Noob setup help - 6x intel i226-V NIC Mini-PC

[beldecca]

I've been lurking and reading about firewalls and OPNsense for a while. Finally bit the bullet and picked up a mini PC to try and make my own server. Install went fine. Everything seemed fine with ports 1 & 2 for connection to my cable modem and out to my network. I went to enable ports 4 through 6 and nothing (routing to other devices & WIFI Access Point). I can't seem to find the right setting or something to make them turn on / function. I'm reasonably proficient in computer building, but a little new in networking and completely new in OPNsense. Any help/direction that someone can point me would be excellent.

Here is the mini-computer I purchased:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BWYYVWD4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Quad Celeron N5105, six (6) Intel i226-V LAN ports, 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD

[Monviech (Cedrik)]

Should the additional ports function like a bridge in the same network as Port 2?
https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/how-tos/lan_bridge.html

You can assign all recogniced NICs in "Interfaces: Assignments" in the GUI.

[CJ]

OPNSense install creates WAN and LAN interfaces with default firewall rules to block anything on WAN and allow anything on LAN.

If you want to add additional ports to LAN you need to set up a bridge, although you're probably better off just getting a switch instead.

If you want to have additional networks via the ports, such as a DMZ or segmenting your wired and wireless networks, then you need to set up and configure rules for them once you've assigned the interface as there are no defaults configured, which means nothing will connect out.

[beldecca]

Should the additional ports function like a bridge in the same network as Port 2?
https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/how-tos/lan_bridge.html

You can assign all recogniced NICs in "Interfaces: Assignments" in the GUI.

Yes, that's what I was planning on doing with them. I understood that with a multiple NIC computer, it could do it's own switching rather than adding an additional device.

[CJ]

Should the additional ports function like a bridge in the same network as Port 2?
https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/how-tos/lan_bridge.html

You can assign all recogniced NICs in "Interfaces: Assignments" in the GUI.

Yes, that's what I was planning on doing with them. I understood that with a multiple NIC computer, it could do it's own switching rather than adding an additional device.

It can but it's not designed for it.  You may run into bottlenecks causing speed loss that wouldn't happen with a dedicated switch.

ServeTheHome has series with a bunch of affordable 2.5g switches if you're concerned about price.