PPPoE unstable from v25.1.3 to most recent v25.7.3_7

[Summit48]

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Describe the bug

PPPoE on v25.7 both previous and subsequent releases are extremely unstable, see log files.

To Reproduce

Clean installed v25.1 which appeared to be stable but running update took me to v25.1.12 which was unstable, see log files.
Clean installed v25.7 which was unstable, ran a couple of incremental updates but all were unstable.

Expected behavior

This is stating the obvious, but PPPoE should be stable and error free.

Describe alternatives you considered

Revert to v25.1 and continue testing.

Screenshots

If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.

Relevant log files

25.1 system.log
25.1.12 system.log
25.7 system.log
25.7.3_7 system.log

Additional context

I was initially testing with the Tailscale Plugin, but had a number of issues.
I removed Tailscale from the equation and discovered issues with PPPoE.
I will revert to v25.1 and recommence testing with and without Tailscale.

Environment

OPNsense: v25.1, v25.1.12, v25.7, v25.7.3_7
Hardware: Apple mac mini late 2014
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4278U CPU @ 2.60GHz (2600.07-MHz K8-class CPU)
Network:
bge0: Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Controller, ASIC rev. 0x57766001
bge1: Thunderbolt Ethernet, ASIC rev. 0x57766000

[fichtner]

If I had to guess it could be the bge driver... All I'm seeing is

2025-09-18T11:38:22	Notice	ppp	 [wan_link0] PPPoE: Connecting to ''
2025-09-18T11:38:22	Notice	ppp	 [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 16
2025-09-18T11:38:19	Notice	ppp	 [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 16 in 3 seconds
2025-09-18T11:38:19	Notice	ppp	 [wan_link0] LCP: Down event
2025-09-18T11:38:19	Notice	ppp	 [wan_link0] Link: DOWN event
2025-09-18T11:38:19	Notice	ppp	 [wan_link0] PPPoE connection timeout after 9 seconds

Which just means the PPPoE session is disconnected/unreachable but that is beyond our control because there is likely a physical or layer 2 error happening that causes the dropout.

[Summit48]

Have a look at the v25.1 system log, there are no PPPoE errors.

[fichtner]

I did. You are right.

[mimugmail]

With Intel Gigabit it runs fine, must be a bge driver problem.

[Summit48]

So what changed post v25.1?

Can support for the Broadcom NICs be resolved?

Is this in FreeBSD court or OPNsense?

[Summit48]

Changed the WAN Interface from PPPoE to DHCP and placed the Router in a Double NAT.

I ran a number of test and all were good on v25.7.3_7.

Installed Tailscale Exit Node and again it runs fine.

This issue appears to be specific to PPPoE on OPNsense rather than a broader Free BSD bge driver issue.

[fichtner]

Feel free to triage this further. I'm interested in actual specifics for "specific to PPPoE on OPNsense".

Thanks,
Franco

[mimugmail]

You could try it add a lagg interface and assign on bge. Then put PPPoE on top of LAN, this might work and would point the problem to the FreeBSD driver. As I dont have bge nic I cant reproduce

[Summit48]

As I said I clean installed v25.1 which appeared to have stable PPPoE, but running firmware update took me to v25.1.12 with unstable PPPoE.

I see there are a number of intermediate releases between v25.1 and v25.1.12 but without access to those intermediate releases I cannot narrow it down to the exact version where the PPPoE issue surfaced.

[fichtner]

But that's not entirely true, is it...

https://pkg.opnsense.org/FreeBSD:14:amd64/25.1/MINT/

Use firmware: settings: advanced: flavour "25.1/MINT/25.1.x/latest", save, check for updates and install each and retest (best with a reboot in between).

[Summit48]

Thank you for those very useful instructions.

I looks like v25.1.3 is when the PPPoE issue is first observed.

25.1.2 system.log
25.1.3 PPPoE breaks system.log

[Summit48]

So what changed post v25.1?

When I looked up the https://opnsense.org/roadmap/ I see the following.