How to connect Palo Alto Next Generation Firewall VM to GNS 3.pdf

How to connect Palo Alto Next Generation Firewall VM to GNS 3

In this guide I will show how to connect VMware running Palo Alto Next Generation Firewall image to GNS3 and configure some of the basic functions. First things first, we need to install VMware Workstation(Virtual Box will not work with Palo Alto coz we need to use VMXNET 3 drivers) After successful instalation of VMware, we need to add some local host adapters. My configuration will be based on the network topology shown below:

So, we will need 5 adapters; VMnet 0 for our management interface (default range used by PA = 192.168.1.0 but I need to change it for my tests). VMnet 1 for internal network (INSIDE). VMnet 2 for external network(OUTSIDE). VMnet 3 for DMZ network. VMnet 4 for Windows XP (this one is optional).

Next, we need to add our adapters to PA virtual machine;

Now we will need to edit the VMX file;

We need to change all ethernet”x”.VirtualDev  values to vmxnet3;

Now we can login into our device(default username and password admin/admin. But If it will not work try to set some random values to ethernet”x”.VirtualDev this will force the VM to start in some kind of “same mode” and then you can restore the default settings. After successful login we need to set up our management interface.

Ip address 172.168.1.150 Default-gateway 172.168.1.2 (in my case this is ip address of Router 2 interface) Dns server 8.8.8.8 After configuration we need to use command “commit” to save configuration.

Now we need to match MAC addresses used by PA interfaces with our VM adapters;

Ethernet1/1 = VMnet 1 Ethernet1/2 = VMnet 2 Ethernet1/3 = VMnet 3

Now we can access GUI by web browser using https://172.168.1.150

Like in CLI we need to login using name= admin and password=admin Dashboard looks like that; (I have cleared out the dashboard for a bit ; )

We need to create 3 zones. Under Network chose Zones and then Add.

Next we need to configure Interface management profile. We can define what kind of services will be allowed. Under Network chose Network Profiles -> Interface Mgmt -> Add.

Now we can go to configuration of our interfaces; Under Network chose Interfaces and Add For interface ethernet 1/1 configuration looks like this: Interface Type Layer 3 Virtual Router default (if you need to split your routing table you can create as many virtual routers as you need and assign them to different interfaces).

Next we need to give the interface an IP address 10.128.1.1/24.

Now we need to assign our management profile to our interface. Under the ethernet interface chose Advenced then Other info and chose management profile;

Remember to use the commit button to save your configuration. Creation of all interfaces looks the same. The final configuration should look like this;

Once everything is up and running the Link State should have green colour.

Now we can go to configuration some static routes (to subnet 10.0.0.0 and internet) Under Virtual router chose “default” Static Routes and Add

Now we can configure some NAT rules. At first, we need to configure the dynamic NAT to enable connection to the internet for hosts placed in our INSIDE zone. Under Policies chose NAT and Add.

Next we need to select the source zone and destination zone;

Next we need to select translation type and interface which is facing the internet.

In case of static NAT I cannot show the right way to do this, so mb someone else would explain it ;) Now we can configure some security policies to allow or deny connections between two zones. Under Policies chose Security and Add. Now we need to name our security policy.

Select the source zone.

Select the destination zone.

Select applications.

Now we can chose whether we want to allow or deny connections through selected applications between zone INSIDE and OUTSIDE.

Security policies for other zones;

Sample of traffic logs (you need to have licensed version of PA to check logs)

Under ACC you can check specific information about applications.

I hope this guide will useful for someone  Happy labbing