I have been configuring pfSense on a test network with a new VLAN setup I need to migrate to. I intend it to replace our current firewall solution which is not capable of handling VLAN traffic. I have been working with pfSense for a while and am getting fairly familiar with it. However, I recently became aware of another product called Untangle and have been playing around with it for the last few days. I have been pouring over forums on both products, and it seems there are camps of people that each like one of the following setups better than the others. My question is this, in order to handle VLAN traffic and protect the network in the most efficient way possible, which of the following setups would be recommended and why:
1 - ISP --> Router --> Untangle (as firewall) --> Core Switch --> Hosts
2 - ISP --> Router --> pfSense (as firewall) --> Core Switch --> Hosts
3 - ISP --> Router --> pfSense (as firewall) --> Untangle (as transparent bridge) --> Core Switch --> Hosts
I currently need to have a minimum of 2 VLANs but can see potential of adding more in the future.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of using one over the other, and is placing Untangle inside the pfSense firewall for reporting only or can I do other useful things with it?
On a related note, I am also moving from a peer to peer network to a Windows domain network. I am accustomed to having a Windows server handle DNS and DHCP. As both of the above products can also handle these tasks, would I be better off using them or sticking with the Windows server option?
I will have ~8 servers and ~75 workstations on this network when finished.
Thank you,
Ryan
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by: admin0Posted on 2009-09-20 at 22:27:56ID: 25380452
Hi,
pfSense is a firewall distro, while untangle has much more filtering capabilities. Based on your specific requirement, and how comfortable you are with both, you can setup either or combination of those in your network.
For vlan support on both, here are the documentations:
http://forums.untangle.com
http://doc.pfsense.org/ind
If you are comfortable with linux, you might feel OK with having the linux boxes handle dns and dhcp. However, if you are from windows for years, and there is no need to close down the windows server, you can continue to use the windows server.
Hope this helps,