In this post, we'll be looking at how to setup a local PPPoE server on an EdgeRouter and the process involved. In this example, we have two EdgeRouter X devices connected together with a Ubiquiti wireless link in-between, which the EdgeRouter X can power up from port 4.

We'll be skipping the setup process of the NanoStation link here, as we have other guides on our YouTube channel and here on the support centre outlining how to do this.

The setup consists of two Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X devices, one as a PPPoE server and the other as a simple router, with WAN on eth4 powering up the NanoStation AC. Between the two routers we have a wireless link, to simulate a WISP style connection.

Both NanoStation AC devices are in bridge mode and connected in the most simple way possible. There also won't be any VLANs in use, this is just to simulate a PPPoE server on EdgeOS and connecting a client device.

First, log into your EdgeRouter after it has been factory reset and click 'No' when it asks about using the wizard.

Next, we'e going to move our main WAN connection to eth0. In my setup, I have the EdgeRouter X powered from 24v passive PoE and will eth4 going to the NanoStation, with PoE passthrough enabled.

To do this, click on 'Actions' for eth0

Then, click on 'Config' from the drop down

Next, click on the drop down box and select 'DHCP'

EdgeOS does let you setup the PPPoE server from the main GUI, however this is only if you are using a remote radius server to take care of the PPPoE username and password details. For this guide, we'll be using the config tree, as Ubiquiti moved the local config settings there a while back.

Now that eth0 has been reassigned to become our uplink or WAN, the next job is to setup the PPPoE server from the config tree.

First, go to the 'Config Tree' tab

Then, click on 'service'

Then, open 'pppoe-server'

Next, a few fields will appear that we need to fill in. Under 'mtu' enter in 1480 and then for 'interface' click '+ Add' and type in an interface name, for this example I will be using eth4 on the EdgeRouter X.

Once done, it should look like this

Next, select 'authentication' and in the box for 'mode' enter in the word 'local'

It should look like this

Next, we need to set up a local user in order to connect it via PPPoE. To do this, click on 'local-users'

Then, click on 'username'

Click 'Add' to add the first username

Type in the first username, in this example we used 'user001' and then click 'Update List'

Click on the new user on the left hand side

Next, choose a password for the PPPoE user - the static IP address box is optional, we won't be using it in this example

Next, click on 'dns-servers'

Enter in two DNS servers, these will be handed out via PPPoE to the CPE

Next we need to setup a client IP pool, from which the EdgeRouter will hand out IP addresses to clients, a bit like DHCP.

To do this, click on 'client-ip-pool'

Enter in a start and stop IP address, which must be within a /24 subnet

Once done, click on 'Preview' - the EdgeRouter will outline all the changes made and then you can click 'Apply'

Once you see the following message, everything is good to go - if you see an error, check back each step above to see if anything has been missed

Now we need to check if the PPPoE server is actually working or not. A good way to visually check is to check the PPPoE tab within the main GUI of EdgeOS. To check this go back to 'Services'

Then, click on 'PPPoE'

Make sure the following section has this filled in

Next, we are going to do a test PPPoE connection to the EdgeRouter. To do this, plug a macOS or Windows PC into the port assigned to the PPPoE server, in our case this is eth4.

Follow this guide for dialling out a PPPoE session on Windows

Follow this guide for dialling out a PPPoE session on macOS

If this test works, then you can continue to the next guide 'Setting up an EdgeRouter CPE for PPPoE'

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