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

    opening ports on firewall

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Firewalling
    38 Posts 7 Posters 5.3k 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.
    • KOMK
      KOM
      last edited by

      I don't believe that you can forward a port that pfSense WebGUI is listening on. So, if you want to forward both tcp80 and 443, then you need to reconfigure your WebGUI to use some other port, like 81 or 444.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • R
        richardlhughes
        last edited by

        @KOM said in opening ports on firewall:

        tening on. So, if you want to forward both tcp80 and 443, the

        Yes, I have the webgui configured on a different non-standard port.

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

          Post screens of your NAT rules and WAN rules, maybe something there is wrong.

          You can do a packet capture on LAN filtered to your LAN server and see if NAT'd packets are leaving the pfSense LAN interface.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • A
            akuma1x
            last edited by

            Don't forget, your ISP also has to pass ports 80 and 443 thru to you over their connection. Since you said you can already get 443, I'm guessing they probably aren't blocking 80.

            Jeff

            R 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • R
              richardlhughes @akuma1x
              last edited by

              @akuma1x said in opening ports on firewall:

              also has to pass ports 80 and 443 thru

              I called them and they told me they are not blocking any ports.

              johnpozJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • A
                akuma1x
                last edited by akuma1x

                Ok then, I'm pretty sure this is how you set it up. I say pretty sure, because I've got some port forwards on my pfsense box, but not 443 or 80.

                NAT/Port Forward
                Interface: WAN
                Protocol: TCP/UDP
                Source Address: Any
                Source Ports: Any
                Destination Address: WAN Address
                Destination Ports: 80 or 443 (pick one)
                NAT IP: your internal server IP address
                NAT Ports: 80 or 443 (pick one)
                Description: name it something appropriate

                Then, at the bottom of this NAT rule, in the Filter Rule Association, pick the option to Create New Rule. That will automatically make a firewall rule on your WAN interface to pass the traffic. In your WAN interface firewall rule list, make sure the 2 default block rules are at the top - block rfc1918 and block bogon networks. Make sure this new firewall rule you just auto-created is immediately under the block rules.

                Make sure your server on the internal network can accept traffic, then test from outside the network to make sure you can hit the server box in question.

                Jeff

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

                  @richardlhughes said in opening ports on firewall:

                  I called them and they told me they are not blocking any ports.

                  1st step in troubleshooting any port forward issues is actually validate the traffic gets to your wan... There is nothing pfsense can do if traffic never gets there.

                  So this should always be step one... its as easy as going to say can you see me .org and testing for port 80 while you sniff on your wan... Do you see it get there?

                  Doesn't matter what your ISP says.. they might not be blocking it, but maybe something else is - say a nat router in front of pfsense for example..

                  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

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

                    @johnpoz I've already asked for screens and told him to do a packet capture but that advice was ignored.

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

                      Your post stated lan, which sure is step 2... But he needs to actually validate the traffic gets there before anything.

                      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

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

                        List of things to check here:

                        https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/nat/port-forward-troubleshooting.html

                        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)

                        R 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • Raffi_R
                          Raffi_ @johnpoz
                          last edited by

                          @johnpoz said in opening ports on firewall:

                          @richardlhughes said in opening ports on firewall:

                          I called them and they told me they are not blocking any ports.

                          1st step in troubleshooting any port forward issues is actually validate the traffic gets to your wan... There is nothing pfsense can do if traffic never gets there.

                          So this should always be step one... its as easy as going to say can you see me .org and testing for port 80 while you sniff on your wan... Do you see it get there?

                          Doesn't matter what your ISP says.. they might not be blocking it, but maybe something else is - say a nat router in front of pfsense for example..

                          Another way to figure out if the ISP is not blocking ports is to use GRC service port scan.
                          https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?rh1dkyd2
                          They basically suggest running the All service port scan on a device not behind a NAT and with software firewall disabled (unprotected). Any ports that come up as stealth are most likely being blocked by your ISP. After running the test if you scroll down the Service Ports Scan Application Guide, you'll see more details on that. Of course don't forget to reenable the firewall after the test.

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

                            That does not guarantee that something upstream is not responding on your behalf.

                            The only way to be 100% sure the traffic is arriving on your WAN is to packet capture on your WAN. If it does not arrive there, pfSense cannot forward it.

                            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
                            • KOMK
                              KOM @johnpoz
                              last edited by

                              @johnpoz I tend to do it the other way around because in my experience, the traffic almost always gets to WAN. The problem is usually with the NAT itself or some other PEBKAC thing.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • R
                                richardlhughes
                                last edited by

                                Wan Rules

                                f4a5d494-681b-47c7-bbdd-bd4fa323656e-image.png

                                NAT Rules

                                bdc03aec-344d-43fa-ae5e-bf4f8a4d29b2-image.png

                                HAPROXY (I've tried http and tcp for port 80 and cannot get port 80 open)

                                9cb367d8-eb99-416a-ae6d-ba5cf95d1269-image.png

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • R
                                  richardlhughes @Derelict
                                  last edited by

                                  @Derelict I have checked this list a couple times now. Didn't see anything standing out.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • A
                                    akuma1x
                                    last edited by akuma1x

                                    Alright, your NAT rules look correct, might want to make the protocol both TCP/UDP, and not just TCP.

                                    Your WAN rules are incorrect. Your FIRST set of 443 and 80 allow traffic to just your firewall, not another LAN machine. If you move these two new bottom rules to the very TOP of your firewall rule list, the traffic should move like you are expecting/hoping.

                                    Firewall rules are evaluated top down, first to match wins. That's why nothing is hitting 10.0.0.5, 80 and 443 are bouncing around inside the firewall itself, due to the first 2 top rules.

                                    Jeff

                                    DerelictD R 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • DerelictD
                                      Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                                      last edited by

                                      I don't know what didn't see anything standing out means. Did you see the SYN arrive or not?

                                      If you packet capture on WAN for port 32900 and test from the outside, you should see the SYN packet arrive.

                                      If you see it, then move your capture to the inside interface for port 32400, you should see the SYN packet sent to 10.0.0.37.

                                      If there is no response, look at the server (10.0.0.37) and see why.

                                      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)

                                      R 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • DerelictD
                                        Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate @akuma1x
                                        last edited by Derelict

                                        @akuma1x said in opening ports on firewall:

                                        Alright, your NAT rules look correct, might want to make the protocol both TCP/UDP, and not just TCP.

                                        Pet peeve of mine. You shouldn't just randomly forward traffic. You should know if you need TCP, UDP, or both and forward what is required.

                                        If he pcaps filtering on just the port, it will show both.

                                        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 1
                                        • R
                                          richardlhughes @Derelict
                                          last edited by

                                          @Derelict I didn't do the packet capture on the WAN, the troubleshooting list.

                                          How do I setup packet capturing on the WAN? is this something I can setup on my pfsense machine or what is the best method?

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

                                            diagnostic menu, packet capture.. put in the port your wanting to check, wan and click start... Then send the test traffic to that port.

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