Skip to main content

  • ManageEngine

    OpManager: Network & DC Monitoring

    Monitor & Manage Network, Datacenters, endpoints & more.

  • ManageEngine

    Patch Manager Plus

    Patch 750+ applications through one reliable platform

Latest Articles

Palo Alto Networks

Configuring QoS on Palo Alto Firewalls: Class-based Policies, QoS Profiles, Enabling QoS on Firewall Interfaces

Palo Alto Firewalls - Understanding and configuring QoSThis article’s purpose is to help you quickly master Palo Alto QoS concepts and learn to configure QoS on Palo Alto Firewalls in a simple and efficient way. QoS is considered a complicated topic however thanks to Palo Alto’s intuitive firewall GUI interface and our real-scenarios, you’ll quickly grasp all necessary QoS basics and be ready to implement your own QoS policies!

You’ll learn basic QoS terms such as Ingress and Egress traffic, Differentiated Service Code Point (DSCP), Traffic Policing, Traffic Shaping, Palo Alto QoS Classes, Palo Alto QoS Policies, how to build Palo Alto QoS policies, how to configure Palo Alto QoS Classes and finally how to enable and monitor QoS on Palo Alto firewall interfaces (both standalone & AE Aggregate interfaces), view QoS bandwidth graphs and more!

Key Topics:

Find more great articles by visiting our Palo Alto Firewall Section.

Introduction to Palo Alto QoS

QoS was born from the IEEE group during 1995-1998 by establishing the standard IEEE 802.1P. The main purpose of QoS is to prioritise desired traffic over other type of traffic or to limit the amount of bandwidth applications can consume, by utilizing different mechanisms. This ensures network performance, avoids bottlenecks, congestion or overutilization of network links. A frequently used example of QoS is the prioritising Real-time traffic e.g voice or video, over other type of traffic:

Palo Alto Firewall - QoS Priority Queues & Packet PrioritizationQoS Priority Queues - Packet classification and prioritization

In the example above, voice packets (blue) are given a higher priority against others, therefore immediately being forwarded by the firewall out via the output interface. Since voice packets are very sensitive to delay, they are usually handled with priority to avoid issues in a real-time voice streams e.g VoIP telephone call between two endpoints.

Overview of QoS Configuration on Palo Alto Firewalls

ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer

Dealing with Security Audit Challenges: Discovering vulnerabilities, unauthorized access, optimize network security & reporting

manageengine firewall analyzer - dealing with security audit challengesThe utilization of log analyzers, such as Firewall Analyzer, in network infrastructure plays a pivotal role in enhancing cybersecurity and fortifying the overall security posture of an organization. Security audits, facilitated by log analyzers, serve as a critical mechanism for systematically reviewing and analyzing recorded events within the network.

This proactive approach enables the identification of potential security risks, unauthorized access attempts, and abnormal activities that might signify a breach. The log analyzer sifts through vast amounts of data & logs, providing insights into patterns and anomalies that might go unnoticed otherwise.

By uncovering vulnerabilities and irregularities, organizations can take timely corrective actions, preventing potential security breaches. Moreover, the information gleaned from these audits is instrumental in formulating a comprehensive security strategy that extends across the entire network infrastructure.

ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer dashboard
ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer dashboard (click to enlarge)

This strategic approach ensures a holistic defense against cyber threats, fostering a resilient and adaptive cybersecurity framework that aligns with the evolving landscape of security challenges.

This article will delve into the concept of security audits and how a product like Firewall Analyzer can streamline this crucial procedure.

Key Topics:

Download your copy of ManageEngine's popular Firewall Analyzer here.

Security Audits Explained

Palo Alto Networks

How to Manually Download, Import & Install PAN-OS on Palo Alto Firewalls via CLI & Web GUI interface

Palo Alto PAN-OS Manual update - upload - upgradeThis article provides comprehensive guidance on the manual processes involved in downloading, uploading, and installing (import) any PAN-OS version on a Palo Alto Firewall. It details the steps for searching and downloading the desired PAN-OS version, as well as the supported methods for uploading the software to your Palo Alto Firewall, including Web, TFTP, and SCP. Additionally, the article offers valuable tips aimed at facilitating a smooth and successful upgrade process.

The necessity for a manual upgrade of a Palo Alto firewall arises in instances where the system operates within an isolated environment employing air-gap architecture and lacks direct internet access. This requirement is further applicable in scenarios where the firewall is devoid of valid licenses, remains unregistered, or serves as a replacement unit as exemplified in a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) context.

Whether performing upgrades manually or automatically, it is crucial to consider the same upgrade path rules outlined in our article Complete guide to upgrading Palo Alto firewalls. Individuals unfamiliar with these rules are strongly encouraged to review the article before initiating any PAN-OS upgrade.

Key Topics:

Explore our dedicated Palo Alto section to access a collection of high-quality technical articles.

Downloading PAN-OS Software

Begin by downloading the needed software from the Palo Alto Networks support page. Make sure you have a valid support contract.

Once logged in, select Updates on the left pane, followed by Software Updates from the right pane:

Windows Servers

Deploying Active Directory & DNS Services on Windows Server 2022 & Elevating it to Domain Controller Role

intro windows server 2022 ad dnsThis article provides a comprehensive guide to deploying Active Directory and DNS Services on Windows Server 2022, encompassing the Essential, Standard, and Datacenter editions. Our guide also includes step-by-step instructions for promoting the Windows server to a Domain Controller (DC). To enhance user experience, we've included plenty of helpful screenshots, ensuring a smooth and uncomplicated installation process.

 

Key Topics

Explore our dedicated section on Windows Servers for a rich collection of articles providing in-depth coverage and insights into various aspects of Windows Server functionality.

Installation of Active Directory and DNS Services

To begin, in Server Manager, select Dashboard from the left pane, then Add roles and features from the right pane:

Your IP address:

54.226.25.246

FREE Hyper-V & VMware Backup

FREE Hyper-V & VMware Backup

Wi-Fi Key Generator

Generate/Crack any
WEP, WPA, WPA2 Key!

Network and Server Monitoring

Network and Server Monitoring

Follow Firewall.cx

Cisco Password Crack

Decrypt Cisco Type-7 Passwords on the fly!

Decrypt Now!

Bandwidth Monitor

Bandwidth Monitor

Free PatchManager

Free PatchManager

EventLog Analyzer

ManageEngine Eventlog Analyzer

Firewall Analyzer

zoho firewall analyzer


Featured Categories:


Top Picks:

Palo Alto Networks

How to Register a Palo Alto Firewall and Activa...

This article explains how to register and activate your Palo Alto Firewall Appliance to obtain technical support, RMA hardware replacement, product updates, antivirus updates, wildfire, antispam up...
Palo Alto Networks

How to Fix Palo Alto Firewall “Error: Image Fil...

Keeping your Palo Alto Firewall up to date with the latest PAN-OS software updates is an important step to ensure your organization is protected against the PAN-OS latest software vulnerabilities, ...
ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer

Dealing with Security Audit Challenges: Discove...

The utilization of log analyzers, such as Firewall Analyzer, in network infrastructure plays a pivotal role in enhancing cybersecurity and fortifying the overall security posture of an organization...
Palo Alto Networks

Complete Guide to Upgrading Palo Alto Firewall ...

Upgrading your Palo Alto Firewall or Panorama Management System to the preferred PAN-OS release is always recommended as it ensures it remains stable, safe from known vulnerabilities and exploits b...

SASE & SD-WAN Networks

How To Secure Your SD-WAN. Comparing DIY, Managed SD-WAN and SD-WAN Cloud Services

With so much enterprise network traffic now destined for the cloud, backhauling traffic across an expensive MPLS connection to a data center to app...
SASE & SD-WAN Networks

SD-WAN is the Emerging, Evolving Solution for the Branch Office

A lot has changed in how people work during the past twenty years. Co-working spaces, mobility, and the cloud now are common. Businesses are spread...
SASE & SD-WAN Networks

Understanding Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and how it integrates with SD-WAN

Software Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is changing the way that businesses connect to the cloud. With SD-WAN, organizations can move away f...
SASE & SD-WAN Networks

WAN Optimization vs SD WAN Networks. Today’s Challenges & Difficulties for WAN Optimization

Enterprises have been successfully running WAN optimization appliances at their many distributed sites for years. The devices have done a good job ...

VLAN Networks

VTP Introduction & Modes

The invention of VLANs was very much welcomed by all engineers and administrators, allowing them to extend, redesign and segment their existing net...
VLAN Networks

VLANs - Access & Trunk Links

If you've read our previous article The VLAN Concept - Introduction to VLANs  then you should feel comfortable with terms such as 'VLAN',...
VLAN Networks

InterVLAN Routing - Routing between VLAN Networks

This article deals with the popular topic of InterVLAN routing, which is used to allow routing & communication between VLAN networks. Our artic...
VLAN Networks

VTP Protocol - In-Depth Analysis

The previous article introduced the VTP protocol, we examined how it can be used within a network, to help manage VLANs and ease the administrative...

Routing

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol - EIGRP

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), similar to IGRP, is a Cisco proprietary routing protocol that is used to exchange routing infor...
Routing

Routing Information Protocol - RIP

Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is a distance-vector routing protocol that is commonly used in small to medium-sized networks. It is one o...
Routing

The IP Routing Process - Step-by-Step Analysis

We are going to analyse what happens when routing occurs on a network (IP routing process). When I was new to the networking area, I thought that a...
Routing

Introduction to Routing Protocols

Distance Vector, Link State RIP, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF Routing protocols were created for routers. These protocols have been designed to allow the e...

Cisco Switches

Cisco Catalyst Err-disabled Port State, Enable & Disable Autorecovery Feature

Errdisable is a feature that automatically disables a port on a Cisco Catalyst switch. When a port is error disabled, it is effectively shut d...
Cisco Routers

Disabling Cisco Router Password Recovery Service

Most Cisco engineers are aware of the classic Password-Recovery service Cisco equipment have. If the device's credentials are lost, then performing...
Cisco Routers

How To Configure DHCP Server On A Cisco Router

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is the protocol used by network devices (such as PCs, network printers, etc) to automatically obtain cor...
Cisco Routers

Configuring Cisco Site to Site IPSec VPN with Dynamic IP Endpoint Cisco Routers

This article serves as an extension to our popular Cisco VPN topics covered here on Firewall.cx. While we’ve covered Site to Site IPSec VPN Tunnel ...