This article explains how to send logs from Windows systems to Syslog servers using NXLog (community edition). In this case we’re sending to Syslog listening on TCP. NXLog is easy enough to install but the configuration process is not so easy. Because Windows EventLog uses many more fields than Syslog,
Read moreComparing Syslog Formats – BSD RFC3164 vs IETF RFC5424
This article compares the two Syslog formats. If you can’t decide, consider “IETF RFC 5424”. This article compares two log entries using different Syslog formats. The event is the same for both entries – logging into a Synology server’s web portal. The user “agix” is logging in from host “10.1.1.100”.
Read moreRunning LogStash in Docker
This is a short HowTo for running LogStash in Docker. We’re using Ubuntu 22.04. Install Docker and create our directory structure: apt install docker docker.io mkdir ~/logstash mkdir ~/logstash/config/ ~/logstash/pipeline/ Create the Dockerfile file “~/Dockerfile”: # The image to use: FROM docker.elastic.co/logstash/logstash:8.15.0 # Remove the pre-existing config file from within
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Android VPN (Always On) with pfSense
This article shows the settings on the pfSense and Android device for the always on IPSec VPN. The best article to start with is “https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/recipes/ipsec-mobile-ikev2-client-android.html”. Then compare your settings to those on this page if you need more help than the linked article provides. The VPN cryptographic settings are: Phase
Read moreInstalling Graylog Open on Ubuntu 22.04
This article is a walkthrough for installing “Graylog Open 6” and leverages the documentation at “https://go2docs.graylog.org/current/downloading_and_installing_graylog/ubuntu_installation.html” and “https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/tutorial/install-mongodb-on-ubuntu/”. We’re using Ubuntu 22.04 because 24.04 is not supported using the documentation linked above. We’re starting from a fresh “standard” Ubuntu 22.04 installation. Our resources are “4GB RAM, 8 CPU Cores, 25GB
Read morepfSense in the Cloud with Unifi at the Sites
Case Study – Using pfSense in the cloud while using Unifi at multiple sites around the world Our client had Unifi gear at each site around the world – about 6 sites. The client intended to put their servers in the AWS cloud and link each site to the AWS
Read moreReplacing Firewalls in a Large Medical Corporation
Case Study – Replacing Firewalls in a Large Medical Corporation, and building a large site-to-site VPN with remote-access A client we’ve worked with for a few years decided to move from their existing firewall brand and model to Netgate pfSense. AGIX is a Netgate partner and well suited to assist,
Read moreHigh Performance Health Services Database
Case Study – Boosting performance of a customer management system and hardening systems to improve the cybersecurity posture. A client recently approached us looking for a way to improve the performance of their client management solution (CMS). Staff were complaining of long wait times for reports, slow responses while navigating
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pfBlockerNG and Whitelisting Internal Source Addresses – pfSense
This article explains a method of whitelisting one or more devices on your internal network so that pfBlockerNG doesn’t block those devices/servers due to any configured restrictions. For example, you might block a country using pfBlockerNG’s GeoIP filtering, but you may need one of your internal devices to be able
Read morepfSense Cannot allocate memory with pfBlockerNG – Firewall Rules Not Working
This article discusses the cause and solution to the error message “Cannot allocate memory” relating to pfBlockerBG. In this scenario, we’re using a Netgate 2100 Base firewall appliance. The firewall was receiving the following error message when reloading the filter rules (in “Status – Filter Reload“). There were error(s) loading
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