Remote-access Guide

openvpn remote access pfsense

by Alfreda Jacobson Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The OpenVPN wizard on pfSense® software is a convenient way to setup a remote access VPN for mobile clients. The wizard configures all of the necessary prerequisites for an OpenVPN remote access server: An authentication source (Local, RADIUS server, or LDAP server) A certificate authority (CA)Jun 21, 2022

Full Answer

How to setup a proxy server using pfSense?

PFsense - Outbound Proxy Configuration

  • Pfsense 2.4.4-p3 PFSense - Outbound Proxy Configuration Open a browser software, enter the IP address of your Pfsense firewall and access web interface. ...
  • Username: admin
  • Password: pfsense After a successful login, you will be sent to the Pfsense Dashboard. ...
  • Proxy URL - The IP address of the Proxy server.

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How to setup NordVPN on pfSense?

pfSense 2.5 Setup with NordVPN 1. To set up OpenVPN on pfSense 2.5.0, access your pfSense from your browser, then navigate to System > Certificate... 2. For this tutorial, we will configure our pfSense to connect to a server in the Netherlands, but you should connect to... 3. Navigate to VPN > ...

Can I install pfSense on a Linux server?

PfSense can be installed on a dedicated hardware or VM just like any other OS. If you want to protect a Linux Sever behind firewall (PfSense in this case), I suggest you to install PfSense on a dedicated hardware or VM that will be placed in line with Linux server, thereby forcing all traffic to go through this firewall.

How to create and configure VLANs in pfSense?

To configure VLANs in the pfSense web interface:

  • Navigate to Interfaces > Assignments to view the interface list.
  • Click the VLANs tab.
  • Click Add to add a new VLAN
  • Configure the VLAN as shown in Figure Edit VLAN. ...
  • Click Save to return to the VLAN list, which now includes the newly added VLAN 10.
  • Repeat the process to add additional VLANs, such as VLAN 20. ...

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How do I connect to pfSense OpenVPN?

OpenVPN ruleFrom the menus at the top of the screen, select Firewall > Rules.Select the OpenVPN sub-menu.Click the Add button to create a new rule at the top of the list.Set the Address Family to IPv4 + IPv6 if your system is using both IPv4 and IPv6. ... Set the Protocol field to Any.Set the Source to Network.More items...•

How do I use OpenVPN for remote access?

How to Add Remote Users On OpenVPN CloudCreate an OpenVPN Cloud account.Add a new Network in the OpenVPN Cloud Administration portal.Install the connector software from this network on a computer in the business network (shown above)Connect the connector to the business's private OpenVPN Cloud network.More items...

Is pfSense OpenVPN free?

Secure Remote Network Access Using OpenVPN VPNs provide strong security by encrypting all of the traffic sent between the network and the remote client. Since pfSense is open source and available for free this project won't cost you anything to complete.

Can I use pfSense as a VPN?

pfSense® software offers several VPN options: IPsec, OpenVPN, WireGuard and L2TP. This section provides an overview of VPN usage, the pros and cons of each type of VPN, and how to decide which is the best fit for a particular environment.

Can I use OpenVPN for RDP?

With OpenVPN Cloud, you can securely access the RDP computer without making your private network a part of the VPN. All you have to do is configure and connect the RDP computer to OpenVPN Cloud as a host.

Which VPN is best for remote access?

Quick Overview – The Best Remote Access VPN in 2022ExpressVPN – Offers Static IP for Remote Working. Offers 3000+ servers in 94 countries. ... Surfshark – Affordable Remote VPN for SMBs. ... NordVPN – Secure VPN for Working from home. ... PIA – Easy-to-use Remote Access VPN. ... CyberGhost – Compact Remote VPN.

Is WireGuard better than OpenVPN?

WireGuard offers a more reliable connection for mobile users than OpenVPN because it handles network changes better. OpenVPN adds a data overhead of up to 20%, whereas WireGuard uses just 4% more data (compared with not using a VPN). VPN services need to include mitigations to ensure user privacy when using WireGuard.

Which is better OpenVPN or PPTP?

Conclusion. PPTP has faster speeds and is easier to set up but offers a poorly secured connection. On the other hand, OpenVPN provides decent speeds and excellent security, plus it's great at circumventing geo-blocks and firewalls undetected.

How do I download OpenVPN from pfSense?

OpenVPN Client Export PackageNavigate to System > Packages, Available Packages tab.Locate the OpenVPN Client Export package in the list.Click. Install next to that package listing to install.Click. Confirm to confirm the installation.

What is OpenVPN pfSense?

The OpenVPN wizard on pfSense® software is a convenient way to setup a remote access VPN for mobile clients. The wizard configures all of the necessary prerequisites for an OpenVPN remote access server: An authentication source (Local, RADIUS server, or LDAP server) A certificate authority (CA) A server certificate.

Does pfSense support WireGuard?

WireGuard is available as an experimental add-on package on pfSense Plus 21.05, pfSense CE 2.5. 2, and later versions.

What can OpenVPN do?

It can be used to connect multiple different networks together in a site-to-site setup. Access Servers can be connected with each other to give access to resources or VPN clients. Basically, if it can be routed, the OpenVPN Access Server should be able to handle it.

How do I connect remotely to another computer using VPN?

Simply go to Start -> Accessories -> Remote Desktop Connection and enter the IP address of the other Windows computer. desktop software. From HOME Mac to OFFICE Windows: Connect with VPN, then use Remote Desktop Client. From HOME Windows to OFFICE Mac: Connect with VPN, then use VNC client.

How do I connect to a VPN remotely?

When you have a VPN profile, you're ready to connect. In Settings, select Network & internet > VPN. Next to the VPN connection you want to use, select Connect. If you're prompted, enter your username and password or other sign-in info.

How do I connect VPN outside of network?

How does it work?Download your firewall's VPN client software - usually available for free from the vendors website (SonicWall, Checkpoint, WatchGuard, Meraki, etc).Install the software.Enter your organisation's public IP address.Enter your username and password and connect.

How can I access a private network remotely?

The best solution that will allow organizations to access files remotely is to set-up a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN provides a cable-like connection via the Internet between a remote PC and your office's server.

How to configure OpenVPN on PfSense?

The simplest way to configure OpenVPN on pfSense is to use the built in VPN configuration wizard. The wizard will guide you through the process of creating a certificate authority, issuing a server certificate, and configuring the OpenVPN server settings.

What is the local network address for pfSense?

Enter the address of the network that clients will connect to in the local network box. By default pfSense uses 192.168.1.0/24 as the local network so most users will enter that as the network address unless they specified a different network.

How to start VPN configuration?

To start the configuration open the VPN menu in the web interface and select OpenVPN, then click on the wizards tab.

How long has Sam been working with PfSense?

Sam has over 10 years of experience working with pfSense firewalls and has written over 30 articles on the subject.

What is the protocol for OpenVPN?

In most cases, this will be the external-facing interface (WAN) which is connected to the internet. The recommended protocol for most users is UDP on IPV4.

How long does a certificate last in OpenVPN?

Again you will need to select a key size that meets your security needs and CPU resources. The default certificate lifetime is 3650 days (10 years).

What is the most secure way to access a network?

Using a VPN, or virtual private network, is the most secure way to remotely access your home or business network. VPNs provide strong security by encrypting all of the traffic sent between the network and the remote client.

How does VPN work?

How it works. The goal is to offer a VPN solution for travelling or teleworking users allowing them to have secure access to the company’s LAN. These users can use a computer or a smartphone to connect. In all cases, they will use an OpenVPN client.

How to add a group to OpenVPN?

Go on “Groups” tab, then click on the “+ Add” button at the bottom right. Give the name you want to the group. In our case we choose “OpenVPN-users”. Then click on the “Save” button. Once done, come back on the “Users” tab, then click on the “+ Add” button. The fields to be filled in are the following:

What is the default port for a local port?

Local port: we keep the default value (1194).

Is OpenVPN compatible with Mac?

OpenVPN = the perfect solution for home-office users. OpenVPN is easy to implement and is compatible with all types of platforms (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, …) This article does not cover site-to-site mode configuration of OpenVPN (shared key or X.509).

How to provide secure access to OpenVPN?

To provide secure access through OpenVPN we need to provision a Certificate Authority (CA) and generate a suitable certificate. The CA issues and validates the certificates that will secure the VPN.

What port is OpenVPN on?

This section will configure a secure OpenVPN server running on port 443 rather than the default OpenVPN port of 1194. This reduces the likelihood of a remote network preventing access to your local infrastructure because port 1194 is not permitted or open.

How to remotely access a SOHO?

One solution to access these remotely is to open a number of firewall ports. An alternative and more secure method used is to open a single port and enable access through an OpenVPN connection. This guide will build upon the pfSense baseline guide and illustrate how to configure pfSense and an iOS device to enable secure remote access.

How to install OpenVPN client export?

Navigate to System > Packages > Available packages and click Install next to the OpenVPN-client-export to install the utility.

What is NAT in VPN?

NAT is needed to convert private local IP addresses ( 192.168.200.0/24) to the global address space for broadcast on the internet. This section will illustrate how to configure this for our VPN_WAN gateway (or gateways if you have already followed my multiple-VPN failover guide).

How did Snowden try to enable surveillance?

Snowden documents suggested that the NSA actively tried to enable surveillance by embedding weaknesses in commercially-deployed technology including at least one NIST standard.

Does PFSense use a static IP address?

Most non-business internet connections provide service through a dynamic IP address as opposed to a static one. To enable remote devices to locate and access our network we can use a dynamic DNS service that can keep a DNS record updated with our networks current local WAN address. PFsense has such a service that supports a wide variety of DNS services. This guide will use Amazon’s Route 53 but the same principles apply to the other services although the authorisation settings may vary slightly.

What is OpenVPN Connect?

The OpenVPN connect application provides OpenVPN functionality for a number of platforms. Install this on your device to provide the means to process .ovpn files.

What port is OpenVPN on?

We will now open a port on our firewall to allow access to the OpenVPN server which is running on port 443.

What is the default port for OpenVPN?

Now we’ll create the OpenVPN server which remote devices will connect to. We will change from the default port of 1194 to 443 as this port is often closed on remote networks.

What is NAT in VPN?

NAT is needed to convert your inbound devices private local IP address (192.168.200.0/24) to the global registered address space. We’ll set this up for our multiple VPN_WAN gateways, if you are only using a single VPN gateway, you’ll only need one of these three rules.

Can you create an interface based on OpenVPN?

We can now create an interface based on the OpenVPN server we just created.

Do you need a revocation list for remote access?

You’ll need a revocation list for if/when you need to expire any certificates you create. Although this isnt required to get our remote access working, its trivial to create so we may as well.

Can OpenVPN accept multiple certificates?

We will now create a client certificate for an iOS device. Although you can set OpenVPN up to accept the same certificate from multiple clients its a less secure solution and not my preferred option. This option allows you to specify a certificate per user or client and provides the ability to expire a single certificate to revoke access at any time.

What is pfSense package?

pfSense provides a package called openvpn-client-export which creates preconfigured OpenVPN profiles for you to download containing all the VPN settings and the user certificate if one is used. For Windows users it also allows you to download an OpenVPN client installer which will automatically install the OpenVPN client application and configure it with the VPN settings. This step is optional as you could configure the client settings manually but in most cases, doing it will simplify deployment.

How to export OpenVPN client?

The easiest way to configure client settings is to use the openvpn-client-export package we installed earlier. Go to VPN > OpenVPN > Client Export. At the bottom of this there is a section called OpenVPN Clients. In this section you will see a list of available users whose configuration we can export.

What port does OpenVPN use?

The other setting you may wish to change is the listening port. By default OpenVPN listens on port 1194 in either UDP or TCP mode. You can change the port if you wish, either based on personal preference or if you are on a network which blocks VPN traffic or outbound ports.

What branch of OpenVPN is used for Windows 7?

For Windows 7, 8 or 10 and their corresponding server versions you will want to use the 2.4.8 branch of OpenVPN client. For Windows XP or Vista (shown as win6 in this interface) you will need the older 2.3.18 branch (also, upgrade your PC). Download the installer you want and transfer it to the target PC. Download the correct installer and copy it to your target PC. The installer behaves like any standard Windows installer, just run it, click the “install” button and follow the prompts.

How to create a user in OpenVPN?

To do this we will need to create a user. Go to System > User Manager and add a user. You will need to configure a username and password as per the picture below. The other settings can be left as default although if you are only planning to grant the user temporary access you may want to set the account to expire automatically when access is due to be revoked.

How to install OpenVPN client export?

From the pfSense dashboard go to System > Package Manager > Available Packages and search for the openvpn-client-export package. Click the Install button to install it.

How to create a certificate for OpenVPN?

From the pfSense dashboard, go to System > Cert. Manager > CAs and click Add to create a new CA. Enter a descriptive name to help you identify what the CA is called and a common name which will appear on the certificates. The rest of the settings can be adjusted if required but the defaults should provide a reasonable balance between security and performance for most use cases. By default the CA lifetime is set to 3650 days (10 years) which is reasonable for a CA but can be adjusted if desired. If you wish you can also include location and organisation data but this is entirely optional.

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