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

    Inter-Network Blocking Question

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
    19 Posts 5 Posters 1.4k 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.
    • johnpozJ
      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
      last edited by

      If you dont what your other networks to talk to each other..

      Then just create a alias for say all rfc1918 networks

      Create rule(s) that allow access to what you want to allow on other networks, local access for say dns, ping to pfsense IP address in that network.

      Then block/reject access to alias rf1918

      Then allow any any (which will allow internet)

      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 2.7.2, 24.11

      P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • P
        Pete-Man @johnpoz
        last edited by

        @johnpoz said in Inter-Network Blocking Question:

        If you dont what your other networks to talk to each other..

        Then just create a alias for say all rfc1918 networks

        Create rule(s) that allow access to what you want to allow on other networks, local access for say dns, ping to pfsense IP address in that network.

        Then block/reject access to alias rf1918

        Then allow any any (which will allow internet)

        Hi - Thanks for the information, in this instance I would have to an alias for each of the networks correct? If I list "All" of the private networks it would end up blocking itself before it hits the any rule.

        This is what I am trying to avoid, I would like to have a way to have a single alias with ALL of the Networks that I don't want the others to be able to access. In this case this will be a series of Interfaces going to conference rooms 20 of them at this point.

        I know I can create an Alias for each of the Networks / VLANs with all of the other networks listed except for itself but again I am trying to avoid that if possible.

        Am I missing something?

        DerelictD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • DerelictD
          Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate @Pete-Man
          last edited by

          @pete-man said in Inter-Network Blocking Question:

          If I list "All" of the private networks it would end up blocking itself before it hits the any rule.

          What, exactly, do you mean by this. Please be specific.

          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)

          P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • P
            Pete-Man @Derelict
            last edited by

            @derelict said in Inter-Network Blocking Question:

            @pete-man said in Inter-Network Blocking Question:

            If I list "All" of the private networks it would end up blocking itself before it hits the any rule.

            What, exactly, do you mean by this. Please be specific.

            Lets take a step back what I am trying to do it the following, as I mentioned I am trying to setup a number of Interfaces / Networks / VLANs that will be used for public access in various conference rooms. For ease of use I have set the networks up like this.
            VLAN 20 - 192.168.20.0 / 24
            VLAN 30 - 192.168.30.0 / 24
            This continues on with VLAN 40 through 70 for now.

            There are a few more Networks / Interfaces including including the Local Private LAN, WAN and management Network.

            The goal is to provide each of the about Networks / VLANs 20 through 70 Internet Access but block them from accessing any of the other VLANs as well as the Firewall itself (GUI).

            To be clear I have no issues setting up the VLANs / IPs / Interfaces on within pfsense, the question is setting up the rules as follows.

            How can I simplify blocking each of the Networks / VLANs 20 through 70. I was looking to make an Alias that included ALL of the Networks that I want to prevent the others from accessing including the Managements and Private Networks and putting in a few rules in each interface (or maybe even some kind of floating rule) to accomplish this vs created an Alias for Each of the Networks / VLANs which has all of the Networks listed except for itself and apply it to each interface as a blocking rule using the Alias and a Pass rule for everything else. I know this will work but can lead to some mistakes if say an additional Network is added.

            Hope this makes sense.

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

              No. What did you mean by that statement?

              If you want to block a VLAN from accessing any other private resource, then block it to a destination alias containing:

              10.0.0.0/8
              172.16.0.0/12
              192.168.0.0/16

              What are your concerns with doing that?

              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)

              P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • P
                Pete-Man @Derelict
                last edited by

                @derelict said in Inter-Network Blocking Question:

                No. What did you mean by that statement?

                If you want to block a VLAN from accessing any other private resource, then block it to a destination alias containing:

                10.0.0.0/8
                172.16.0.0/12
                192.168.0.0/16

                What are your concerns with doing that?

                If I put a blocking rule in place that contains those networks isn't that going to end up blocking itself? How do I prevent it from blocking itself in that rule? I put a rule like that in place and of course it is the first rule it hits so it blocks itself, I can not access the internet and of course any other network.

                If I put a pass any / any rule in first it will never hit the blocking rule.

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

                  Because it blocks traffic to those destinations, not sources. Traffic destined to the same subnet never gets sent to the firewall.

                  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)

                  P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • P
                    Pete-Man @Derelict
                    last edited by Pete-Man

                    @derelict said in Inter-Network Blocking Question:

                    Because it blocks traffic to those destinations, not sources. Traffic destined to the same subnet never gets sent to the firewall.

                    Ok since I am somewhat new to pfSense I assume I am missing something here.

                    I just setup the following test install of pfSense
                    em0 - Wan - DHCP - Has Internet access
                    em1 - LAN - Default 119.168.1.1

                    em2 - Set up with the following VLANs through a Trunk Port
                    VLAN 50 - 192.168.50.1 / Set up as DHCP Server
                    VLAN 60 - 192.168.60.1 / Set up as DHCP Server
                    VLAN 70 - 192.168.70.1 / Set up as DHCP Server

                    Setup an Alias with ALL of the Above VLAN Networks Listed in it including the LAN Network.

                    Currently all of the Interfaces so up / work and I get IPs from their proper Networks. Of course I can not access anything I haven't set up any rules as of yet.

                    Here is where I am wondering what the best practices are. What rules would you suggest I put in each interface so that I can do the following (I only need one example / Not all):

                    Allow access to the Internet
                    Prevent Access to All other VLANs mentioned in the Alias
                    Prevent Access to the firewall itself (GUI / Command line)

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

                      So where were your clients get dns? Pfsense or external (internet)

                      As traffic enters and interface from the network its attached to rules are evaluated top down, first rule to trigger wins, no other rules are evaluated.

                      Here just gave an example in this thread
                      https://forum.netgate.com/topic/138813/isolating-vlans-from-each-other-and-management-interface/2

                      Vs sending it out the vpn connection, don't set gateway on last rule. Use your alias vs rfc1918 alias. But to be honest just create alias that contains all rfc1918.. That way when you add vlan 80 for example you don't have to worry about editing your alias ;)

                      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 2.7.2, 24.11

                      P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • P
                        Pete-Man @johnpoz
                        last edited by

                        @johnpoz

                        @johnpoz said in Inter-Network Blocking Question:

                        So where were your clients get dns? Pfsense or external (internet)

                        As traffic enters and interface from the network its attached to rules are evaluated top down, first rule to trigger wins, no other rules are evaluated.

                        Here just gave an example in this thread
                        https://forum.netgate.com/topic/138813/isolating-vlans-from-each-other-and-management-interface/2

                        Vs sending it out the vpn connection, don't set gateway on last rule. Use your alias vs rfc1918 alias. But to be honest just create alias that contains all rfc1918.. That way when you add vlan 80 for example you don't have to worry about editing your alias ;)

                        Hi and Thank you... This is exactly what I was looking for. I am not 100% sure but I think my issue was having my rules setup like you had listed in the example you linked to but I had all of my Rules sources set properly to the VLAN Net but I also had my my destination set as LAN vs and not addresses. This makes sense now and it seems to be working as I would like it to. Since all of my Networks are in the Private space and listed in my Alias do I need the implicit Block rules for access to this Firewall? I can't seem to access it from any of the VLANs I am testing from. I know it certainly will not hurt I was just wondering.

                        Thank you again

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

                          The "this firewall" includes ALL ips on the firewall.. For example your WAN IP that is normally not a rfc1918 address. So this rule makes sure that NO IP on the firewall can be accessed.

                          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 2.7.2, 24.11

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