Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Configuring DMZ hosting for my new pfsense , on my home router

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Routing and Multi WAN
    21 Posts 4 Posters 2.1k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • J
      johnytb @netblues
      last edited by

      @netblues
      Ok. So if my pfsense will keep stays behind my main isp router , and just act as an extra layer of protection, then why setting the main isp router to bridge-mode is recommended ??
      I even read on one of the forums that the pfsense would have a really hard time functioning when the main router is not in bridge mode. is it true ?

      N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • N
        netblues @johnytb
        last edited by

        @johnytb No, it is not.

        J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • J
          johnytb @netblues
          last edited by

          @netblues Ok thanks alot.
          so what about bridge mode and why everyone keeps recommend for it ? what are the benefits of it ?

          G 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • G
            Gblenn @johnytb
            last edited by Gblenn

            @johnytb said in Configuring DMZ hosting for my new pfsense , on my home router:

            @netblues Ok thanks alot.
            so what about bridge mode and why everyone keeps recommend for it ? what are the benefits of it ?

            I think it is because as soon as you want to be able to access anything of your own stuff, smart home devices, music server etc, or play games you host for friends. You typically need to open up ports in pfsense, or use UPnP.

            And setting the ISP router in bridge mode, pretty much removes that device from the equation giving you the public IP directly on pfsense WAN.

            Having pfsense in DMZ will give you almost the same thing, but there are still some minor things that will not work, like UPnP for example.

            N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • N
              netblues @Gblenn
              last edited by

              @Gblenn said in Configuring DMZ hosting for my new pfsense , on my home router:

              there are still some minor things that will not work, like UPnP for example.

              As a matter of fact, upnp works with dmz, but you need to provide the external ip in upnp configuration.

              Far too small print for the op though.

              G 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • G
                Gblenn @netblues
                last edited by

                @netblues said in Configuring DMZ hosting for my new pfsense , on my home router:

                As a matter of fact, upnp works with dmz, but you need to provide the external ip in upnp configuration.

                Well, it does and it doesn't... For some applications it seem to work but for gaming, not so much...
                In fact, with all the games I have tested in the Call of Duty series, none of them can connect when behind private IP, using STUN or providing outside IP. It's worse than having Strict NAT...

                The ONLY way I have managed to make it work is to fake a public IP on the WAN side of pfsense...

                N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • N
                  netblues @Gblenn
                  last edited by

                  @Gblenn Cod is a beast on its own.Only port forward will do the trick, and isn't straight forward

                  G 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • G
                    Gblenn @netblues
                    last edited by

                    @netblues Only port forward will get you half way... Static port is "the trick"...

                    N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • N
                      netblues @Gblenn
                      last edited by

                      @Gblenn Indeed, but still its port forward :)

                      p.s. Its been years since, but now I remembered

                      G 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • G
                        Gblenn @netblues
                        last edited by

                        @netblues And UPnP is also port forward.. just automagic. But as I said, never got it to work behind private IP using STUN. There is a feature request active to get a setting to allow UPnP to accept WAN with private IP though...

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • First post
                          Last post
                        Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.