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    Multi-WAN, High Availability, policy routing. Failover breaks connections

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Routing and Multi WAN
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    • D
      dayer
      last edited by

      Thank you Derelict :)

      I've been simulating your tests.

      WAN is the default gateway:

      WAN1 (default)      WAN1 	xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx     8.8.8.8     WAN1 Gateway
      WAN2                WAN2 	192.168.1.1         8.8.4.4     WAN2 Gateway
      

      Policy routing all LAN traffic to outside go through WAN2:

      States      Protocol    Source  Port    Destination     Port    Gateway     Queue   Schedule    Description
      5 /3.80 MiB IPv4*       *       *       internals       *       *           none                Internal traffic to default gateway
      0 /254 KiB  IPv4*       *       *       *               *       WAN2        none                The rest to WAN2
      

      NAT for internal traffic to outside:

      WAN1    internals 	* 	* 	* 	xxx.xxx.xxx.xxy     * 		NAT from internal networks
      WAN2    internals 	* 	* 	* 	192.168.1.100       * 		NAT from internal networks
      

      internals is an alias with internal networks.

      Pinging 208.123.73.69

      States on Primary/MASTER:

      LAN     icmp    172.16.103.2:10618 -> 208.123.73.69:10618                           0:0     69 / 69     6 KiB / 6 KiB 	
      WAN2    icmp    192.168.1.100:57632 (172.16.103.2:10618) -> 208.123.73.69:57632     0:0     69 / 69     6 KiB / 6 KiB
      

      States on Secondary/BACKUP:

      
      LAN 	icmp 	172.16.103.2:10618 -> 208.123.73.69:10618                           0:0     0 / 0 	0 B / 0 B 	
      WAN2 	icmp 	192.168.1.100:57632 (172.16.103.2:10618) -> 208.123.73.69:57632     0:0     0 / 0 	0 B / 0 B
      

      Persistent CARP maintenance mode on Primary:

      States on secondary start seeing the traffic but something goes wrong. The number of packets observed matching the state from the destination side is zero.

      LAN 	icmp 	172.16.103.2:10618 -> 208.123.73.69:10618 	                        0:0 	58 / 0 	5 KiB / 0 B 	
      WAN2 	icmp 	192.168.1.100:57632 (172.16.103.2:10618) -> 208.123.73.69:57632 	0:0 	58 / 0 	5 KiB / 0 B
      

      Client doesn't get ping reponses.

      States still exists on primary but are not seeing any traffic (it's reasonable):

      LAN 	icmp 	172.16.103.2:10618 -> 208.123.73.69:10618 	                        0:0 	368 / 368 	30 KiB / 30 KiB 	
      WAN2 	icmp 	192.168.1.100:57632 (172.16.103.2:10618) -> 208.123.73.69:57632 	0:0 	368 / 368 	30 KiB / 30 KiB
      

      Leave Persistent CARP maintenance mode on Primary. States on primary are seeing the traffic again (368 now 372):

      LAN 	icmp 	172.16.103.2:10618 -> 208.123.73.69:10618 	                        0:0 	372 / 372 	31 KiB / 31 KiB 	
      WAN2 	icmp 	192.168.1.100:57632 (172.16.103.2:10618) -> 208.123.73.69:57632 	0:0 	372 / 372 	31 KiB / 31 KiB
      

      SSH to aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd (I've replaced the public IP for security reasons):

      States on Primary:

      LAN 	tcp 	172.16.103.2:43290 -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	138 / 126 	12 KiB / 20 KiB 	
      WAN2 	tcp 	192.168.1.100:54741 (172.16.103.2:43290) -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22  ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	138 / 126 	12 KiB / 20 KiB
      

      States on Secondary:

      
      LAN 	tcp 	172.16.103.2:43290 -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	0 / 0 	0 B / 0 B 	
      WAN2 	tcp 	192.168.1.100:54741 (172.16.103.2:43290) -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22  ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	0 / 0 	0 B / 0 B
      

      Persistent CARP maintenance mode on Primary:

      States on secondary start seeing the traffic, but something appears wrong:

      
      LAN 	tcp 	172.16.103.2:43290 -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	13 / 3 	2 KiB / 708 B 	
      WAN2 	tcp 	192.168.1.100:54741 (172.16.103.2:43290) -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22  ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	13 / 3 	2 KiB / 708 B
      

      With tcpdump in WAN1, I see the Secondary firewall is routing through WAN1 using the WAN2 VIP address like for NAT:

      14:09:03.973890 IP 192.168.1.100.54741 > aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd.22: Flags [.], ack 1150910396, win 593, options [nop,nop,TS val 3297622232 ecr 1263162549], length 0
      14:09:07.569891 IP 192.168.1.100.54741 > aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd.22: Flags [.], ack 1, win 593, options [nop,nop,TS val 3297625828 ecr 1263163448,nop,nop,sack 1 {4294967113:1}], length 0
      14:09:08.810847 IP 192.168.1.100.54741 > aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd.22: Flags [P.], seq 0:52, ack 1, win 593, options [nop,nop,TS val 3297627069 ecr 1263163448], length 52
      14:09:08.978668 IP 192.168.1.100.54741 > aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd.22: Flags [P.], seq 52:104, ack 1, win 593, options [nop,nop,TS val 3297627237 ecr 1263163448], length 52
      14:09:09.035602 IP 192.168.1.100.54741 > aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd.22: Flags [P.], seq 52:104, ack 1, win 593, options [nop,nop,TS val 3297627294 ecr 1263163448], length 52
      14:09:09.122214 IP 192.168.1.100.54741 > aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd.22: Flags [P.], seq 104:156, ack 1, win 593, options [nop,nop,TS val 3297627380 ecr 1263163448], length 52
      14:09:09.180582 IP 192.168.1.100.54741 > aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd.22: Flags [P.], seq 0:156, ack 1, win 593, options [nop,nop,TS val 3297627439 ecr 1263163448], length 156
      

      States still exists on primary but are not seeing any traffic (it's reasonable):

      LAN 	tcp 	172.16.103.2:43290 -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	232 / 220 	17 KiB / 34 KiB 	
      WAN2 	tcp 	192.168.1.100:54741 (172.16.103.2:43290) -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22  ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	232 / 220 	17 KiB / 34 KiB
      

      Leave Persistent CARP mantenance mode on Primary. States on primary are seeing the traffic again (232 now 294) and SSH terminal replies again:

      
      LAN 	tcp 	172.16.103.2:43290 -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	294 / 291 	22 KiB / 80 KiB 	
      WAN2 	tcp 	192.168.1.100:54741 (172.16.103.2:43290) -> aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd:22  ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED 	294 / 291 	22 KiB / 80 KiB
      

      I'm going to check our differences.

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      • D
        dayer
        last edited by

        @Derelict, please, what VM has you tested? VirtualBox? VMware? Could you share your two XML config files?

        I've tested that situation with VirtualBox (before and after a factory default, to remake and check the settings) and with two identical physical machines also. No success.
        We're considering use pfSense and be sure this functionality works in pfSense is important to us.

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        • DerelictD
          Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
          last edited by

          XenServer. No, I do not have the configurations from those tests any more.

          The real key is how you are testing. Note that TRex was generating about 350K states there.

          The hypervisor used will be of no consequence to what gets policy routed where.

          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)

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          • D
            dayer
            last edited by

            Thank you, Derelict.

            I can't find why a established state in pfSense1 isn't routed successfully when pfSense2 is the master.
            I'm talking about this example (rules here):

            Pinging 208.123.73.69

            States on Primary/MASTER:

            LAN     icmp    172.16.103.2:10618 -> 208.123.73.69:10618                           0:0     69 / 69     6 KiB / 6 KiB 	
            WAN2    icmp    192.168.1.100:57632 (172.16.103.2:10618) -> 208.123.73.69:57632     0:0     69 / 69     6 KiB / 6 KiB
            

            States on Secondary/BACKUP:

            
            LAN 	icmp 	172.16.103.2:10618 -> 208.123.73.69:10618                           0:0     0 / 0 	0 B / 0 B 	
            WAN2 	icmp 	192.168.1.100:57632 (172.16.103.2:10618) -> 208.123.73.69:57632     0:0     0 / 0 	0 B / 0 B
            

            Persistent CARP maintenance mode on Primary:

            States on secondary start seeing the traffic but something goes wrong. The number of packets observed matching the state from the destination side is zero.

            LAN 	icmp 	172.16.103.2:10618 -> 208.123.73.69:10618 	                        0:0 	58 / 0 	5 KiB / 0 B 	
            WAN2 	icmp 	192.168.1.100:57632 (172.16.103.2:10618) -> 208.123.73.69:57632 	0:0 	58 / 0 	5 KiB / 0 B
            

            It's like the policy routing is ignored for this kind of situation and the firewall is trying route the established traffic through the default gateway (and use the NAT for a connection to exit through another WAN).
            I've tried also with floating rules, without success.
            There's some command or log to check what decisions takes pfSense with search state or packet

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            • DerelictD
              Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
              last edited by

              Except policy routing is not ignored in that scenario.

              It looks like it is not policy routing that is your problem, since you see the traffic going out thoses states.

              It looks like your problem is whatever is upstream is refusing to accept the CARP VIP (and MAC address) moving from primary to secondary.

              Policy routing only affects outbound traffic. It can't do anything about problems with the reply traffic.

              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
              • D
                dayer
                last edited by

                Thank you Derelict.
                I understand your point of view. However, if…

                It looks like your problem is whatever is upstream is refusing to accept the CARP VIP (and MAC address) moving from primary to secondary.

                I can't understand why I only see this behavior when the gateway from LAN traffic to outside is different from the default gateway. If the gateway from LAN traffic to outside is the same from the default gateway, everything goes well.

                That is:

                • LAN: 192.168.2.0/24

                • WAN1: 192.168.1.0/24

                • WAN2: 192.168.56.0/24

                Rules for LAN:

                States      Protocol    Source  Port    Destination     Port    Gateway     Queue   Schedule    Description     Actions
                1 /427 B    IPv4 *      *       *       LAN net         *       *           none
                1 /1.04 MiB IPv4 *      *       *       *               *       GW1         none
                

                Gateways (default gateway = gateway for LAN to outside):

                Name            Interface   Gateway         Monitor IP
                GW1 (default)   WAN1        192.168.1.1     192.168.1.1
                GW2             WAN2        192.168.56.1    192.168.56.1
                

                I try with SSH and it's goes well.

                States relalted to xx.xxx.xxx.xxx in pfsense1 (master):

                
                LAN     tcp     192.168.2.1:60626 -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522                           ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     146 / 130   11 KiB / 20 KiB 	
                WAN1    tcp     192.168.1.20:62445 (192.168.2.1:60626) -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522      ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     146 / 130   11 KiB / 20 KiB
                
                

                States related to xx.xxx.xxx.xxx in pfsense2 (backup):

                LAN     tcp     192.168.2.1:60626 -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522                           ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     0 / 0       0 B / 0 B 	
                WAN1    tcp     192.168.1.20:62445 (192.168.2.1:60626) -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522      ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     0 / 0       0 B / 0 B
                

                Enter Persistent CARP Maintenance Mode

                States related to xx.xxx.xxx.xxx in pfsense1 (backup):

                LAN     tcp     192.168.2.1:60626 -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522                           ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     339 / 321   21 KiB / 48 KiB 	
                WAN1    tcp     192.168.1.20:62445 (192.168.2.1:60626) -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522      ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     339 / 321   21 KiB / 48 KiB
                

                States related to xx.xxx.xxx.xxx in pfsense2 (master):

                LAN     tcp     192.168.2.1:60626 -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522                           ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     111 / 111   6 KiB / 16 KiB 	
                WAN1    tcp     192.168.1.20:62445 (192.168.2.1:60626) -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522      ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     111 / 111   6 KiB / 16 KiB
                

                But if the default gateway is not the gateway for LAN to outside:

                Name            Interface   Gateway         Monitor IP
                GW1             WAN1        192.168.1.1     192.168.1.1
                GW2 (default)   WAN2        192.168.56.1    192.168.56.1
                

                Then, the behavior is well until I put CARP Maintenance Mode (pfsense1 backup, pfsense2 master) and the states related to xx.xxx.xxx.xxx in pfsense2 (master) are:

                LAN     tcp     192.168.2.1:60632 -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522                           ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     31 / 5      5 KiB / 1 KiB 	
                WAN1    tcp     192.168.1.20:49862 (192.168.2.1:60632) -> xx.xxx.xxx.xxx:22522      ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED     31 / 5      5 KiB / 1 KiB
                

                and the SSH client is like frozen until I leave Persistent CARP Maintenance Mode and pfsense1 recovers the master role.

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

                  I don't know. You have something scrwed up in your outbound NAT it looks like. I built this and it works fine. Using multiple versions of pfSense. Countless people are doing exactly the same thing.

                  I suggest you reinstall and start over as simply as possible. Adding nothing but what is necessary to test this concept.

                  You are chasing a red herring with the "not default gateway" thing. It doesn't exist. It is something else you have done.

                  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
                  • Z
                    ZsZs
                    last edited by

                    Hi Dayer and Derelict,

                    Apparently I am in the same situation as Dayer. The network layout is the same.
                    I am using 2.3.4 and I made a clean install as follows (apologize for the detailed list, but there might be an obvious mistake or missing part):

                    • the two VMs running on the same ESXi 6.0U3 host (for testing purpose)
                    • set up WAN1 and WAN2 in different subnet:
                        - WAN1 public /26 (default GW)
                        - WAN2 internal /24 (behind a cable modem)
                    • set up WAN1 and WAN2 with following monitoring IP addresses:
                        - WAN1: 8.8.8.8
                        - WAN2: 208.67.220.220
                    • add two DNS servers to each WAN
                    • Configure DNS resolver to forwarder mode
                    • install Open-vm-tools package (no other packages have been installed)
                    • Set up HA for syncing state and configs
                    • Set up CARP IPs (WAN1-VIP, WAN2-VIP, LAN-VIP) with appropriate netmask
                    • change Outbound NAT to Manual
                        - remove auto-created SYNC interface related outbound NAT rules
                        - change NAT address to WAN1-VIP on rules with interface WAN1
                        - change NAT address to WAN2-VIP on rules with interface WAN2
                    • create WAN1first gateway group with WAN1GW Tier1, WAN2GW: Tier2
                    • create WAN2first gateway group with WAN1GW Tier2, WAN2GW: Tier1
                    • create FW rule with Policy routing for ssh traffic in LAN:
                    Protocol    Src Prt Dst Prt Gateway     Queue
                    IPv4 TCP    *   *   *   22  WAN2first   none
                    

                    I've tried following policy routing scenarios by simply:

                    • changing GW in the above rule
                    • disabling the aboce rule
                    • toggling default GW
                    
                    defGW   policy route   SSH sesseion after failover
                    WAN1    disabled       OK
                    WAN1    GW:WAN1GW      OK
                    WAN1    GW:WAN2GW      Freezes
                    WAN1    GW:WAN1first   OK
                    WAN1    GW:WAN2first   Freezes
                    
                    WAN2    disabled       OK
                    WAN2    GW:WAN1GW      Freezes
                    WAN2    GW:WAN2GW      OK
                    WAN2    GW:WAN1first   Freezes
                    WAN2    GW:WAN2first   OK
                    

                    I had the same issue, that in case the policy routing rule points to a gateway (group) other than the default, then after the HA fail-over to the secondary node the opened session freezes.
                    I can open a new ssh session via the new master, but moving the VIP back to the primary node this one freezes and the previously opened session starts responding again.
                    I also saw in tcpdump, that when the ssh session freezes, the traffic leaves the firewall on wrong WAN interface (on the default one) with the other WAN interface's source IP address.

                    I appreciate any hints you might have.

                    Regards,
                    Zsolt

                    edit: typos, some clarification added

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • D
                      dayer
                      last edited by

                      Hi ZsZs,

                      I've read your description with attention and I think it could be the same problem. Although I'll wait to Derelict point of view.
                      I know this part is the key:

                      I also saw in tcpdump, that when the ssh session freezes, the traffic leaves the firewall on wrong WAN interface with the other WAN interface's source IP address.

                      However, according to the last Derelict suggestion, I must repeat the test with the simplest scenario.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • Z
                        ZsZs
                        last edited by

                        Hi again,

                        I've just spotted that 2.3.5 is out, so I've done a fresh install again and tried to simplify the setup as much as possible to reproduce this issue.
                        I omitted a few irrelevant steps (DNS config, setting up GW groups, etc) from the procedure described in my previous post which resulted this:

                        • the two VMs running on the same ESXi 6.0U3 host (for testing purpose)
                        • set up WAN1 and WAN2 in different subnet:
                            - WAN1 public /26 (default GW)
                            - WAN2 internal /24 (behind a cable modem)
                        • set up WAN1 and WAN2 with following monitoring IP addresses:
                            - WAN1: 8.8.8.8
                            - WAN2: 208.67.220.220
                        • Set up HA for syncing state and configs with relevant FW rules)
                        • Set up CARP IPs (WAN1-VIP, WAN2-VIP, LAN-VIP) with appropriate netmask
                        • change Outbound NAT Mode to Manual
                            - remove auto-created SYNC interface related rules
                            - change NAT address to WAN1-VIP on rules with interface WAN1
                            - change NAT address to WAN2-VIP on rules with interface WAN2
                            - the actual outbound NAT rules are (description removed)
                        Intf  Source           SPrt Dst DPrt NAT Address    NATPrt  Static Port
                        WAN1  127.0.0.0/8      *    *   500  WAN1 addres    *       KeepSrcStatic
                        WAN1  127.0.0.0/8      *    *   *    WAN1 addres    *       RandomizeSrcPort
                        WAN2  127.0.0.0/8      *    *   500  WAN2 address   *       KeepSrcStatic
                        WAN2  127.0.0.0/8      *    *   *    WAN2 address   *       RandomizeSrcPort
                        WAN1  192.168.25.0/24  *    *   500  WAN1 address   *       KeepSrcStatic
                        WAN1  192.168.25.0/24  *    *   *    213.XX.YY.8    *       RandomizeSrcPort
                        WAN2  192.168.25.0/24  *    *   500  WAN2 address   *       KeepSrcStatic
                        WAN2  192.168.25.0/24  *    *   *    192.168.0.10   *       RandomizeSrcPort
                        
                        • create FW rule in LAN with routing ssh traffic via WAN2:
                        Protocol    Src Prt Dst Prt Gateway     Queue
                        IPv4 TCP    *   *   *   22  WAN2        none
                        

                        The result is the same as described in my previous post.

                        defGW   policy route   SSH session after fail-over
                        WAN1    disabled       OK
                        WAN1    GW:WAN1GW      OK
                        WAN1    GW:WAN2GW      Freezes
                        
                        WAN2    disabled       OK
                        WAN2    GW:WAN1GW      Freezes
                        WAN2    GW:WAN2GW      OK
                        

                        I've tested with opening an ssh session to an external host.
                        In case the FW rule directs the outgoing LAN ssh traffic via a gateway other than the default gateway, then after the HA fails over to the secondary node the open ssh session freezes.
                        I can open a new ssh session via the new master (secondary node), but moving the VIP back to the primary node this newly opened ssh session freezes and the previously opened session starts responding again.
                        I still see in tcpdump, that when the ssh session freezes, the traffic leaves the firewall on default GW's WAN interface with the other WAN interface's VIP address.

                        Actually I haven't found much related posts where HA, multi-WAN and policy based routing is involved.
                        We might miss something obvious, but actually I haven't found much related posts/tutorials/howtos where HA, multi-WAN and policy based routing is involved.

                        edit: remove duplicated part

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

                          WAN2  192.168.25.0/24  *    *  *    192.168.0.10  *      RandomizeSrcPort

                          What is in front of that? If stateful, it will need a new state too.

                          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
                          • Z
                            ZsZs
                            last edited by

                            Hi Derelict,
                            Tanks for your reply, but I am afraid I do not understand your question.
                            192.168.25.0/24 is my LAN subnet.
                            I've opened the ssh session from this subnet to an external host.
                            The quoted NAT rule supposed to do the outbound NAT on WAN2 arriving from my LAN.

                            I'm attaching the actual config.

                            HTH,
                            Zsolt

                            config-pfs1.hq.example.com-20171113205101.xml.gz

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                            • DerelictD
                              Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                              last edited by

                              Outbound NAT has nothing to do with routing traffic.

                              It determines what NAT happens when traffic is already routed that way.

                              Every time I test this it works fine. Not sure what you guys are doing wrong.

                              I was probably misreading your problem description.

                              I have already shown how to see the states, the sync of the same, and the fact that traffic goes over the synced state after failover.

                              Anything that doesn't do that properly is likely an issue at layer 2 having to do with the CARP MAC address changing switch ports.

                              This stuff works and works well.

                              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)

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                              • Z
                                ZsZs
                                last edited by

                                Ok, let me try to describe it with the actual states after each test step.

                                I have a fresh CARP-HA setup with Dual-WAN connection.
                                WAN1-CARP: 213.ss.tt.8
                                WAN2-CARP: 192.168.0.10
                                WANs are connected to different ISPs.
                                Outbound NAT on both WAN interfaces: NAT with CARP IP instead of interface ip.
                                External host with sshd: 212.xx.yy.193

                                Test case 1
                                **- default GW: WAN1

                                • no policy routing is in place**
                                • initial CARP master: primary node

                                Step 1
                                Open an ssh connection from a PC on LAN to an external host.
                                states (filter: external host's ip, interfaces: all)
                                primary```

                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                              State                    Packets  Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45762 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  16 / 20  4 KiB / 4 KiB
                                WAN1 tcp  213.ss.tt.8:55665 (192.168.25.199:45762) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22    ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  16 / 20  4 KiB / 4 KiB

                                secondary```
                                
                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                               State                    Packets   Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45762 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   0 / 0     0 B / 0 B 
                                WAN1 tcp  213.ss.tt.8:55665 (192.168.25.199:45762) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22    ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   0 / 0     0 B / 0 B
                                
                                

                                Step 2
                                Enter persistent CARP maintenance mode (new master: secondary node):
                                states (filter: external host's ip, interfaces: all) packet counter increasing on secondary
                                primary```

                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                              State                    Packets  Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45762 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  31 / 32  5 KiB / 5 KiB
                                WAN1 tcp  213.ss.tt.8:55665 (192.168.25.199:45762) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22    ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  31 / 32  5 KiB / 5 KiB

                                secondary```
                                
                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                               State                    Packets   Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45762 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   90 / 65   6 KiB / 8 KiB
                                WAN1 tcp  213.ss.tt.8:55665 (192.168.25.199:45762) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22    ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   90 / 65   6 KiB / 8 KiB
                                
                                

                                Ssh connection remains responsive.

                                Step 3
                                Exit persistent CARP maintenance mode (new master: primary node):
                                states (filter: external host's ip, interfaces: all) packet counter increasing on primary
                                primary```

                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                              State                    Packets  Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45762 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  51 / 53  6 KiB / 9 KiB
                                WAN1 tcp  213.ss.tt.8:55665 (192.168.25.199:45762) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22    ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  51 / 53  6 KiB / 9 KiB

                                secondary```
                                
                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                               State                    Packets   Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45762 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   90 / 65   6 KiB / 8 KiB
                                WAN1 tcp  213.ss.tt.8:55665 (192.168.25.199:45762) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22    ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   90 / 65   6 KiB / 8 KiB
                                
                                

                                Ssh connection remains responsive. All good, so far

                                Test case 2
                                **- default GW: WAN1

                                • initial CARP master: primary node
                                • Create a LAN FW rule to policy route ssh traffic via WAN2.**
                                
                                Protocol    Src Prt Dst Prt Gateway     Queue
                                IPv4 TCP    *   *   *   22  WAN2GW      none
                                

                                Step 1
                                Open an ssh connection from a PC on LAN to an external host.
                                states (filter: external host's ip, interfaces: all) packet counter increasing on primary
                                primary```

                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                              State                    Packets  Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45774 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  19 / 23  4 KiB / 4 KiB
                                WAN2 tcp  192.168.0.10:42115 (192.168.25.199:45774) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22  ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  19 / 23  4 KiB / 4 KiB

                                secondary```
                                
                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                               State                    Packets   Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45774 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   0 / 0    0 B / 0 B 
                                WAN2 tcp  192.168.0.10:42115 (192.168.25.199:45774) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22   ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   0 / 0    0 B / 0 B
                                
                                

                                Step 2
                                Enter persistent CARP maintenance mode (new master: secondary node)
                                states (filter: external host's ip, interfaces: all) packet counter increasing on secondary very slowly (on tcp retransmission only?)
                                primary```

                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                              State                    Packets  Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45774 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  67 / 71  7 KiB / 12 KiB
                                WAN2 tcp  192.168.0.10:42115 (192.168.25.199:45774) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22  ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  67 / 71  7 KiB / 12 KiB

                                secondary```
                                
                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                               State                    Packets   Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45774 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   8 / 8    500 B / 1 KiB 
                                WAN2 tcp  192.168.0.10:42115 (192.168.25.199:45774) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22   ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   8 / 8    500 B / 1 KiB
                                
                                

                                Ssh connection freezes.

                                Ssh traffic arriving to WAN2 correctly:

                                11:27:42.463760 IP 212.xx.yy.193.22 > 192.168.0.10.42115: Flags [P.], seq 8300:8408, ack 3422, win 312, options [nop,nop,TS val 4076858258 ecr 2258791998], length 108
                                

                                But the reply is leaving the firewall on WRONG interface (default GW's: WAN1) instead of WAN2 and on top of this with WRONG SRC IP address. (WAN2-CARP instead of WAN1-CARP)

                                11:27:42.464087 IP 192.168.0.10.42115 > 212.xx.yy.193.22: Flags [.], ack 1, win 342, options [nop,nop,TS val 2258792365 ecr 4076858258,nop,nop,sack 1 {4294967189:1}], length 0
                                

                                I see two problems here:
                                1. routing is wrong: the ssh traffic should be treated according to the policy routing.
                                2. the outbound NAT is also wrong because the traffic leaves on WAN1 (for whatever reason) so WAN1's outbound NAT rule should be applied as you said: "It determines what NAT happens when traffic is already routed that way."
                                If the routing were ok, that would solve the problem, but the wrong outbound NAT is also an issue and might help to determine where the wrong routing/ignoring policy routing originates.

                                Step 3
                                Exit persistent CARP maintenance mode (new master: primary node):
                                states (filter: external host's ip, interfaces: all) packet counter increasing on primary
                                primary```

                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                              State                    Packets  Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45774 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  75 / 80  7 KiB / 19 KiB
                                WAN2 tcp  192.168.0.10:42115 (192.168.25.199:45774) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22  ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED  75 / 80  7 KiB / 19 KiB

                                secondary```
                                
                                Intf Prot Src (Orig Src) -> Dst (Orig Dest)                               State                    Packets   Bytes
                                LAN  tcp  192.168.25.199:45774 -> 212.xx.yy.193:22                        ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   9 / 9    564 B / 1 KiB 
                                WAN2 tcp  192.168.0.10:42115 (192.168.25.199:45774) -> 212.xx.yy.193:22   ESTABLISHED:ESTABLISHED   9 / 9    564 B / 1 KiB
                                
                                

                                Ssh connection works again.

                                My conclusions:
                                It seems that the new master node does not route the failed over traffic according to the policy routing (defined in LAN FW rule), but according to the routing table.
                                I can open a new ssh session vie the new master node and this will be routed according to the policy routing (defined in LAN FW rule), however it will freeze once this new master becomed backup again.

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                                • DerelictD
                                  Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                                  last edited by

                                  Are you 100% certain all of your interfaces match exactly on both nodes? Both nodes should match exactly in Status > Interfaces the interface name, the wan/lan/optX name, and the physical interface name.

                                  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)

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                                  • Z
                                    ZsZs
                                    last edited by

                                    Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate.

                                    I've double/triple checked and the pfsense/os interface names are following on both nodes:
                                    WAN: vmx0 (WAN1)
                                    LAN: vmx2 (LAN)
                                    OPT1: vmx1 (WAN2)
                                    OPT2: vmx3 (SYNC)
                                    OPT3: vmx4 (DMZ) not used yet

                                    edit: LAN and WAN2 description swapped.

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