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

    Cannot use remote desktop? [SOLVED!]

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
    19 Posts 8 Posters 20.1k 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.
    • P
      phil.davis
      last edited by

      Are you using a VPN of some sort to get across to the remote site? If so, is there some issue with maximum packet size that will be transported successfully through the tunnel?
      Try some pings with increasing packet sizes.

      As the Greek philosopher Isosceles used to say, "There are 3 sides to every triangle."
      If I helped you, then help someone else - buy someone a gift from the INF catalog http://secure.inf.org/gifts/usd/

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • N
        networknut
        last edited by

        No i am not using a VPN to get across the remote site, the server on the remote site does vpn into my network here and i can remote it "locally" fine but i need to be able to remote it externally too sometimes, this is necessary…in my logs there is nothing about it

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • johnpozJ
          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
          last edited by

          What are you lan firewall rules?

          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

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • N
            networknut
            last edited by

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • P
              phil.davis
              last edited by

              However that remote server VPN's in, before the general rule pushing everything oit WAN_LOAD, you will need to have an ordinary pass rule on LAN  for traffic originating on LAN and going to that server. Otherwise when you initiate anything from LAN that general rule policy routes it directly out WAN_LOAD (to the ordinary internet).

              As the Greek philosopher Isosceles used to say, "There are 3 sides to every triangle."
              If I helped you, then help someone else - buy someone a gift from the INF catalog http://secure.inf.org/gifts/usd/

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • N
                networknut
                last edited by

                yes but its not the lan side im having trouble  remoting it on…..when it is successfully connected to the network i can remote it just fine over lan but when doing maintenance to it its not reliable to use remote desktop via lan because there can be disconnected so its better just to connect over the internet....there is no issue connecting to the server via remote desktop over lan...

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • N
                  networknut
                  last edited by

                  It was pfsense, i figured it out…. anyone else who ever has this issue LISTEN UP!

                  You need to change your outbound NAT to (Under Firewall>Nat>Outbound Tab) to

                  "Hybrid Outbound NAT rule generation
                  (Automatic Outbound NAT + rules below)"

                  Then make a rule with the following specified

                  Disabled: Unchecked
                  Do not NAT: Unchecked
                  Interface: WAN
                  Protocol: any

                  Source:
                                  Type: Network
                                  Address: <your local="" sub="" net="">Source Port: Leave Blank For Any

                  Destination:

                  Not: Unchecked
                                    Type: any
                                    Address: N/A (Not Applicable)
                                    Source Port: 3389 (Or whatever port isn't working for you outbound)

                  Translation:

                  Address: Interface Address
                                    Port: N/A
                                    Static Port: Checked

                  No XMLRPC Sync: Unchecked

                  Description: Put in the name of the service running on this port (HTTP, RDP,ETC...)

                  Step 2:

                  Go to Firewall> Rules> "LAN" Tab

                  Click add rule and set the following

                  Action: Pass

                  Disabled: Unchecked

                  Interface: LAN

                  TCP/IP Version: IPV4 (Unless you are using IPV6 Which is unlikely)

                  Protocol: TCP/UDP

                  Source:

                  Not: Unchecked
                                  Type: LAN net
                                  Address: N/A

                  Source Port Range: any

                  Destination:

                  Not: Unchecked
                                  Type: any
                                  Address: N/A (Not Applicable)

                  Destination Port Range Port: 3389 (Or whatever port isn't working for you outbound)

                  LOG: I left mine unchecked but you can check it if you wish

                  Description: Service on that port

                  Scroll down hit save and apply. you should be all set. :)</your>

                  S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • johnpozJ
                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                    last edited by

                    Source Port: 3389 (Or whatever port isn't working for you outbound)
                    Static Port: Checked

                    Nonsense… RDP does not use a source port of 3389..

                    So not sure what you think your fixed did, but was not your problem..  You do not need a static port to rdp..

                    I rdp outbound of pfsense all the time and don't have to do anything special..  Is your rdp using tcp or udp?  rdp can be udp now..

                    edit
                    Here is a place you can test oubound rdp from your network.

                    http://help.k2.com/kb001279

                    They have  testrdp.rdp you can download - and see attached it connects just fine.. And I don't have anything special in outbound nats or any rules at all that are special.. Other than the default lan rule that allows traffic out any any.

                    rdptest.png
                    rdptest.png_thumb

                    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

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • KOMK
                      KOM
                      last edited by

                      Same here.  Outbound RDP no problem.  Inbound requires NAT + firewall rule.  It just works.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • DerelictD
                        Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                        last edited by

                        This solution needs a youtube video and accompanying blog walkthrough so it can be authoritatively cited again and again and again for years to come.

                        Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
                        A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
                        DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
                        Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • N
                          networknut
                          last edited by

                          @johnpoz:

                          Source Port: 3389 (Or whatever port isn't working for you outbound)
                          Static Port: Checked

                          Nonsense… RDP does not use a source port of 3389..

                          So not sure what you think your fixed did, but was not your problem..  You do not need a static port to rdp..

                          I rdp outbound of pfsense all the time and don't have to do anything special..  Is your rdp using tcp or udp?  rdp can be udp now..

                          edit
                          Here is a place you can test oubound rdp from your network.

                          http://help.k2.com/kb001279

                          They have  testrdp.rdp you can download - and see attached it connects just fine.. And I don't have anything special in outbound nats or any rules at all that are special.. Other than the default lan rule that allows traffic out any any.

                          Well how come when i undo all that stuff i did to make it work….it stops working again hmmm?obviously i need it if that is the case...Also need i remind people i have two WANS and am not using the conventional Remote Dektop port...i did howver verify just now all that is needed is an outbound firwall rule before the DUAL wan gateway firewall rule.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • C
                            cmb
                            last edited by

                            The firewall rule you added does nothing at all. The default LAN rule is already doing what that does.

                            The outbound NAT you added translates the source port of everything leaving your network to port 3389, which is absurd and will break things in a lot of circumstances, especially where you have multiple clients connecting out to the same remote server. There are possibly reasons that using a certain smaller range of source ports rather than the default 1024-65535 will work. But making the source port of everything leaving your network static at 3389 isn't good in any circumstance.

                            The symptom you started with is almost certainly a path MTU issue of some sort, that's exactly what will happen when large packets are getting dropped somewhere in transit.

                            If you want to muck with outbound NAT, set it to static port, not translated to port 3389. See what that does. There is no reason static port is required in any circumstance for RDP, but letting the clients use their smaller ephemeral port range might be telling, and it's a lot more sane than deciding 3389 is a good source port for everything.

                            A much better answer is to get packet captures from the machine you're connecting to, and on your WAN where the traffic is egressing on your side, and compare what's actually happening. There is some explanation outside of doing insane things with outbound NAT.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • N
                              networknut
                              last edited by

                              It clearly does seeing as without it it doesnt work AT ALL

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • C
                                cmb
                                last edited by

                                The firewall rule is doing nothing at all if you have the stock default LAN rule in place. The NAT change might be impacting something, but translating the source port to 3389 on all traffic leaving your network is insane. That'd be a sign there is something else that needs to be investigated.

                                But hey, if you're happy with it, it's perfectly apt for the "nut" part of your username. :)

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • johnpozJ
                                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                  last edited by

                                  I don't care what port the remote rdp is listening on.. Be 3389, 41441, 1234, etc. etc..

                                  What you described is just nonsense..

                                  Doesn't matter if you had a 100 wan connections…  Now if you want to route traffic out to this remote desk top via specific wan, ok do that.  Do you have an issue with the return traffic coming back to a different wan interface?

                                  You do not need to use a static port for your napt for the remote desktop protocol to work!  Nor do you need to change your outbound nat to use anything specific as source. Period Unless there is some rule past pfsense that is blocking traffic based on source port??

                                  Do you understand how napt works in pfsense??  I would suggest you take a look at your state table for the dest port and source ports that are used, and how pfsense changes that on the public side..  And exactly happens with a static port..  Why would you think that a requirement for rdp through a nat??

                                  Why don't you leave your outbound nat as automatic, there is RARELY a need to mess with those, you will prob need to add outbound nats if your doing something with client vpn connection, etc..  But with just normal wan, and road warrior vpn connections into you auto nat works just fine.

                                  What specific version of rdp are you using?  I would suggest you sniff on your want that the traffic is suppose to go out, and validate you get a answer back..

                                  You say your using multiple wan, how exactly do you have that setup... Why don't test just using 1 wan connection for your rdp connection...  My guess is something in that setup is your problem.

                                  "sometimes if i spam it enough in the RDC window it well give me the login dialog but cant go any further"

                                  Here is the thing.. If it was a firewall rule blocking your access.. You could spam it all you wanted til doomsday its not going to allow you out or work, if the rule says not too..  What would be the point of a firewall that sometimes allows traffic or sometimes blocks traffic???  If your saying it sometimes starts to work, then that points to something intermittent or something that changes... Like maybe the return traffic sometimes coming back to the same wan connection your traffic went out on.. But normally coming back on the wrong wan, so your states are not there and pfsense would block that traffic.

                                  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

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • N
                                    networknut
                                    last edited by

                                    "You do not need to use a static port for your napt for the remote desktop protocol to work!  Nor do you need to change your outbound nat to use anything specific as source. Period Unless there is some rule past pfsense that is blocking traffic based on source port??

                                    You can stop bitching not i got rid of the static port nat rule and left the firewall rule and it still works

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • S
                                      sgt_bug @networknut
                                      last edited by

                                      @networknut Wow! I have been struggling with this for months! This makes no sense but it bloody works. I had the same problem with OPNSense as well and logically the same rules should fix the problem in that as well.

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