modem/Router. All working, Internet & other PC’s.
What have I done??

[cookiemonster]

I fail to understand the setup to be able to tell what could be happening.
What you want to do is pretty much what you had done.
isp modem --- WAN OPNSense --- LAN --- Switch --- LAN Clients
Remember once OPN is setup, the client to client traffic on the LAN will only go through the switch, OPN is not involved.
For this to work, each client has to request a DHCP lease (assuming DHCPv4 for simplicity). Each request shall be responded to by OPN with a lease on the network you setup, like 192.168.10.1/24 network. Then each client will have an ip address in that range and can "see" each other.
How to get each client to request a new dhcp lease depends on their Operating system. If you don't know how or can't, then a reboot might be needed. When it boots, it will request a lease.

[foxint]

Cookie monster – thank you.

I have done a very basic OPN setup. I think I have missed steps (and I do not know what I have missed).

I have not told OPN about any of the PC’s. I do not know if this is needed or how to do this. Is this needed. I watched a very confusing video where this bloke set up things like IOT and Printer, but it went right over my head.

I have not touched DCHP and not sure if I should or how.

The other 5 PC’s are accessed heedlessly and they do not go out into the internet except the PC that downloads stuff.

I am also very confused that I have to disable then enable the network adaptor when I want to use OPN and the IP address changes to 192.168.100.x while on the modem/router I use 192.168.1.144.

Also, since I have engaged OPNsense my static IP address from the PC is not being assigned even when the OPNsense programme/PC is disconnected. I have set up the static IP address that are assigned by the modem.
Any suggestions.?

[cookiemonster]

It's the other way around. OPN doesn't need to be told about the pcs. The pcs need to be told that there is a new device coordinating things in the network. There must have been a device doing the dhcp server duties before opn.
You mention a modem.
Can you confirm what network devices you have been using so far.  What I mean is if:
Is it an ISP provided or your own router, something else?
Since you mention modem, do you know if the modem is still doing its thing and not working as a router as well as a modem?
Are you on a cable connection and if not, what technology is used to deliver data to your home?
Can you share what your provider is and country?

[foxint]

Hi Cookiemonster.
Thank you.

I will start with the Internet. I am in Australia and my provider is LeapTel.

Internet: I have a box (we call it a NBN Box) that is connected via copper to fibre at the kerb. I connect this box into the WAN port of my modem/router (NetcommWireless).

NetcommWireless connects to the switch, and this allows me to connect to the Internet and my PC’s.

My gut feeling is the NBN box is making life difficult.

I think, and this is not 100% sure, that I connected to the internet via my OPN-PC without the NetcommWireless and without putting in any ISP credentials – I have no idea what these are, but I am assuming they are in the NetcommWireless somewhere.

Thanks Dan

[cookiemonster]

this is useful. A glance at their website has good information https://leaptel.com.au/getting-connected/
https://leaptel.com.au/byo-router-requirements/   . I couldn't find there a specific NBN Box for their specs.
But it seems the way your device establishes a connection to their network is either PPoE or DHCP over IPoE.
So if you haven't entered creds in OPN, it suggests that it used DHCPoE. So your NetcommWireless box in your house was most likely a router.
Now, when yout replace this box with OPN, you need to configure it to be your new router.
You need to use the documentation for OPN to setup DHCP. I would go with DHCPv4 at least for now if you can.
High level: go to Services > DHCPv4. There find the interface called "LAN". This is set while setting up OPN for the first time, when you chose what NICs to use. You would have chosen one for WAN and one for LAN.
See that you have ticked "Enable DHCP server on the LAN interface".
There under "range" chose your range of ips, for example 192.168.100.10 - 192.168.100.100.
Save.
Now OPN is ready to issue ip addresses in this range to your clients that connect to this interface via your switch, that is plugged into the interface.
Then you need to have the clients request that new ip. At that point they will be reachable amongst themselves.