compile realtek network driver for pfsense 2.4.x

gistfile1.md

How to compile and install latest realtek network driver in pfSense 2.4.5-RELEASE-p1 (FreeBSD 11.3)

1. Download FreeBSD 11.3 VMDK and create a VM with it as HDD.

2. Get FreeBSD source tree for your exact FreeBSD version and uncompress it to /usr/src:

   fetch -o /tmp ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/`uname -s`/releases/`uname -m`/`uname -r | cut -d'-' -f1,2`/src.txz
   tar -C / -xvf /tmp/src.txz
   

3. Download latest Realtek network driver (you need to input any email address - a fake one will do!).

4. Uncompress driver:

   tar xvzf rtl_bsd_drv_v196.04.tgz
   

5. Make driver:

   cd rtl_bsd_drv_v196.04
   make
   

   1. If the last command fails, change the following line in file if_re.c

      From: #include <dev/re/if_rereg.h>

      To: #include "if_rereg.h"

6. Copy the file if_re.ko to the /boot/kernel folder in pfSense device.

   scp if_re.ko root@<pfSense device IP>:/boot/kernel

7. Change file permissions in if_re.ko file accessing through SSH to pfSense.

   chmod 555 /boot/kernel/if_re.ko

8. Modify /boot/loader.conf.local file and add the following line at the end of the file: if_re_load="YES"

   • Through console: vi /boot/loader.conf.local
   • Through web: Diagnostics > Edit File and click Load. When finished editing click Save.

9. Reboot pfSense.

10. After restart, verify if module is installed through ssh with kldstat. Example execution:

    [2.4.5-RELEASE-p1][root@pfSense.local]/root: kldstat
        Id Refs Address            Size     Name
         1   10 0xffffffff80200000 37191d8  kernel
         2    1 0xffffffff8391b000 d10a0    if_re.ko
         3    1 0xffffffff85bb5000 10c0     cpuctl.ko
         4    1 0xffffffff85bb7000 7028     aesni.ko
         5    1 0xffffffff85bbf000 c80      coretemp.ko
    

Based on:

• https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=c93krctgp8ueben00q7udbhqs6&topic=103841.105
• https://www.reddit.com/r/PFSENSE/comments/7n300s/solved_slow_internet_throughput_on_rogers_1gbs/

Relevant Netgate forum post

If driver loaded correctly system log (in web GUI under Status / System Logs / System / General) should include a line like this with the driver version number included:

re0: version:1.96.04

Copy of original Realtek BSD driver source link : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rMRo3fM9U-bSHLtpuGsbDY8oao00DSac/view?usp=sharing

NOTE: This seems no longer available from the vendor (at last check I got 404 errors)

Apparently can be compiled using FreeBSD 12.2-STABLE version for pfSense 2.5.x (but I have not tested personally).

Some more useful links :
https://ostechnix.com/how-to-enable-ssh-on-freebsd/
(this makes it easy to forward port 22 - need to enable as root BUT make sure VM has enough disk space!)
and
Backup of source code