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    Accessing the PFSENSE console in an AWS instance

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • stephenw10S Offline
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Success? 👍

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      • dareysD Offline
        dareys
        last edited by

        Hello Stephen,

        One small step for me, one giant leap for my security! LOL

        Yes, I was able to access the serial console on AWS, it was a lot easier than with SSH, thank you for the help.

        I changed the login credentials, accessed pfsense in the CLOUD and I am in the process of configuring it (load packages, etc.). I don´t khow to or if configuring the LAN interfaces is a requirement to configuring the VPN.

        So I am reading the documentation to complete the setup and start enjoying the added protection.

        Any and all tips are wellcome, thank you.

        Jean-Pierre (JP)

        PS As far as the SG-2440, like I said a challenge finding someone competent and willing to replace the IC ... no progress there.

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        • stephenw10S Offline
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          You only need one NIC configured to act as an VPN server.

          dareysD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • dareysD Offline
            dareys @stephenw10
            last edited by

            @stephenw10 Sure, I don't have a pro installation, no secondary NIC on my equipment nor in the cloud, just trying to figure out the difference between setting up a LAN on my local network vs LAN in the AWS cloud.

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            • stephenw10S Offline
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              Deppends what your goal is here really?

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              • dareysD Offline
                dareys
                last edited by

                Stephen,

                Thank you for the response, I realize I should probably open a new thread.

                I am trying the PFSENSE on AWS Software as a Service.

                I am by no means an expert at security/networking, I am just trying to protect my home office, dealing with a considerable learning curve, several unexpected problems e.g. my SG-2440 is fried, etc.

                I am getting help from directly from NETGATE tomorrow but I am doing my homework and might set it up by myself, I got this far didn´t I, it can´t be that complicated, there are instructions for everything.

                Thank you.

                Jean-Pierre

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                • stephenw10S Offline
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  Hmm, well to use a cloud based firewall like that you would need to redirect all your traffic through it. That means setting up a VPN from AWS to something at your home office, usually a router there.

                  Running pfSense in AWS would usually be as a VPN server or to protect other VMs running in AWS behind it.

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                  • dareysD Offline
                    dareys @stephenw10
                    last edited by

                    @stephenw10 Hello Stephen, that is correct, however, the VPN software can run on your local machine, no need for hardware there. I will send a diagram as soon as I find it.

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                    • stephenw10S Offline
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                      last edited by

                      Yes, you can certainly do that. A lot of people setup something like that for connecting back to when using public wifi etc

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                      • dareysD Offline
                        dareys @stephenw10
                        last edited by

                        @stephenw10 Yes. I am doing this because 1. My SG-2440 is fried 2. When I succeed I take the service with me wherever I go (hardware independence). Obviously, it is much better to have a router in the cloud and on premise, that is why I am fixing my SG-2440. Also, I can help others I already have a couple of people interested. See the possible architectues below. FYI ![alt text](![image url](image (1).png image url))

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                        • w0wW Offline
                          w0w @dareys
                          last edited by

                          @dareys
                          Is that what are you looking for?

                          Has the microchip already been desoldered? Theoretically, the firewall should already be loading if the problem was indeed in the chip.

                          dareysD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • dareysD Offline
                            dareys @w0w
                            last edited by

                            @w0w No, it has not, I will be getting the device back this week.

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                            • stephenw10S Offline
                              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                              last edited by

                              Indeed as I said on the other thread, a bad PHY would not stop the console working or the BIOS POSTing. It's almost certainly a bad CPU IMO. 😞

                              dareysD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • dareysD Offline
                                dareys @stephenw10
                                last edited by

                                @stephenw10 Thank you for the feedback. In other words, not worth the time to continue troubleshooting?

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                                • stephenw10S Offline
                                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                  last edited by

                                  Probably not. Unfortunately.

                                  Other than for interest.

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                                  • dareysD Offline
                                    dareys
                                    last edited by

                                    I understand. A good side project, time permitting, as well as an opportunity to learn more about hardware. ...

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                                    • dareysD Offline
                                      dareys @dareys
                                      last edited by dareys

                                      @dareys Thank you everyone for the help. I now have setup a NETGATE Pfsense VPN running on AWS, as per the diagram on the right, temporarily freeing me from the local hardware requirement. FYI. 116a288b-9f35-4994-8f3b-fe6f75acf15a-imagen.png

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