The Firewall Services Module (FWSM) is a high-performance stateful-inspection firewall that integrates into the Cisco® 6500 switch and 7600 router chassis. The FWSM monitors traffic flows using application inspection engines to provide a strong level of network security. The FWSM defines the security parameter and enables the enforcement of security policies through authentication, access control lists, and protocol inspection. The FWSM is a key component to anyone deploying network security.

Cisco Secure Firewall Services Module (FWSM) covers all aspects of the FWSM. The book provides a detailed look at how the FWSM processes information, as well as installation advice, configuration details, recommendations for network integration, and reviews of operation and management. This book provides you with a single source that comprehensively answers how and why the FWSM functions as it does. This information enables you to successfully deploy the FWSM and gain the greatest functional benefit from your deployment. Practical examples throughout show you how other customers have successfully deployed the FWSM.

By reading this book, you will learn how the FWSM functions, the differences between the FWSM and the ASA Security Appliance, how to implement and maintain the FWSM, the latest features of the FWSM, and how to configure common installations.

Ray Blair, CCIE® No. 7050, is a consulting systems architect who has been with Cisco for more than 8 years, working primarily on security and large network designs. He has 20 years of experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining networks that have included nearly all networking technologies. Mr. Blair maintains three CCIE certifications in Routing and Switching, Security, and Service Provider. He is also a CNE and a CISSP.

Arvind Durai, CCIE No. 7016, is an advanced services technical leader for Cisco. His primary responsibility has been in supporting major Cisco customers in the enterprise sector. One of his focuses has been on security, and he has authored several white papers and design guides in various technologies. Mr. Durai maintains two CCIE certifications, in Routing and Switching and Security.

Understand modes of operation, security levels, and contexts for the FWSM
Configure routing protocols and the host-chassis to support the FWSM
Deploy ACLs and Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)
Apply class and policy maps
Configure multiple FWSMs for failover support
Configure application and protocol inspection
Filter traffic using filter servers, ActiveX, and Java filtering functions
Learn how IP multicast and the FWSM interact
Increase performance with firewall load balancing
Configure IPv6 and asymmetric routing
Mitigate network attacks using shunning, anti-spoofing, connection limits, and timeouts
Examine network design, management, and troubleshooting best practices

This security book is part of the Cisco Press® Networking Technology series. Security titles from Cisco Press help networking professionals secure critical data and resources, prevent and mitigate network attacks, and build end-to-end self-defending networks.

Category: Networking: Security

Covers: Firewall security

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Extras

Network Security Inside and Out: An Interview with Arvind Durai and Ray Blair

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Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Understanding Cisco Secure Firewall Services Module 4.x Routing and Feature Enhancements

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Introduction

Part I Introduction

Chapter 1 Types of Firewalls

Understanding Packet-Filtering Firewalls 5

Advantages 5

Caveats 6

Understanding Application/Proxy Firewalls 7

Advantages 8

Caveats 8

Understanding Reverse-Proxy Firewalls

Advantages

Caveats

Utilizing Packet Inspection

Reusing IP Addresses

NAT

PAT

Summary

Chapter 2 Overview of the Firewall Services Module

Specifications

Installation

Performance

Virtualization

Comparing the FWSM to Other Security Devices

IOS FW

PIX

ASA

Hardware Architecture

Software Architecture

Summary

Chapter 3 Examining Modes of Operation

Working with Transparent Mode

Advantages

Disadvantages

Traffic Flow

Multiple Bridge Groups

Working with Routed Mode

Advantages

Disadvantages

Traffic Flow

Summary

References

Chapter 4 Understanding Security Levels

Traffic Flow Between Interfaces

Network Address Translation/Port Address Translation

Static NAT

Number of Simultaneous TCP Connections

Number of Embryonic Connections

DNS

Norandomseq

TCP

UDP

Static PAT

Dynamic NAT

Dynamic PAT

NAT Control

NAT Bypass

NAT 0 or Identity NAT

Static Identity NAT

Summary

References

Chapter 5 Understanding Contexts

Benefits of Multiple Contexts

Separating Security Policies

Leveraging the Hardware Investment

Disadvantages of Multiple Contexts

Adding and Removing Contexts

Adding a Context

Removing a Context

Storing Configuration Files

Changing Between Contexts

Understanding Resource Management

Memory Partitions

Summary

Part II Initial Configuration

Chapter 6 Configuring and Securing the 6500/7600 Chassis

Understanding the Interaction Between the Host-Chassis and the FWSM

Assigning Interfaces

Securing the 6500/7600 (Host-Chassis)

Controlling Physical Access

Being Mindful of Environmental Considerations

Controlling Management Access

Disabling Unnecessary Services

Controlling Access Using Port-Based Security

Controlling Spanning Tree

Leveraging Access Control Lists

Securing Layer 3

Leveraging Control Plane Policing

Protecting a Network Using Quality of Service

Employing Additional Security Features

Summary

References

Chapter 7 Configuring the FWSM

Configuring FWSM in the Switch

Exploring Routed Mode

Exploring Transparent Mode

Using Multiple Context Mode for FWSM

Context Configurations

System Context Configurations

Admin Context Configurations

Packet Classifier in FWSM Context Mode

Understanding Resource Management in Contexts

Configuration Steps for Firewall Services Module

Type 1: Configuring Single Context Routed Mode

Type 2: Configuring Single Context Transparent Mode

Type 3: Configuring Multiple Context Mixed Mode

Summary

Chapter 8 Access Control Lists

Introducing Types of Access Lists

Understanding Access Control Entry

Understanding Access List Commit

Understanding Object Groups

Monitoring Access List Resources

Configuring Object Groups and Access Lists

Working with Protocol Type

Working with Network Type

Working with Service Type

Working with Nesting Type

Working with EtherType

Summary

Chapter 9 Configuring Routing Protocols

Supporting Routing Methods

Static Routes

Default Routes

Open Shortest Path First

SPF Algorithm

OSPF Network Types

Concept of Areas

OSPF Link State Advertisement

Types of Stub Area in OSPF

OSPF in FWSM

OSPF Configuration in FWSM

Interface-Based Configuration for OSPF Parameters

Summarization

Stub Configuration

NSSA Configuration

Default Route Information

Timers

OSPF Design Example 1

OSPF Design Example 2

Routing Information Protocol

RIP in FWSM

Configuration Example of RIP on FWSM

Border Gateway Protocol

BGP in FWSM

BGP Topology with FWSM

Summary

Chapter 10 AAA Overview

Understanding AAA Components

Authentication in FWSM

Authorization in FWSM

Accounting in FWSM

Comparing Security Protocols

Understanding Two-Step Authentication

Understanding Fallback Support

Configuring Fallback Authentication

Configuring Local Authorization

Understanding Cut-Through Proxy in FWSM

Configuring Custom Login Prompts

Using MAC Addresses to Exempt Traffic from Authentication and Authorization

Summary

Chapter 11 Modular Policy

Using Modular Policy in FWSM

Understanding Classification of Traffic

Understanding Application Engines

Defining Policy Maps

Configuring Global Policy

Configuring Service Policy

Understanding Default Policy Map

Sample Configuration of Modular Policy in FWSM

Summary

Part III Advanced Configuration

Chapter 12 Understanding Failover in FWSM

Creating Redundancy in the FWSM

Understanding Active/Standby Mode

Understanding Active/Active Mode

Understanding Failover Link and State Link

Requirements for Failover

Synchronizing the Primary and Secondary Firewalls

Monitoring Interfaces

Configuring Poll Intervals

Design Principle for Monitoring Interfaces

Configuring Single Context FWSM Failover

Configuring Multiple Context FWSM Failover

Summary

Chapter 13 Understanding Application Protocol Inspection

Inspecting Hypertext Transfer Protocol

Inspecting File Transfer Protocol

Working with Supported Applications

Configuring ARP

Inspecting ARP

Configuring Parameters for ARP

Configuring MAC Entries

Adding Static Entries

Summary

References

Chapter 14 Filtering

Working with URLs and FTP

Configuring ActiveX and Java

Summary

References

Chapter 15 Managing and Monitoring the FWSM

Using Telnet

Using Secure Shell

Using Adaptive Security Device Manager

Configuring the FWSM Using ASDM

Managing the FWSM from the Client

Securing Access

Configuring the FWSM for VPN Termination

Configuring the VPN Client

Working with Simple Network Management Protocol

Examining Syslog

Working with Cisco Security Manager

Monitoring Analysis and Response System

Summary

References

Chapter 16 Multicast

Protocol Independent Multicast

Understanding Rendezvous Point

PIM Interface Modes

IGMP Protocol

Multicast Stub Configuration

Multicast Traffic Across Firewalls

FWSM 1.x and 2.x Code Releases

FWSM 3.x Code Release

Configuration Methods

Method 1: Configuration Example for Multicast Through Firewall in Single Context Routed Mode

Method 2: Configuration Example for Multicast Through Firewall via GRE

Method 3: Configuration Example for Multicast Through Transparent Firewall in Multiple Context Mode

Summary

Chapter 17 Asymmetric Routing

Asymmetric Routing Without a Firewall

Asymmetric Traffic Flow in a Firewall Environment

Avoiding Asymmetric Routing Through Firewalls

Option 1: Symmetric Routing Through Firewalls

Option 2: Firewall Redundancy and Routing Redundancy Symmetry

Supporting Asymmetric Routing in FWSM

Asymmetric Routing Support in Active/Standby Mode

Asymmetric Routing Support in Active/Active Mode

Configuring ASR in FWSM

Summary

Chapter 18 Firewall Load Balancing

Reasons for Load Balancing Firewalls

Design Requirements for Firewall Load Balancing

Firewall Load-Balancing Solutions

Firewall Load Balancing with Policy-Based Routing

Firewall Load Balancing with Content Switch Module

Configuring the CSM

Snapshot Configuration for CSM Supporting Firewall Load Balancing

Firewall Load Balancing Using the Application Control Engine

ACE Design for Firewall Load Balancing

Firewall Load Balancing Configuration Example

OUT2IN Policy Configuration

Firewall Configuration

IN2OUT Policy Configuration

Summary

Chapter 19 IP Version 6

Understanding IPv6 Packet Header

Examining IPv6 Address Types

Neighbor Discovery Protocol

IPv6 in FWSM

Configuring Multiple Features of IPv6 in FWSM

Interface Configuration

Router Advertisement

Duplicate Address Detection

Timer for Duplicate Address Detection

Configuring Access Lists

Configuring Static Routes

Configuring IPv6 Timers in FWSM

Configuring IPv6 in FWSM

Configuring PFC (Layer 3 Device) on the Outside Security Domain

Configuring FWSM

Configuring a Layer 3 Device on the Inside Security Domain

Verify the Functionality of FWSM

Working with the showCommand for IPv6 in FWSM

Summary

Chapter 20 Preventing Network Attacks

Protecting Networks

Shunning Attackers

Spoofing

Understanding Connection Limits and Timeouts

Configuring Connection Limits

Configuring Timeouts

Summary

References

Chapter 21 Troubleshooting the FWSM

Understanding Troubleshooting Logic

Assessing Issues Logically

Connectivity Test of a Flow at the FWSM

Troubleshooting Flow Issues

FAQs for Troubleshooting

How Do You Verify Whether the Traffic Is Forwarded to a Particular Interface in the FWSM?

How Do I Verify ACL Resource Limits?

How Do I Verify the Connectivity and Packet Flow Through the Firewall?

What Is Network Analysis Module?

What Are Some Useful Management and Monitoring Tools?

How Do I Recover Passwords?

Summary

Part IV Design Guidelines and Configuration Examples

Chapter 22 Designing a Network Infrastructure

Determining Design Considerations

Documenting the Process

Determining Deployment Options

Determining Placement

Working with FWSM and the Enterprise Perimeter

FWSM in the Datacenter

Throughput

Flexibility

Availability

Supporting Virtualized Networks

Summary

Reference

Chapter 23 Design Scenarios

Layer 3 VPN (VRF) Terminations at FWSM

Configuring the PFC

Configuring the FWSM

Failover Configuration in Mixed Mode

Interdomain Communication of Different Security Zones Through a Single FWSM

Configuring the PFC

FWSM Configuration

Dynamic Learning of Routes with FWSM

Single Box Solution with OSPF

Data Center Environment with the FWSM

Method 1: Layer 3 VPN Segregation with Layer 3 FWSM (Multiple Context Mode)

Method 2: Layer 3 VPN Segregation with Layer 2 FWSM (Multiple Context Mode)

PVLAN and FWSM

PVLAN Configuration in FWSM

Design Scenario 1 for PVLAN in FWSM

Design Scenario 2 for PVLAN in FWSM

Configuring PVLAN

Summary

Part V FWSM 4.x

Chapter 24 FWSM 4.x Performance and Scalability Improvements

Increasing Performance by Leveraging the Supervisor

Using the PISA for Enhanced Traffic Detection

Improving Memory

Partitioning Memory

Reallocating Rules

Optimizing ACL

Summary

Chapter 25 Understanding FWSM 4.x Routing and Feature Enhancements

Configuring EIGRP

Configuring Route Health Injection

Understanding Application Support

Configuring Regular Expressions

Understanding Application Inspection Improvements

Additional Support for Simple Network Management Protocol Management Information Base

Miscellaneous Security Features

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Option 82

Smartfilter HTTPS Support

Summary

References

1587053535 TOC 8/12/2008

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Cisco Secure Firewall Services Module (FWSM)

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Cisco Secure Firewall Services Module (FWSM)

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Description

Extras

Related Article

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Sample Pages

Table of Contents

Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

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Overview

Collection and Use of Information

Questions and Inquiries

Online Store

Surveys

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