Two Subnets Separate Interfaces Communication Fix?
Hello, all... thank you for your help in advance.
I have two networks running on a Mikrotik RB450G. Here's what I wanted to accomplish:
Two subnets on two different interfaces:
eth1: WAN
eth2: LAN
eth5: LAN2
(ports 3 and 4 will be used later for switching)
eth2: LAN subnet: 10.10.23.0/24
eth5: LAN2 subnet: 172.16.23.0/25
Both of these subnets are in the firewall address list under a single name so they may share the firewall filter and nat rules.
I set up separate pools/dhcp servers for both interfaces. It all seemed to go well except for the fact that I could ping between the subnets! I was always under the impression they would not be able to communicate.
For example, a machine connected to eth5, received an IP of 172.16.23.124 and was able to ping every address on the other subnet residing in eth2 (10.10.23.0/24). In short, I was able to get to any machine on the other interface.
The way I solved it is that I simply added a firewall filter entry that will drop any connection attempt on the input chain that is from interface LAN2 with a dst address of 10.10.23.0/24, and in the forward chain with an input interface of LAN2 and output interface of LAN.
Still with me? Thanks! :)
This solved the entire problem. Neither subnet can communicate with the other, which is what I wanted. Both interfaces can access the internet and the dns server on the 450G is serving them both well.
My question is... (FINALLY!): Was this the proper method of accomplishing what I set out to do? I really thought that if there were two interfaces running two different subnets they should inherently not be able to talk to each other. Did I simply patch a hole without addressing another bigger issue, or is this the way it is supposed to work?
Thoughts/comments are appreciated.
I have two networks running on a Mikrotik RB450G. Here's what I wanted to accomplish:
Two subnets on two different interfaces:
eth1: WAN
eth2: LAN
eth5: LAN2
(ports 3 and 4 will be used later for switching)
eth2: LAN subnet: 10.10.23.0/24
eth5: LAN2 subnet: 172.16.23.0/25
Both of these subnets are in the firewall address list under a single name so they may share the firewall filter and nat rules.
I set up separate pools/dhcp servers for both interfaces. It all seemed to go well except for the fact that I could ping between the subnets! I was always under the impression they would not be able to communicate.
For example, a machine connected to eth5, received an IP of 172.16.23.124 and was able to ping every address on the other subnet residing in eth2 (10.10.23.0/24). In short, I was able to get to any machine on the other interface.
The way I solved it is that I simply added a firewall filter entry that will drop any connection attempt on the input chain that is from interface LAN2 with a dst address of 10.10.23.0/24, and in the forward chain with an input interface of LAN2 and output interface of LAN.
Still with me? Thanks! :)
This solved the entire problem. Neither subnet can communicate with the other, which is what I wanted. Both interfaces can access the internet and the dns server on the 450G is serving them both well.
My question is... (FINALLY!): Was this the proper method of accomplishing what I set out to do? I really thought that if there were two interfaces running two different subnets they should inherently not be able to talk to each other. Did I simply patch a hole without addressing another bigger issue, or is this the way it is supposed to work?
Thoughts/comments are appreciated.
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> Was this the proper method of accomplishing what I set out to do?
Simply yes, adding filters to deny between subnets is ultimately what you wanted to accomplish
Simply yes, adding filters to deny between subnets is ultimately what you wanted to accomplish
Sounds like you did a nice job.
Another way to accomplish this is a more manual approach, but also workable.
You would need an additional equipment.
Internet feed --> to WAN Port on Router (in bridge mode) serving multiple public IPs -->> Router's Ethernet Port to -->> Port 1 on a basic 4-port switch (100/1000) switch (managed or unmanaged):
Switch Port 2) to -->> to Firewall A untrust Port, Subnet A -->> Switch A for Network A
Switch Port 3) to -->> to Firewall B untrust port, Subnet B -->> Switch B for Network B
Result: Two Networks, Two Subnets, One Internet Feed no cross talk.
Downside, higher equipment cost. I would keep what you have.
Another way to accomplish this is a more manual approach, but also workable.
You would need an additional equipment.
Internet feed --> to WAN Port on Router (in bridge mode) serving multiple public IPs -->> Router's Ethernet Port to -->> Port 1 on a basic 4-port switch (100/1000) switch (managed or unmanaged):
Switch Port 2) to -->> to Firewall A untrust Port, Subnet A -->> Switch A for Network A
Switch Port 3) to -->> to Firewall B untrust port, Subnet B -->> Switch B for Network B
Result: Two Networks, Two Subnets, One Internet Feed no cross talk.
Downside, higher equipment cost. I would keep what you have.
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Some firewalls allow inter-vlan traffic by default, some don't.
Adding/modifying the security rules is the proper method.