Using Existing Wireless Routers with pfSense

An existing wireless router may be used with a pfSense® appliance in the following way:

  1. Give the wireless router a LAN IP Address in the same subnet as the pfSense interface it will be plugged into (Likely LAN, maybe OPTx)

    Note

    This must be different than the pfSense IP address in that subnet. For example, if the pfSense LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1, give the wireless router a LAN IP address of 192.168.1.2.

  2. Turn off DHCP on the wireless router, as the pfSense router will serve that role.

  3. Connect an ethernet cable from the SWITCH or LAN side of the wireless router to the proper pfSense interface (LAN or OPTx), or into the same switch as that interface.

Wireless clients should be able to associate with the wireless AP, and then obtain their IP address/gateway/etc from the pfSense router.

Tip

Do not use the internet or WAN port on the wireless router. If running firmware on the wireless router that can bridge the WAN port to the others, it may be used in that configuration.