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Introduction to a Self Managed Life: a 13 hour & 28 minute presentation by FUTO software
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=== 4. Finishing Up === At this point, the basic configuration is complete. You can now: # Unplug the monitor, keyboard, and mouse from your '''pfSense''' device. # Put away your keyboard and mouse. # Turn your cable modem off for a minute or two, and then plug it back in. Some modems get mad when you plug in a new router. <blockquote>'''NOTE:''' Configuring the LAN IPv4 address and subnet mask sounds confusing if you’re used to plugging in your 50 year old Linksys WRT54G & getting going. It’ll get easier with time, but for now, let’s go over what some of these pieces do. You can always come back to this later. '''What is the LAN IPv4 Address?''' The LAN IPv4 address is the IP address assigned to your router on your local network. All your devices from your computer, phone, or smart TV''(if you are reading this and still using a smart tv…)'' use that address as the “gateway” to get to the internet & also to communicate with each other. The default configuration is that pfSense assigns <code>192.168.1.1</code> as the LAN IP address. This is the norm for most routers. * This address is special because it tells devices where to send data when they want to leave your network. For example, if your PC needs to visit <code>apple.com</code>, it sends the request to the router’s LAN IP (<code>192.168.1.1</code>, otherwise known as the gateway), which then forwards it to the internet. * If you’re not changing anything, you can stick with the default (<code>192.168.1.1</code>). I change it because everyone uses <code>192.168.1.1</code>. If you use a VPN or other networks frequently, changing it to something like <code>192.168.5.1</code> can avoid headaches down the line. If I am trying to connect to <code>192.168.1.1</code> on my home network, but <code>192.168.1.1</code> is the gateway IP of the wifi router my phone is connected to at my friend’s house… you see where this gets confusing. '''What is a Subnet Mask?''' A subnet mask is what defines the “size” of your local network. Your LAN is like a neighborhood; the subnet mask is like a property line that goes over how many houses can fit in the neighborhood. * The default subnet mask for most home networks is <code>255.255.255.0</code>. This tells your router that there can be up to 254 devices(playstations, phones, computers, etc) connected to your network. That’s a lot. If you have more than 254 devices in your house, you’re probably not reading this guide. * This subnet mask is written abbreviated as <code>/24</code> because the first 24 bits (the <code>255.255.255</code> part) of the address are fixed while it’s only the last 8 bits are available for device addresses. '''Why Configure a Static LAN IP?''' When you assign a static LAN IP to your router, you’re making sure that its address never changes. It would make no sense to have a router IP that changes constantly. Your servers & devices all need to connect to the router, so keep the router where it is. Moving it around senselessly makes no sense. It would be akin to Walmart changing its address every day. * Imagine your router’s address was constantly changing. One moment it’s at <code>192.168.1.1</code>, and the next, it’s at <code>192.168.1.87</code>. Your devices would be as confused as I am when I call a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFVwQCFhKSE New York state tax office]. * By giving a static IP like <code>192.168.5.1</code> to the router, I’m making sure that everything in your network knows where to go. '''Step-by-Step explanation if you’re still confused:''' '''Set Interface IP Address:''' - When it asks you to “Set interface IP address,” this is where you’re assigning the LAN IPv4 address. Think of it as giving your router its permanent address in your local network. Enter <code>2</code> to configure the LAN interface. '''Configure the New LAN IPv4 Address:''' - Here, you’re telling '''pfSense''' what address you want to use for the router. For example, <code>192.168.5.1</code> makes your router accessible at that address. - Remember: This is the gateway address that all your devices will use to connect to the internet. Write it down somewhere because you’ll need it later to log in to the '''pfSense''' web interface. '''Enter LAN IPv4 Subnet Bit Count:''' - This is where you specify the subnet mask abbreviated. For most home setups, the bit count is <code>24</code>, aka <code>255.255.255.0</code>. This allows up to 254 devices to connect to your network. If you’re just starting out, stick with <code>/24</code>. - '''To keep it simple when you see <code>192.168.5.0/24</code> what they mean is everything from <code>192.168.5.1</code> to <code>192.168.5.254</code>. ''' - ''Why not use a bigger subnet?'' Because you’re reading a beginner’s guide. How about you get one device to work in your broom closet before going for over 254? '''IPv4 Upstream Gateway Address:''' - This is asking if your LAN interface needs a separate gateway to reach the internet. Since your router '''is''' the gateway for your LAN, just press Enter to leave this blank. - '''Your LAN doesn’t need to forward traffic anywhere else because the router handles it.''' '''Configure IPv6 Address for LAN Interface via DHCP6:''' - You’re not using IPv6. Forget about IPv6 for now. We’ll get to how this makes using your VPN a nightmare later on. If you are not a datacenter or a sysadmin for amazon web services, you have no need for ipv6 in your life at this stage. </blockquote> <span id="accessing-the-pfsense-web-interface"></span>
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