Archives 2023

Hello everyone in this video i will configure traffic shaping and session limit for my test web server , By enforcing session limits, you can prevent a single client or a group of clients from establishing an excessive number of connections, thus reducing the impact of DDoS attacks, also Web servers have finite resources, including CPU, memory, and network bandwidth.

Allowing too many concurrent sessions can lead to resource exhaustion, resulting in degraded performance or even server crashes. The FortiGate Traffic Shaper is a feature within the Fortinet FortiGate firewall platform that allows you to control and manage network traffic by applying quality of service (QoS) policies. The Traffic Shaper provides a set of tools to shape, control, and monitor network traffic based on predefined policies and rules.

1. Log into the FortiGate Web Interface:

• Open a web browser and enter the IP address of your FortiGate device.
• Log in with administrator credentials.

2. Navigate to Security Policies:

• In the FortiGate web interface, go to “Policy & Objects” or a similar section, depending on your FortiGate’s firmware version.

3. Create or Edit a Security Policy:

• You can either create a new security policy or edit an existing one. A security policy defines the rules for traffic passing through the firewall.

4. Configure the Session Limits:

a. General Settings: – In the security policy configuration, you’ll find an option to set session limits. Look for a section labeled “Session Options” or similar.

b. Select Session Limit Type: – Choose the appropriate session limit type based on your requirements: – Limit: Sets a maximum limit on the total number of concurrent sessions allowed for this policy. – Per-User Limit: Sets a session limit per user, which is useful in user-based authentication scenarios. – Per-IP Limit: Sets a session limit per source IP address.

c. Configure Limit Value: – Specify the numeric value for the session limit. For example, if you chose “Limit” and set the value to 100, this policy would allow a maximum of 100 concurrent sessions.

d. Define Action on Limit: – Choose what should happen when the session limit is reached. Common actions include: – Accept: Continue accepting new sessions, ignoring the limit. – Drop: Reject new sessions once the limit is reached. – Log: Log information about sessions that exceed the limit. – Rate Limit: Throttle the rate of new sessions when the limit is reached.

e. Idle Timeout and Session Timeout: – These settings help manage session duration: – Idle Timeout: Set the maximum time a session can remain idle (no traffic) before it’s terminated. This prevents stale connections from consuming resources. – Session Timeout: Define the maximum duration a session can last before being terminated, regardless of activity.

f. Advanced Session Options (Optional): – Depending on your FortiGate firmware version and specific requirements, you may have additional session-related options to configure. These could include session helpers for specific protocols or advanced settings for more granular control over session behavior.

5. Save and Apply the Configuration:

• Once you’ve configured the session limits according to your requirements, save the changes and apply the updated security policy.

6. Testing and Monitoring:

• Thoroughly test your firewall rules and session limits to ensure they align with your network’s security and performance needs.
• Monitor firewall logs and session statistics to track how the session limits are being enforced and whether any adjustments are needed.

Please note that the exact steps and terminology may vary depending on your FortiGate firmware version. Consult the official Fortinet documentation or seek assistance from Fortinet support for version-specific details or advanced configurations. Additionally, it’s important to regularly review and update your security policies to adapt to changing network requirements and threats.

Hello everyone , in this video I will show you how can migrate Websites in IIS from one server to another servers with all required components by using Web Deploy tools. Let me describe Web Deploy Tools: Web Deploy (also known as MSDeploy) in IIS refers to a technology developed by Microsoft that enables seamless deployment, migration, and synchronization of web applications, websites, and web server configurations across IIS servers. It streamlines the process of exporting and importing IIS configurations and content, making it easier to move web applications between different servers or environments. Web Deploy provides a set of tools and utilities that allow you to Export IIS Configuration and Content, You can use Web Deploy to create a deployment package that includes not only the web application’s files but also the IIS server’s configuration settings. This package captures everything needed for the application to run correctly on another server. Second provided option is  Import and Deploy, On the target server, you can use the same Web Deploy tool to install the application and its associated configurations using the deployment package. This process ensures that the target server’s IIS configuration matches the source server’s configuration. Also you can use Web Deploy to synchronize changes between a source and target server. For example, if you’ve made updates to a web application on your development server, you can use Web Deploy to sync those changes to your staging or production server.

Step 1: Installing Web Deploy

1. Download Web Deploy:
   • Visit the Microsoft Web Deploy download page.
   • Choose the appropriate version of Web Deploy for your operating system and click “Download.”
2. Install Web Deploy:
   • Run the downloaded installer with administrative privileges (right-click and choose “Run as administrator”).
   • Follow the installation wizard:
     • Accept the license terms.
     • Choose the installation location (you can leave it as the default).
     • Select the components to install. Make sure to select at least the following:
       • Web Deployment Tool
       • IIS Deployment Handler
       • Management Service Delegation UI
     • Click “Install” to begin the installation.

Step 2: Configuring IIS for Web Deploy

1. Open IIS Manager:
   • Press Win + R, type inetmgr, and press Enter to open the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
2. Enable Management Service:
   • In IIS Manager, select your server node (usually the top node in the Connections pane on the left).
3. Double-Click on “Management Service” under the “Management” section in the middle pane.
4. Configure Management Service:
   • Check the “Enable remote connections” checkbox to allow remote management of the IIS server.
   • Set the “Start Type” to “Automatic” to ensure the service starts automatically with Windows.
   • Specify a unique port for the management service (default is 8172).
   • You can also configure other settings like SSL and client certificates if needed.
5. Configure Permissions:
   • Under “Management Service Delegation,” you can configure permissions for various users and roles. Click “Add User…” to specify the users or groups that should have permission to deploy websites.
6. Apply Changes:
   • Click the “Apply” button to save your configuration.

Step 3: Exporting and Importing Websites with Application Pools

Now that Web Deploy is installed and IIS is configured, you can use Web Deploy to export and import websites with application pools.

Export a Website:

1. Open a Command Prompt:
   • Press Win + X and choose “Command Prompt (Admin)” to open a command prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Run the Export Command:
   • Use the msdeploy command to export a website. Replace placeholders with actual values:
   bashCopy codemsdeploy -verb:sync -source:webServer,computerName=<ServerName>,userName=<Username>,password=<Password> -dest:package=<PathToPackage.zip> -enableRule:AppPoolExtension
   • <ServerName>: Replace with the server name or IP address.
   • <Username> and <Password>: Replace with the credentials of an account with sufficient permissions.
   • <PathToPackage.zip>: Specify the path where you want to save the exported package.

Import a Website:

1. Open a Command Prompt:
   • Open a command prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Run the Import Command:
   • Use the msdeploy command to import a website. Replace placeholders with actual values:
   bashCopy codemsdeploy -verb:sync -source:package=<PathToPackage.zip>,includeAcls=“False” -dest:webServer,computerName=<ServerName>,userName=<Username>,password=<Password>
   • <PathToPackage.zip>: Specify the path to the package you want to import.
   • <ServerName>: Replace with the server name or IP address.
   • <Username> and <Password>: Replace with the credentials of an account with sufficient permissions.
3. Execute the Command:
   • Execute the command, and the website with its associated application pool will be imported to the target server.

By following these detailed steps, you should be able to successfully install Web Deploy, configure IIS for remote management, and perform website export and import operations with application pools. Always exercise caution when making changes to production servers and ensure you have backups in place.

Hello every one , in this video I will show you how can convert your certificate and key file to pfx format and also how to import that pfx in IIS webserver . as you know import pfx ssl certificate is easiest way to import in IIS.

Acquire an SSL Certificate:

• You can obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) or through a third-party provider.
• Alternatively, you can create a self-signed certificate for testing purposes, but it won’t be trusted by browsers.

2. Generate a PFX File:

• Once you have the SSL certificate, you need to generate a PFX (Personal Information Exchange) file. This file will contain both the certificate and the private key.

Using OpenSSL (for Windows):

• Download and install OpenSSL for Windows if you don’t have it already.
• Open a command prompt and navigate to the OpenSSL bin directory.
• Run the following command to generate a PFX file:

openssl pkcs12 -export -out yourdomain.pfx -inkey yourdomain.key -in yourdomain.crt

• Replace yourdomain.pfx, yourdomain.key, and yourdomain.crt with your actual file names.

3. Install the SSL Certificate in IIS:

• Open the IIS Manager:
  • Press Win + R, type inetmgr, and press Enter.
• In the left-hand Connections pane, select your server node.
• In the right-hand Actions pane, click on “Server Certificates.”

For a Self-Signed Certificate:

• Click “Create Self-Signed Certificate” on the right-hand side.
• Follow the wizard, providing a friendly name for the certificate.

For a Commercial Certificate:

• Click “Import” and follow the wizard, selecting the PFX file you generated.
• Enter the PFX password when prompted.

4. Bind the SSL Certificate to a Website:

• In the IIS Manager, expand the Sites node in the Connections pane.
• Select the website you want to secure with HTTPS.
• In the right-hand Actions pane, click on “Bindings.”
• Click “Add” to add a new binding.
• Set the type to “https” and select the SSL certificate you installed earlier.
• Choose an appropriate IP address and port (usually 443).
• Click OK to save the binding.

5. Configure HTTPS in IIS:

• Make sure the URL Rewrite module is installed in IIS. You can download it if needed.
• In your website settings, go to the “SSL Settings.”
• Check the box that says “Require SSL” to force HTTPS.

6. Test the Configuration:

• Open a web browser and enter your site’s URL with “https://” (e.g., https://yourdomain.com).
• Ensure that the connection is secure and that your SSL certificate is valid.

By following these steps, you’ll generate a PFX file, install an SSL certificate in IIS, and configure HTTPS for your website. This will help secure the data transmitted between the client and your web server.

Hello everyone, today I am going to show you how to automatically back up your FortiGate configuration. As you know, backing up the configuration is crucial for every network engineer. Sometimes, network engineers forget to download backups of their configurations. If you follow along with me in this video, your firewall configuration will be automatically backed up every day. Additionally, every time an admin user logs in to the FortiGate, it will also generate the configuration and upload it to SFTP.

Step 1: Access the FortiGate Web Interface

1. Open a web browser and enter the IP address or hostname of your FortiGate device to access its web interface.

Step 2: Log in 2. Log in to the FortiGate web interface with administrative credentials.

Step 3: Configure the SFTP Server

a. Navigate to System > Config > Features. b. Locate the “Backup” section and ensure that “Enable SFTP” is enabled. This allows the FortiGate device to communicate with the SFTP server for backup purposes.

Step 4: Create a Backup Profile

a. Go to System > Admin > Settings. b. Under Backup, you’ll find the “Backup Profiles” section. Click on the “Create New” button to create a new backup profile.

Step 5: Configure the Backup Profile

a. In the “Create New Backup Profile” window, provide a descriptive name for the profile. This name will help you identify the backup profile later. b. Select the frequency at which you want backups to occur. You can choose from options like daily, weekly, or monthly. c. Specify the time of day when the backup should be initiated. Choose a time that is convenient and doesn’t disrupt your network operations. d. Under the “Backup Location” section, select “SFTP Server” as the backup destination.

Step 6: Configure SFTP Server Settings

a. After selecting “SFTP Server,” you’ll need to enter the following details for your SFTP server: – Server IP Address or Hostname: This is the address of your SFTP server where backups will be sent. – Port: Typically, SFTP uses port 22, but ensure it matches your SFTP server’s configuration. – Username: Provide the SFTP username for authentication. – Password: Enter the password associated with the SFTP username. – Directory: Specify the directory on the SFTP server where you want to store the FortiGate backups.

Step 7: Schedule the Backup

a. After configuring the SFTP server settings, go to System > Config > Backup. b. Click on “Create New” to create a new backup schedule. c. In the “Create New Backup Schedule” window: – Select the backup profile you created in the previous step from the dropdown menu. – Choose the days of the week for backups (for weekly backups) or the day of the month (for monthly backups).

Step 8: Review and Apply Configuration

a. Review your backup configuration to ensure that all settings are accurate and complete. b. Click “Apply” or “OK” to save and apply the changes.

With these detailed steps, your FortiGate device is now configured to automatically back up its configuration to the specified SFTP server at the scheduled time and frequency you defined. Regularly verify the backups to ensure they are functioning correctly and provide a reliable safeguard for your firewall’s settings.

Hello everyone , in this video I will describe and configure vlan on hp switch and assign vlans to ports as access and trunk. In HP (Hewlett-Packard) networking switches, “tagged” and “untagged” are terms commonly used to describe how VLANs (Virtual LANs) are handled on switch ports. Tagged ports are used to carry traffic for multiple VLANs simultaneously. These ports are typically used to interconnect switches or to connect devices that need to communicate with multiple VLANs. Tagged ports are also known as “trunk” ports in Cisco networking terminology. Untagged ports are used to connect end-user devices, such as computers, printers, or IP phones, to the network. Each untagged port is associated with a specific VLAN. Untagged ports are also known as “access” ports in cisco networking terminology.

Tagged Ports (Trunk Ports): Tagged ports are used to interconnect switches, routers, or other networking devices and carry traffic for multiple VLANs. They are configured with additional information called VLAN tags, which helps identify which VLAN each Ethernet frame belongs to. Here are the key details:

• Port Configuration: To configure a port as tagged (trunk), you typically need to access the switch’s command-line interface or web-based management interface.

In Cisco devices, you might use commands like:

interface GigabitEthernet0/1

switchport mode trunk

switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20,30

switchport trunk native vlan 10

In HP/Aruba switches, you might use commands like:

vlan 10

tagged 1-48

• VLAN Membership: You specify which VLANs can traverse the tagged port using the “switchport trunk allowed vlan” (Cisco) or “tagged” (HP/Aruba) command. In the example above, VLANs 10, 20, and 30 are allowed to traverse the trunk port.
• Native VLAN: The native VLAN is used for untagged frames on a tagged port. In the Cisco example, VLAN 10 is the native VLAN. Any untagged traffic entering the port is treated as part of this VLAN.

Untagged Ports (Access Ports): Untagged ports are used to connect end-user devices, such as computers, phones, or printers, to the network. They are associated with a single VLAN, and traffic on these ports is not tagged with VLAN information. Here are the key details:

• Port Configuration: To configure a port as untagged (access), you typically follow a similar process as configuring tagged ports through the switch’s management interface or CLI.

In Cisco devices, you might use commands like:

interface FastEthernet0/1

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 10

In HP/Aruba switches, you might use commands like:

• VLAN Assignment: You specify which VLAN the port is associated with using the “switchport access vlan” (Cisco) or “untagged” (HP/Aruba) command. In the examples above, the port is assigned to VLAN 10.

Use Cases:

• Tagged Ports: Tagged ports are used for scenarios where you need to carry traffic for multiple VLANs between network devices. Common use cases include connecting switches together, connecting to routers that perform inter-VLAN routing, and connecting to virtualization hosts where multiple virtual networks exist.
• Untagged Ports: Untagged ports are used to connect end devices to the network. For example, a computer in a specific department would connect to an untagged port in that department’s VLAN, ensuring that all its traffic is part of that VLAN.

In summary, configuring tagged and untagged ports correctly is crucial for effective VLAN management. Tagged ports allow traffic from multiple VLANs to traverse a single physical link, while untagged ports connect end devices to a specific VLAN. This segmentation helps in maintaining network security, optimizing traffic flow, and organizing network resources.

Hi everyone , you can download Cisco Router ISO file from here and install on your GNS3 or EVE-NG platforms

Download Cisco C7200

Hi , You can download fortigate latest version firmware to install in your virtualization environment from this link

Download Fortigate VM Firmware

Hello everyone ,

you can download cisco ASA Firmware for your GNS or Eve-NG virtualization from this link.

Download Cisco ASA Image

Hello everyone , in this video I will integrate my fortigate firewall with windows active directory , by doing this I can write the policies based on logged on users to their desktops , for example for one security group I can write a policy that can be access to facebook and for another group facebook will be blocked , or allow internet just for specific users that raised in security. Writing policies is depend on your environment.

1. Understanding Active Directory:

• Active Directory is a Microsoft directory service that stores information about objects on a network, such as users, computers, groups, and more.
• It provides centralized authentication and authorization services for network resources.

2. Purpose of Integration:

• Integrating FortiGate with Active Directory helps streamline user authentication and access control for network resources.
• It simplifies user management by allowing administrators to use AD user accounts for firewall policies.

3. Steps for FortiGate Active Directory Integration:

a. Configuration in Active Directory: – Ensure your Active Directory is properly configured with user accounts, groups, and organizational units (OUs).

b. FortiGate Web Interface Access: – Access the FortiGate web interface using a web browser.

c. Create a New LDAP Server Object: – Navigate to the “System” menu and select “Authentication” > “LDAP Servers.” – Click “Create New” to add a new LDAP server object. – Configure the LDAP server settings, including the server’s IP address or hostname, port (typically 389 for LDAP, 636 for LDAPS), and authentication credentials (usually a service account in AD).

d. Test LDAP Server Connectivity: – After configuring the LDAP server object, you can test the connectivity to ensure FortiGate can communicate with your AD server.

e. Create LDAP Authentication Group: – Go to “User & Device” > “User Definition” > “LDAP Servers.” – Create an LDAP authentication group and specify the LDAP server you created earlier.

f. Define Firewall Policies: – Create firewall policies that use LDAP authentication groups for user-based access control. – For example, you can define policies that allow or deny access to specific resources based on user group membership.

g. User Authentication: – When a user attempts to access a network resource, FortiGate will use the LDAP server to verify the user’s credentials. – Users will need to enter their AD username and password for authentication.

4. Additional Considerations:

• Security: Ensure secure communication between FortiGate and Active Directory by using LDAPS (LDAP over SSL/TLS) for encrypted communication.
• User Mapping: FortiGate can map AD groups to local FortiGate groups, simplifying policy management.
• Fallback Mechanisms: Configure fallback authentication methods in case the LDAP server is unreachable or for users not in AD.

5. Monitoring and Maintenance:

• Regularly monitor the integration for any issues, such as LDAP server connectivity problems or changes in AD group memberships.
• Keep FortiGate and Active Directory servers up-to-date with security patches.

Hello everyone , in this video I am going to install and configure vmware vsphere replication , by using this tools you can replicate virtual machines disks from one one datastore to another datastore. For example you can replicate your disks to disaster center datastore and if your server gets down you can bring up or restore your virtual machine in your disaster center in some seconds ,

Prerequisites:

Before you begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:

1. VMware Infrastructure: You should have a VMware vSphere environment set up with at least two vCenter Servers or ESXi hosts that you want to replicate VMs between.
2. Network Connectivity: Ensure that there is proper network connectivity between the source and target vSphere environments. This includes firewalls, routers, and other networking components.
3. vSphere Replication Appliance: Download the vSphere Replication appliance OVA file from the VMware website or portal.
4. Licensing: Ensure that you have the necessary licensing for vSphere Replication. It’s typically included with VMware’s vSphere Essentials Plus and higher editions.

Installation and Configuration:

Follow these steps to install and configure VMware vSphere Replication:

1. Deploy vSphere Replication Appliance:
   • Log in to the vCenter Server where you want to deploy the vSphere Replication Appliance.
   • From the vCenter Web Client, select “Hosts and Clusters.”
   • Right-click on a host or cluster and select “Deploy OVF Template.”
   • Browse to the location of the vSphere Replication Appliance OVA file and follow the deployment wizard, specifying network settings, deployment size, and other necessary configurations.
2. Configure vSphere Replication Appliance:
   • After deploying the appliance, power it on and access the web-based management interface by entering its IP address in a web browser.
   • Log in with the default credentials (admin/vcdr).
3. Pair vSphere Replication Appliances:
   • In the vSphere Replication management interface, select the “Configuration” tab.
   • Under “VR Servers,” click on “Add VR Server” to add the remote vSphere Replication Appliance. This pairs the appliances from the source and target sites.
4. Create Replication VMs:
   • In the vSphere Web Client, navigate to the VM you want to replicate.
   • Right-click on the VM, select “All vSphere Replication Actions,” and then choose “Configure Replication.”
   • Follow the wizard to configure replication settings, including the target location, RPO (Recovery Point Objective), and other options.
5. Monitor and Manage Replications:
   • In the vSphere Replication management interface, you can monitor and manage replication jobs.
   • You can perform actions like starting, stopping, or deleting replications, monitoring replication status, and configuring email notifications for replication events.
6. Failover and Recovery:
   • In the event of a disaster or for planned migrations, you can initiate a failover to the replicated VMs in the target site.
7. Testing and Validation:
   • It’s crucial to periodically test and validate your replication setup to ensure it meets your recovery objectives.
8. Documentation and Best Practices:
   • Consult VMware’s documentation and best practices guides for vSphere Replication to optimize your setup and ensure data integrity.