Hey guys, I’m hoping for some insight into how to set up my network. Feel free to let me know if this would be better in r/HomeNetworking!

Current setup

Currently, we have a very simply network setup - just a cheap modem/router/wifi combo that servers all of my roommates devices wirelessly, in addition to a line that I ran to a switch in my room.

https://preview.redd.it/hyhqizlan51c1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=5c7a8499fae3ecb0a6b03e1bd12514d32142d7d5

Work in progress

I have a small homelab set up with a backup server and some raspberry pis, but I want to experiment with selfhosting a website just to build my knowledge.

To this end, I’ve looked into setting up a pfSense box. Right now I have pfSense installed on a protectli device, which is connected to the Arris router in a LAN-to-WAN configuration:

https://preview.redd.it/1v1x2gzvn51c1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=3657751924bb653fe954ac6c9bd9e57dccd8723f

Ultimately, I’m trying to figure out the best way to set up the network for someone who is relatively new to networking. Ultimately I want

  1. To make sure I’m not interrupting my roommates’ internet
  2. To be able to access the self hosted website
  3. To do this all securely

Proposed network

The pfSense box has multiple NICs, so if my understanding is correct I can completely segment my devices from my roommates’. Additionally, I have a smart switch, so I’m hoping to set up separate VLANs for my devices accessible from outside the network, as well as IoT devices

https://preview.redd.it/0lzvphgeo51c1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=382f6bb24f32a9bc6ca4ff28c35b813f75b56a6d

Questions

I’m new to networking so any advice is much appreciated. I have a few specific questions, but I’m not sure if they cover all considerations I should be taking! In particular:

  1. Does my proposed network layout make more sense than just putting all my devices on the current LAN-to-WAN subnetwork I have? What needs to be done for this current setup to work - I can think only of port forwarding.
    1. Is one option better than the other for DDNS which I intend to setup with cloudflare?
    2. Is one option safer for my roommates’ devcies (I presume my proposed one is)

If relevant, no roommate devices will need to be able to talk to any of my devices (I think that’s what this pfSense Block RFC1918 Private Networks`option relates to?)

​

Thank you so much!

  • FiziksMayMaysOPBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Thanks for the comment! I’m not sure if the WAN is PPPoE on the pfSense box - is this something I configure or is it set by the ISP?

    Oh wait I think I see what you’re saying. My internet is through cable (not ethernet), so I think you are saying to do this:

    internet
   │
   ▼
modem
   │
   ▼
managed switch──────────────┐
    │                       │
    ▼                       ▼
arris router           pfSense box

    Isn’t this a problem because then the managed switch is on the ISP’s network?

    Also, you said that the WAN interfaces of both the arris router and pfsense should be in that managed switch, but then also (last bullet) that the router and pfsense plug their LAN output into the managed switch? Was that just a typo?