Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
Reply

Pfsense Nighthawk R6990P

Batman-15
Tutor

Pfsense Nighthawk R6990P

I want to start off with the fact that I am not a network engineer. With that said I would like to use PFsense as a firewall connected to my NightHawk 6900P router. I have not purchased PFsense because I have a few questions that I can't seem to get a straight answer to and was hoping that possibly some of you more Lerned users can you provide me with some guidance.

1. My NightHawk 6900P router is configure as a DHCP server with a LAN and a guest LAN. Has anyone installed PFsense and attached it to a router supporting both a LAN and a guest LAN? If yes, did you leave the router in Router mode or did you have set it to Bridge mode?

2. Has anyone configured PFsense solely as a firewall leaving the routing DHCP and LAN & guset LANs functionality on the router?

I have attached a picture of what I am trying to accomplish in hopes that will help better communicate.

Thanks very much in advance for any help in guidance.

Message 1 of 6
antinode
Guru

Re: Pfsense Nighthawk R6990P

> [...] PFsense [...]

 

   I know nothing about it.  Does it act as a NAT router?  Cascading
multiple routers can cause multiple problems.

 

> [...] did you leave the router in Router mode or did you have set it
> to Bridge mode?

 

   What, exactly, does "Bridge mode" mean to you?  If you mean
configuring the R6990P as a wireless access point, then that would be
inconsistent with a "guest network".

 

      https://kb.netgear.com/26765

 

> 2. Has anyone configured PFsense solely as a firewall [...]

 

   Not I, obviously.  But that sounds like what you want to do.

 

> I have attached a picture [...]


   Is "Spectrum Modem" a simple modem, or a modem+router, or what,
exactly?

Message 2 of 6
Batman-15
Tutor

Re: Pfsense Nighthawk R6990P

Thank you very much for your reply and questions please see my responses below:

First I have not purchased the Netgate router firewall because I am trying to determine if it will work in my current network configuration using my current router.

1. Does it act as a NAT router?

From the online documentation I've read about the Netgate router firewall, YES it can act as a nat router.

2. Did you leave the router in Router mode or did you have set it to Bridge mode?

I haven't changed my routers configuration yet but it has three modes: router mode, access point mode and bridge mode.

I would like to maintain as much feature functionality as I can with my Netgear router. I.e. guest network, DHCP server, armor protection, Port forwarding etc. etc. So I'm trying to figure out which mode I should set my router to that will will keep the most functionality of my router.

3. What, exactly, does "Bridge mode" mean to you?  If you mean configuring the R6990P as a wireless access point, then that would be
inconsistent with a "guest network".

I apologize for stating bridge mode in m original post.  I should've qualified it with either AP mode or bridge mode. Which ever one will keep the most functionality of my router.

Message 3 of 6
antinode
Guru

Re: Pfsense Nighthawk R6990P

> I am trying to determine if it will work in my current network
> configuration using my current router.

 

   I know nothing about your "my current network configuration" or your
"my current router".

 

> I haven't changed my routers configuration yet but it has three modes:
> router mode, access point mode and bridge mode.

 

>    What, exactly, does "Bridge mode" mean to you? [...]

 

   Still a mystery.

 

> I would like to maintain as much feature functionality as I can with
> my Netgear router. I.e. guest network, DHCP server, armor protection,
< Port forwarding etc. etc. [...]

 

   Those are all router functions; they don't work in non-router modes.

 

>       https://kb.netgear.com/26765


   Did you read it?

 

> [...] I should've qualified it with either AP mode or bridge mode.
> Which ever one will keep the most functionality of my router.

 

   That doesn't answer the question.

 

>    Is "Spectrum Modem" a simple modem, or a modem+router, or what,
> exactly?

 

   Also still a mystery.  This whole Q&A thing often works better if
every Q gets an A.  Look for "?".

Message 4 of 6
Batman-15
Tutor

Re: Pfsense Nighthawk R6990P

Thank you for your responses, but you're not really helping as I have supplied a picture and all the detail I can to this point. I understand you don't have any experience with the netgate firewall router, but your response/questions do not really address the information I am looking for.

Message 5 of 6
antinode
Guru

Re: Pfsense Nighthawk R6990P

> [...] you're not really helping [...]

 

   Of course not.  I can't get a straight answer to a simple question.


> >    What, exactly, does "Bridge mode" mean to you? [...]

 

> > Is "Spectrum Modem" a simple modem, or a modem+router, or what,
> > exactly?

 

   Does it have a maker?  Model number?  Any useful information at all?

 

> [...] I have supplied a picture and all the detail I can to this
> point. [...]

 

   Then there would seem to be no hope.

Message 6 of 6
Top Contributors
Discussion stats
  • 5 replies
  • 2433 views
  • 0 kudos
  • 2 in conversation
Announcements

Orbi WiFi 7