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    Public IPs for machines behind pfsense

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Virtualization
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    • D
      dLockers
      last edited by

      lol. I was partly right (it was A server flavour, right?  :D :D :-*).

      It's still bad practice to give a host a public IP.

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      • johnpozJ
        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
        last edited by

        "It's still bad practice to give a host a public IP."

        Not if its a public server, say Web Server ;)  Email Server, FTP Server, etc. etc. etc..

        If the host is connected to the public net to provide something to the public net then yes it would need a public IP.

        So your suggesting that every server should be behind a NAT?

        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
        If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
        Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
        SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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        • D
          dLockers
          last edited by

          @johnpoz:

          "It's still bad practice to give a host a public IP."

          Not if its a public server, say Web Server ;)  Email Server, FTP Server, etc. etc. etc..

          If the host is connected to the public net to provide something to the public net then yes it would need a public IP.

          So your suggesting that every server should be behind a NAT?

          For additional protection I'd say so. Otherwise you are putting all your faith in software firewall solutions.

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          • johnpozJ
            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
            last edited by

            "Otherwise you are putting all your faith in software firewall solutions."

            Again more FUD!!  Just because a host has a public IP, does not mean its not behind a firewall that is not doing NAT.

            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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            • D
              dLockers
              last edited by

              @johnpoz:

              "Otherwise you are putting all your faith in software firewall solutions."

              Again more FUD!!  Just because a host has a public IP, does not mean its not behind a firewall that is not doing NAT.

              How about stop being a dick, and explain then? I'm here to learn as much as everyone else.

              I have always been told to use NAT and put servers on a separate LAN. Without putting special configurations, I didn't know you could firewall effectively if you have a DMZ'ed host with a public IP.

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              • johnpozJ
                johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                last edited by

                Not trying to be a "dick" I assure you - its just that your statements are FUD..  If you are not sure then you should word them as questions and not what "seems" to be a FACT in your mind?

                example.
                –--

                So your suggesting that every server should be behind a NAT?

                For additional protection I'd say so. Otherwise aren't you just putting all your faith in software firewall solutions on the host?.
                –--

                Not sure what firewalls you have worked with in the past, but I assure you you do not have to be behind a nat to process rules that either allow or deny access.   Not sure where you would of gotten that idea other than maybe home type routers, and normally those routers don't even really create a real DMZ, more of what they call a DMZ Host  - which is just the forwarding of ports that are not otherwise forwarded already.

                More than happy to help you with any questions you have..  Who told you this "I have always been told to use NAT and put servers on a separate LAN"..  This is just FUD plain and simple.

                I think its already been brought up - if this is your understanding, what do think will happen with IPv6?  Do you think NAT will still be used?

                Don't get me wrong, not saying that NAT is not a useful tool - that sure can be used in protecting your hosts, or for sharing a IP, etc. etc.  Lots of use for it.  But there are protocols that just do not work, or do not work well when behind a NAT.  And created extra overhead when its just not needed, there are places and uses for nat and or napt sure.  But it is not the end all get all of protecting your servers.

                An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                • P
                  podilarius
                  last edited by

                  I agree … a bridging firewall (or transparent firewall) is just as effective IMO. Plus, you get to hide your firewall so there is no gateway for attackers to attack. Not saying that won't stop attackers from trying or succeeding .. just makes it a little more difficult. But to just say that NAT is the only right way is a bit out there especially if you are unsure.

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                  • johnpozJ
                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                    last edited by

                    Does not have to be a bridging or transparent firewall either.  But that is an option as well without NAT.

                    An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                    If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                    Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                    SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                    • I
                      iFloris
                      last edited by

                      The lack of NAT is one of the things that I love about ipv6. Or rather, no longer needing to NAT anything. With ipv6, every global address on you lan is also your public ip. Using public ip's through a firewall without NAT works pretty much the same way on ipv4.

                      one layer of information
                      removed

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                      • F
                        forpfsensebaby
                        last edited by

                        would you mind to tell me how to make that transparent bridge? use "bridge" under "interface" and select the WAN and LAN? what IPs to put on them? Both public?

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                        • F
                          forpfsensebaby
                          last edited by

                          would you mind to tell me how to set up the bridge? just choose "Bridge" and select WAN and LAN? what kind of IPs to give to them? Both Public? Thank you very much

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                          • johnpozJ
                            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                            last edited by

                            Have you read this thread?

                            http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,36562.0.html
                            Clean Install with pfsense 2.0 using transparent firewall

                            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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