pfSense® software supports numerous types of network interfaces, either usingphysical interfaces directly or by employing other protocols such as PPP orVLANs.
Interface assignments and the creation of new virtual interfaces are all handledunder Interfaces > Assignments.
Physical and Virtual Interfaces¶
Most interfaces discussed in this chapter can be assigned as WAN, LAN, or an OPTinterface under Interfaces > Assignments. All currently-defined and detectedinterfaces are listed directly on Interfaces > Assignments or in the list ofinterfaces available for assignment. By default, this list includes only thephysical interfaces, but the other tabs under Interfaces > Assignments cancreate virtual interfaces which can then be assigned.
Interfaces support various combinations of options. They can also supportmultiple networks and protocols on a single interface, or multiple interfacescan be bound together into a larger capacity or redundant virtual interface.
All interfaces are treated equally; Every interface can be configured for anytype of connectivity or role. The default WAN and LAN interfaces can be renamedand used in other ways.
Physical interfaces and virtual interfaces are treated the same once assigned,and have the same capabilities. For example, a VLAN interface can have the sametype of configuration that a physical interface can have. Some interface typesreceive special handling once assigned, which are covered in their respectivesections of this chapter.
This section covers the various types of interfaces that can be created,assigned, and managed.
Switches¶
Some Netgate Appliances sold in the Netgate Store contain built-in switches whichcan be configured in the GUI under Interfaces > Switches. Documentation forthe switch configuration can vary by model, and may be found in theNetgate Product Manuals which match a given product.
Limitations¶
While the firewall does not impose any limits on the number of interfaces, largenumbers of interfaces may function in suboptimal ways. For example, the firewallmay take much longer to configure interfaces and the GUI may have renderingissues with large numbers of tabs or menu entries.
Most hardware will accommodate as many physical interfaces as can fit into thecase. Issues may vary from driver to driver but generally are hardware-relatedand not the result of the operating system or pfSense software.
Physical limitations aside, significant numbers of virtual interfaces such asVLANs, LAGGs, VPNs, and more may be added to the firewall. These typesinterfaces tend to outnumber physical interfaces, especially VLANs.
Issues reported by users with large numbers of interfaces (physical and virtual)vary by hardware, configuration, and browser. These issues tend to increase asthe number of interfaces approaches 200. Should a particular environment requiremore than 128 interfaces, consider alternate designs that do not involve usingall of the interfaces on the firewall directly. If the firewall must handlelarge numbers of interfaces, be wary of potential performance and GUI concerns.
FAQs
pfSense supports various interface types, including physical, virtual, WAN, LAN, and OPT (Optional) interfaces.
What is the interface configuration? ›
Luca Prete. Feb 17, 2017. The interface configuration is part of the network configuration. It allows users to configure information about ports and logical ports of devices connected to the system.
What are the 6 elements of a typical firewall rule in pfSense configuration interface? ›
Each firewall rule is composed of six parts, which together define conditions under which a given network request is permitted or denied. These components are action, direction, target, source/destination, protocol and ports, and priority.
How to disable the webConfigurator anti-lockout rule? ›
5. Disabling Anti-lockout rule
- Go to System > Advanced > Admin Access or click the Settings button next to the anti-lockout rule on Firewall > Rules > LAN page.
- Check on Disable webConfigurator anti-lockout rule option on webConfigurator pane.
These are: Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) Command Line Interfaces (CLI) Form-based interfaces.
What are the 3 main types of user interface called? ›
Types of User Interface
- Command-line Interface (CLI) CLI is a UI to interact with computers- run programs, manage files, etc. ...
- Graphical User Interface (GUI) ...
- Web User Interface (WUI) ...
- Natural Language Interface (NLI) ...
- Virtual Reality User Interface (VRUI)
Each configuration has different power requirements and a different set of interfaces that are exposed. You can think of an interface as a function or a feature of the device. One interface might be an HID keyboard, and another interface might be a virtual serial USB CDC ACM serial port.
What are the examples of interface configuration files? ›
Alias interface configuration files are follow the this naming ifcfg-<if-name>:<alias-value>. They are used primarily to bind multiple addresses to a single interface. For example, an ifcfg-eth0:0 file could be configured to specify DEVICE=eth0:0 and a static IP address of 10.0.
How do you show interface configuration? ›
Viewing the configuration of interfaces
- Use the show running-config [structured] command to view the running configuration of all interfaces. ...
- Use the show running-config interface port-list command to view the running configuration of the specified port interfaces.
How to Configure a Firewall in 5 Steps
- Step 1: Secure your firewall. ...
- Step 2: Architect your firewall zones and IP addresses. ...
- Step 3: Configure access control lists. ...
- Step 4: Configure your other firewall services and logging. ...
- Step 5: Test your firewall configuration.
Firewall policy configuration is based on network type, such as public or private, and can be set up with security rules that block or allow access to prevent potential attacks from hackers or malware.
What is the basic knowledge of firewall configuration? ›
Firewall rules form the core of firewall configuration. These rules determine which inbound or outbound traffic should be allowed or blocked and can be defined on factors like IP addresses, TCP/UDP port numbers, Application ID, User ID and the type of traffic (e.g., HTTP for web servers).
How does a proxy server protect a network? ›
Proxy servers act as a firewall and web filter, provide shared network connections, and cache data to speed up common requests. A good proxy server keeps users and the internal network protected from the bad stuff that lives out in the wild internet. Lastly, proxy servers can provide a high level of privacy.
How to remove firewall rules from an interface in pfSense? ›
Deleting Firewall Rules
- Select the rows to remove. Select rules by single clicking anywhere on their line or by checking the box at the start of the row.
- Click the Delete button below the rule list.
- Confirm the action.
To access the pfSense webconfigurator, open a web browser on a computer connected to your firewall and enter https://[your LAN IP address]. By default, it is 192.168. 1.1. Enter your username and password in the login page.
What are the different types of interfaces? ›
Types of user interfaces
- Graphical user interface (GUI). Web UIs and other digital products often feature GUIs with graphical elements, such as windows, pull-down menus, buttons, scroll bars and icons. ...
- Command line interface. ...
- Menu-driven UI. ...
- Touch UI. ...
- Voice UI. ...
- Form-based UI. ...
- Natural language UI. ...
- Mobile UI.
In addition, interfaces can be categorized as either internal or external. Internal interfaces are within a scope of work while external interfaces are between scopes of work and can also include tie-ins to existing assets or facilities. Both types of interfaces play a crucial role in ensuring project success.
What are the main types of interfaces? ›
Graphical User Interfaces , Touchscreen Graphical User Interfaces , Menu-Driven Interfaces , Command Line Interfaces , Conversational User Interfaces , Natural User Interfaces , Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Interfaces are the common types of User Interfaces .
