Using VyOS behind a pfSense router/firewall?

Hi,

I’m looking at using VyOS together with pfSense - this is for a test setup.

pfSense is our firewall and border gateway device - and also our DHCP server.

Is it possible to configure VyOS in between - to pass through traffic, relay DHCP leases, and not perform NAT etc? Essentially, minimal impact, then we can play around with it.

Regards,
Victor

Yes, you can certainly do so, however “how” you do it depends on your current network architecture, the amount of “down-time” risk you want to assume, etc.

I would advise one of the following approaches:

  • (A) (least risky):

    • create a completely new network (i.e. VLAN) for playing with VyOS;
    • configure VyOS to route, DHCP and NAT that network;
    • the VyOS “uplink” can be placed in an existing network served by your pfSense;
    • in this way you have zero impact on your current pfSense;
  • (B) (some risks):

    • create a new VLAN which you configure both on pfSense and VyOS as a “routers” network;
    • make sure that VyOS uses pfSense as the default router, and that pfSense uses VyOS as the next hop to the networks delegated to VyOS;
    • choose a network to move to VyOS;
    • disable that network (most likely a VLAN) from pfSense;
    • configure that network on VyOS (only routing and DHCP);
    • minimal impact, if you need to revert, just re-enable the interface on pfSense and disable the interface on VyOS;

There might be other approaches, but it depends highly on your network topology.