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Forum Discussion
Marnic
Mar 27, 2026Initiate
GS108E challenges
I'm taking my first steps with a Big Boy network, hoping to set up 4 VLANs behind OpnSense. However, I seem to be stumbling at the fundamental step of getting the switch working. Words of wisdom ...
- Mar 27, 2026
Marnic wrote:
3) Back to Basic 802.1Q VLAN.
a) Create new VLAN 'IoT', tag 10.
b) Set port 6 (the laptop) to this VLAN.
Now I can't even ping the switch!
$ ping 192.168.1.3
PING 192.168.1.3 (192.168.1.3) 56(84) bytes of data.
From 192.168.1.46 icmp_seq=10 Destination Host Unreachable
From 192.168.1.46 icmp_seq=11 Destination Host Unreachable
From 192.168.1.46 icmp_seq=12 Destination Host Unreachable
I... what? Surely setting a VLAN wouldn't lock me out from the management page?On the OPNsense adapter intended for the trunk, all the (four?) VLAN are [T]agged - or is there one VLAN [U]ntagged? In my experience, and here in the community, the majority of such issues are caused by the big, powerful firewall applinaces.
Scratch the Basic Dot1q approach - like this you can either define a port as Access Port [U]ntagged and the matching PVID, or as a Trunk Port (all [T]agged).
I'd suggest to use the advanced VLAN config instead. Properly configure access port #6 for the VLAN 10 as [U] and the PVID is set correct to 10 for the port #6? And on the port for the trunk, you can use one VID [U]ntagged with the appropriate same PVID.
Marnic wrote:
2) 'Communication Error.'
So, then I tried the Advanced VLAN. My steps were :
a) Click 'SWITCHING' -> 'VLAN' -> 'Advanced 802.1Q VLAN' -> 'ACTIVATE MODE', and continue past warning.
b) Click 'APPLY'.
I get a modal 'Advanced 802.1Q VLAN Communication Error.'. Other than a few CSS or JavaScript warnings and errors (all presentational as far as I can tell), there's nothing in the console.
How do I resolve this error? It crops up whenever I click the Apply button, regardless of what config changes I've made.Factory default the GS108E, and restart from scratch, enabling the Advanced mode, ...
Have deployed the current GS308E v1.00.11 firmware?
Using some "exotic" browser, or an industry standard Chrome or Firefox?
Marnic
Mar 27, 2026Initiate
I'll try your solution, but I don't know if my changes are being processed because 'Communication Error'. I'll keep plugging away, though.
schumaku wrote:the majority of such issues are caused by the big, powerful firewall applinaces.
I'm not sure my packets are even getting into the switch, let alone the firewall!
Huh. Setting a static IP as if the laptop were in the VLAN allows me to ping the firewall (the VLAN gateway is 192.168.10.1). So... the initial DHCP request or response is being mangled?
I dunno. I'm just banging rocks together, here.
A few moments later...
Progress! You were right about the firewall. While I had DHCP set up for the VLAN, it wasn't listening on the VLAN interface!
Thank you for the solution!
If you have any thoughts about problem 2), I'll gladly listen!
schumaku
Mar 28, 2026Guru - Experienced User
Marnic wrote:If you have any thoughts about problem 2), I'll gladly listen!
As asked before:
Have deployed the current GS308E v1.00.11 firmware?
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