NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 FVX538 User manual

March 2009
202-10062-09
v1.0
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134 USA
ProSafe VPN Firewall 200
FVX538 Reference
Manual

ii
1.0, March 2009
© 2009 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are registered trademarks and ProSafe and ProSecure are trademarks of
NETGEAR, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other
brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
Statement of Conditions
In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to
make changes to the products described in this document without notice.
NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit
layout(s) described herein.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance Notice: Radio Frequency
Notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try
to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
EU Regulatory Compliance Statement
ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 is compliant with the following EU Council Directives: 89/336/EEC and LVD 73/23/EEC.
Compliance is verified by testing to the following standards: EN55022 Class B, EN55024 and EN60950-1.
Bestätigung des Herstellers/Importeurs
Es wird hiermit bestätigt, daß das ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 gemäß der im BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 und Vfg 46/
1992 aufgeführten Bestimmungen entstört ist. Das vorschriftsmäßige Betreiben einiger Geräte (z.B. Testsender) kann
jedoch gewissen Beschränkungen unterliegen. Lesen Sie dazu bitte die Anmerkungen in der Betriebsanleitung.
Das Bundesamt für Zulassungen in der Telekommunikation wurde davon unterrichtet, daß dieses Gerät auf den Markt
gebracht wurde und es ist berechtigt, die Serie auf die Erfüllung der Vorschriften hin zu überprüfen.
Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer
It is hereby certified that the ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 has been suppressed in accordance with the conditions set out in
the BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 and Vfg 46/1992. The operation of some equipment (for example, test transmitters) in
accordance with the regulations may, however, be subject to certain restrictions. Please refer to the notes in the operating
instructions.

1.0, March 2009
iii
Federal Office for Telecommunications Approvals has been notified of the placing of this equipment on the market
and has been granted the right to test the series for compliance with the regulations.
Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) Statement
This equipment is in the second category (information equipment to be used in a residential area or an adjacent area
thereto) and conforms to the standards set by the Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Data Processing
Equipment and Electronic Office Machines aimed at preventing radio interference in such residential areas.
When used near a radio or TV receiver, it may become the cause of radio interference.
Read instructions for correct handling.
Additional Copyrights
AES Copyright (c) 2001, Dr Brian Gladman <[email protected]>, Worcester, UK.
All rights reserved.
TERMS
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted
subject to the following conditions:
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials
provided with the distribution.
3. The copyright holder's name must not be used to endorse or promote any products
derived from this software without his specific prior written permission.
This software is provided 'as is' with no express or implied warranties of correctness or fitness
for purpose.

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iv
Open SSL Copyright (c) 1998-2000 The OpenSSL Project. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted
provided that the following conditions * are met:
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions
and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials
provided with the distribution.
3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software must display the
following acknowledgment: “This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL
Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit. (http://www.openssl.org/)”
4. The names "OpenSSL Toolkit" and "OpenSSL Project" must not be used to endorse or
promote products derived from this software without prior written permission. For written
permission, please contact [email protected].
5. Products derived from this software may not be called "OpenSSL" nor may "OpenSSL"
appear in their names without prior written permission of the OpenSSL Project.
6. Redistributions of any form whatsoever must retain the following acknowledgment: "This
product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL
Toolkit (http://www.openssl.org/)"
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE OpenSSL PROJECT ``AS IS'' AND ANY
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE OpenSSL PROJECT OR ITS
CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY
OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
This product includes cryptographic software written by Eric Young ([email protected]). This
product includes software written by Tim Hudson ([email protected]).

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v
MD5 Copyright (C) 1990, RSA Data Security, Inc. All rights reserved.
License to copy and use this software is granted provided that it is identified as the "RSA Data
Security, Inc. MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing this
software or this function. License is also granted to make and use derivative works provided
that such works are identified as "derived from the RSA Data Security, Inc. MD5 Message-
Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing the derived work.
RSA Data Security, Inc. makes no representations concerning either the merchantability of
this software or the suitability of this software for any particular purpose. It is provided "as is"
without express or implied warranty of any kind.
These notices must be retained in any copies of any part of this documentation and/or
software.
PPP Copyright (c) 1989 Carnegie Mellon University. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms are permitted provided that the above
copyright notice and this paragraph are duplicated in all such forms and that any
documentation, advertising materials, and other materials related to such distribution and use
acknowledge that the software was developed by Carnegie Mellon University. The name of
the University may not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
without specific prior written permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Zlib zlib.h -- interface of the 'zlib' general purpose compression library version 1.1.4, March 11th,
2002. Copyright (C) 1995-2002 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler.
This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the
authors be held liable for any damages arising from the use of this software. Permission is
granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose, including commercial applications,
and to alter it and redistribute it freely, subject to the following restrictions:
1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not claim that you wrote
the original software. If you use this software in a product, an acknowledgment in the
product documentation would be appreciated but is not required.
2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be misrepresented
as being the original software.
3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
Jean-loup Gailly: jl[email protected]; Mark Adler: [email protected]ltech.edu
The data format used by the zlib library is described by RFCs (Request for Comments) 1950
to 1952 in the files ftp://ds.internic.net/rfc/rfc1950.txt (zlib format), rfc1951.txt (deflate format)
and rfc1952.txt (gzip format)

1.0, March 2009
vi
Product and Publication Details
Model Number: FVX538
Publication Date: March 2009
Product Family: VPN Firewall
Product Name: ProSafe VPN Firewall 200
Home or Business Product: Business
Language: English
Publication Part Number: 202-10062-09
Publication Version Number 1.0

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v1.0, March 2009
Contents
About This Manual
Conventions, Formats and Scope ................................................................................... xv
Revision History ...............................................................................................................xvi
Chapter 1
Introduction
Key Features ..................................................................................................................1-1
Dual WAN Ports for Increased Reliability or Outbound Load Balancing ..................1-2
A Powerful, True Firewall with Content Filtering ......................................................1-2
Security Features .....................................................................................................1-3
Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink ...............................................1-3
Extensive Protocol Support ......................................................................................1-4
Easy Installation and Management ..........................................................................1-4
Maintenance and Support ........................................................................................1-5
Package Contents ..........................................................................................................1-5
Router Front and Rear Panels ........................................................................................1-6
Rack Mounting Hardware .........................................................................................1-8
The Router’s IP Address, Login Name, and Password ..................................................1-9
Chapter 2
Connecting the FVX538 to the Internet
Logging into the VPN Firewall ........................................................................................2-1
Configuring the Internet Connections to Your ISPs ........................................................2-2
Setting the Router’s MAC Address ..........................................................................2-4
Manually Configuring Your Internet Connection .......................................................2-4
Programming the Traffic Meter (if Desired) ..............................................................2-6
Configuring the WAN Mode (Required for Dual WAN) ...................................................2-8
Setting Up Auto-Rollover Mode ................................................................................2-9
Setting Up Load Balancing .....................................................................................2-12
Configuring Dynamic DNS (If Needed) .........................................................................2-14
Configuring the Advanced WAN Options (If Needed) ...................................................2-17

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Chapter 3
LAN Configuration
Choosing the Firewall DHCP Options ............................................................................3-1
Configuring the LAN Setup Options .........................................................................3-2
Configuring Multi Home LAN IPs .............................................................................3-5
Managing Groups and Hosts (LAN Groups) ...................................................................3-6
Creating the Network Database ...............................................................................3-7
Setting Up Address Reservation ..............................................................................3-9
Configuring and Enabling the DMZ Port .......................................................................3-10
Static Routes ................................................................................................................3-12
Configuring Static Routes .......................................................................................3-12
Routing Information Protocol (RIP) ........................................................................3-14
Static Route Example .............................................................................................3-16
Chapter 4
Firewall Protection and Content Filtering
About Firewall Protection and Content Filtering .............................................................4-1
Using Rules to Block or Allow Specific Kinds of Traffic ..................................................4-2
Services-Based Rules ..............................................................................................4-2
Outbound Rules (Service Blocking) ...................................................................4-3
Inbound Rules (Port Forwarding) ......................................................................4-6
Order of Precedence for Rules ................................................................................4-9
Setting LAN WAN Rules ..........................................................................................4-9
LAN WAN Outbound Services Rules ...............................................................4-11
LAN WAN Inbound Services Rules .................................................................4-12
Setting DMZ WAN Rules ........................................................................................4-12
Setting LAN DMZ Rules .........................................................................................4-14
LAN DMZ Outbound Services Rules ...............................................................4-15
LAN DMZ Inbound Services Rules ..................................................................4-16
Attack Checks ........................................................................................................4-16
Session Limit ..........................................................................................................4-18
Inbound Rules Examples .......................................................................................4-20
LAN WAN Inbound Rule: Hosting A Local Public Web Server ........................4-20
LAN WAN Inbound Rule: Allowing Videoconference from Restricted Addresses 4-20
LAN WAN or DMZ WAN Inbound Rule: Setting Up One-to-One NAT Mapping 4-21
LAN WAN or DMZ WAN Inbound Rule: Specifying an Exposed Host .............4-23

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Outbound Rules Example ......................................................................................4-24
LAN WAN Outbound Rule: Blocking Instant Messenger .................................4-25
Adding Customized Services .................................................................................4-25
Setting Quality of Service (QoS) Priorities .............................................................4-27
Setting a Schedule to Block or Allow Specific Traffic ....................................................4-28
Setting Block Sites (Content Filtering) ..........................................................................4-29
Enabling Source MAC Filtering ....................................................................................4-31
IP/MAC Binding ............................................................................................................4-33
Port Triggering ..............................................................................................................4-35
Bandwidth Limiting .......................................................................................................4-37
E-Mail Notifications of Event Logs and Alerts ...............................................................4-39
Administrator Tips .........................................................................................................4-43
Chapter 5
Virtual Private Networking
Considerations for Dual WAN Port Systems ..................................................................5-1
Using the VPN Wizard for Client and Gateway Configurations ......................................5-3
Creating Gateway to Gateway VPN Tunnels with the Wizard .................................5-3
Creating a Client to Gateway VPN Tunnel ...............................................................5-6
Use the VPN Wizard Configure the Gateway for a Client Tunnel ......................5-7
Use the NETGEAR VPN Client Security Policy Editor to Create a Secure Connection
5-8
Testing the Connections and Viewing Status Information .............................................5-12
NETGEAR VPN Client Status and Log Information ...............................................5-12
FVX538 VPN Connection Status and Logs ............................................................5-14
VPN Tunnel Policies .....................................................................................................5-15
IKE Policy ...............................................................................................................5-15
Managing IKE Policies .....................................................................................5-15
IKE Policy Table ...............................................................................................5-16
VPN Policy .............................................................................................................5-17
Managing VPN Policies ...................................................................................5-17
VPN Policy Table .............................................................................................5-18
Certificate Authorities ...................................................................................................5-19
Generating a Self Certificate Request ....................................................................5-20
Uploading a Trusted Certificate ..............................................................................5-22
Managing your Certificate Revocation List (CRL) ..................................................5-22

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Extended Authentication (XAUTH) Configuration .........................................................5-23
Configuring XAUTH for VPN Clients ......................................................................5-24
User Database Configuration .................................................................................5-25
RADIUS Client Configuration .................................................................................5-27
Assigning IP Addresses to Remote Users (ModeConfig) .............................................5-29
Mode Config Operation ..........................................................................................5-29
Configuring the VPN Firewall .................................................................................5-30
Configuring the ProSafe VPN Client for ModeConfig .............................................5-33
Chapter 6
Router and Network Management
Performance Management .............................................................................................6-1
Bandwidth Capacity .................................................................................................6-1
VPN Firewall Features That Reduce Traffic .............................................................6-2
Service Blocking ................................................................................................6-2
Block Sites .........................................................................................................6-4
Source MAC Filtering ........................................................................................6-4
VPN Firewall Features That Increase Traffic ...........................................................6-5
Port Forwarding .................................................................................................6-5
Port Triggering ...................................................................................................6-6
DMZ Port ...........................................................................................................6-7
VPN Tunnels ......................................................................................................6-7
Using QoS to Shift the Traffic Mix ............................................................................6-7
Tools for Traffic Management ...................................................................................6-8
Administration .................................................................................................................6-8
Changing Passwords and Settings ..........................................................................6-8
RADIUS Server External Authentication ................................................................6-10
Enabling Remote Management Access .................................................................6-11
Using a SNMP Manager ........................................................................................6-14
Settings Backup and Firmware Upgrade ...............................................................6-15
Backup and Restore Settings ..........................................................................6-16
Router Upgrade ...............................................................................................6-17
Setting the Time Zone ............................................................................................6-19
Monitoring the Router ...................................................................................................6-20
Enabling the Traffic Meter ......................................................................................6-20
Setting Login Failures and Attacks Notification ......................................................6-22

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Viewing Port Triggering Status ...............................................................................6-24
Viewing Router Configuration and System Status .................................................6-25
Monitoring WAN Ports Status .................................................................................6-26
Monitoring VPN Tunnel Connection Status ............................................................6-27
VPN Logs ...............................................................................................................6-28
DHCP Log ..............................................................................................................6-29
Performing Diagnostics ..........................................................................................6-29
Chapter 7
Troubleshooting
Basic Functions ..............................................................................................................7-1
Power LED Not On ...................................................................................................7-1
LEDs Never Turn Off ................................................................................................7-2
LAN or Internet Port LEDs Not On ...........................................................................7-2
Troubleshooting the Web Configuration Interface ..........................................................7-2
Troubleshooting the ISP Connection ..............................................................................7-4
Troubleshooting a TCP/IP Network Using a Ping Utility .................................................7-5
Testing the LAN Path to Your Firewall ......................................................................7-5
Testing the Path from Your PC to a Remote Device ................................................7-6
Restoring the Default Configuration and Password ........................................................7-7
Problems with Date and Time .........................................................................................7-7
Appendix A
Default Settings and Technical Specifications
Appendix B
Network Planning for Dual WAN Ports
What You Will Need to Do Before You Begin ................................................................ B-1
Cabling and Computer Hardware Requirements .................................................... B-3
Computer Network Configuration Requirements .................................................... B-3
Internet Configuration Requirements ...................................................................... B-3
Where Do I Get the Internet Configuration Parameters? ........................................ B-3
Internet Connection Information Form .................................................................... B-5
Overview of the Planning Process ................................................................................. B-6
Inbound Traffic ........................................................................................................ B-6
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) ............................................................................. B-6
The Roll-over Case for Firewalls With Dual WAN Ports .......................................... B-7
The Load Balancing Case for Firewalls With Dual WAN Ports ............................... B-7

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Inbound Traffic ...............................................................................................................B-8
Inbound Traffic to Single WAN Port (Reference Case) ........................................... B-8
Inbound Traffic to Dual WAN Port Systems ............................................................ B-8
Inbound Traffic: Dual WAN Ports for Improved Reliability ................................ B-9
Inbound Traffic: Dual WAN Ports for Load Balancing ....................................... B-9
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) .................................................................................. B-10
VPN Road Warrior (Client-to-Gateway) .................................................................B-11
VPN Road Warrior: Single Gateway WAN Port (Reference Case) ................. B-12
VPN Road Warrior: Dual Gateway WAN Ports for Improved Reliability ......... B-12
VPN Road Warrior: Dual Gateway WAN Ports for Load Balancing ................ B-13
VPN Gateway-to-Gateway .................................................................................... B-14
VPN Gateway-to-Gateway: Single Gateway WAN Ports (Reference Case) .. B-14
VPN Gateway-to-Gateway: Dual Gateway WAN Ports for Improved Reliability B-15
VPN Gateway-to-Gateway: Dual Gateway WAN Ports for Load Balancing ... B-17
VPN Telecommuter (Client-to-Gateway Through a NAT Router) .......................... B-17
VPN Telecommuter: Single Gateway WAN Port (Reference Case) ............... B-18
VPN Telecommuter: Dual Gateway WAN Ports for Improved Reliability ........ B-18
VPN Telecommuter: Dual Gateway WAN Ports for Load Balancing .............. B-20
Appendix C
System Logs and Error Messages
System Log Messages ..................................................................................................C-1
System Startup ........................................................................................................C-1
Reboot .....................................................................................................................C-2
NTP .........................................................................................................................C-2
Login/Logout ...........................................................................................................C-3
Firewall Restart .......................................................................................................C-3
IPSec Restart ..........................................................................................................C-4
WAN Status .............................................................................................................C-4
Load Balancing .................................................................................................C-4
Auto Rollover ....................................................................................................C-5
PPP Logs ..........................................................................................................C-6
Web Filtering and Content Filtering Logs ................................................................C-7
Traffic Metering Logs ...............................................................................................C-9
Unicast Logs ...........................................................................................................C-9
ICMP Redirect Logs .........................................................................................C-9

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Multicast/Broadcast Logs .................................................................................C-9
FTP Logging ..........................................................................................................C-10
Invalid Packet Logging ..........................................................................................C-10
Routing Logs ...............................................................................................................C-13
LAN to WAN Logs .................................................................................................C-13
LAN to DMZ Logs ..................................................................................................C-14
DMZ to WAN Logs ................................................................................................C-14
WAN to LAN Logs .................................................................................................C-14
DMZ to LAN Logs ..................................................................................................C-14
WAN to DMZ Logs ................................................................................................C-15
Appendix D
Related Documents
Appendix E
Two Factor Authentication
Why do I need Two-Factor Authentication? ................................................................... E-1
What are the benefits of Two-Factor Authentication? ............................................. E-1
What is Two-Factor Authentication ......................................................................... E-2
NETGEAR Two-Factor Authentication Solutions ........................................................... E-2
Index

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v1.0, March 2009
About This Manual
The NETGEAR®ProSafe™ VPN Firewall 200 describes how to install, configure and
troubleshoot the ProSafe VPN Firewall 200. The information in this manual is intended for readers
with intermediate computer and Internet skills.
Conventions, Formats and Scope
The conventions, formats, and scope of this manual are described in the following paragraphs.
•Typographical Conventions. This manual uses the following typographical conventions:
•Formats. This manual uses the following formats to highlight special messages:
Italics Emphasis, books, CDs, file and server names, extensions
Bold User input, IP addresses, GUI screen text
Fixed Command prompt, CLI text, code
italics URL links
Note: This format is used to highlight information of importance or special interest.
Tip: This format is used to highlight a procedure that will save time or resources.
Warning: Ignoring this type of note may result in a malfunction or damage to the
equipment.

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For more information about network, Internet, firewall, and VPN technologies, see the links to the
NETGEAR website in Appendix D, “Related Documents.”
Revision History
Danger: This is a safety warning. Failure to take heed of this notice may result in
personal injury or death.
Note: Updates to this product are available on the NETGEAR, Inc. website at
http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/FVX538.asp.
Part Number Version
Number Date Description
202-10062-04 1.0 Aug. 2006 Product update: New firmware and a new user interface.
202-10062-05 1.0 Jan. 2007 Remove Trend Micro
202-10062-06 1.0 Jul. 2007 New features: IP/MAC Binding; Bandwidth Limits; Session Limits;
IKE Keep Alive; Dead Peer Detection; Oray Support
202-10062-06 1.1 Oct. 2007 Document corrections
202-10062-06 1.2 Oct. 2007 Document additions to Appendix C
202-10062-07 1.0 Mar. 08 Maintenance release
202-10062-09 1.0 Mar. 09 Adds these corrections and topics for the March 2009 firmware
maintenance release:
• WIKID 2 factor authentication
• SIP AGL support
• DHCP Relay support
• Update VPN configuration procedure topics
• Update the Certificate management topic
• Correct the firewall scheduling topic

Introduction 1-1
v1.0, March 2009
Chapter 1
Introduction
The ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 with eight 10/100 ports and one 1/100/1000 port connects your
local area network (LAN) to the Internet through an external access device such as a cable modem
or DSL modem.
The FVX538 is a complete security solution that protects your network from attacks and
intrusions. For example, the FVX538 provides support for Stateful Packet Inspection, Denial of
Service (DoS) attack protection and multi-NAT support. The VPN firewall supports multiple Web
content filtering options, plus browsing activity reporting and instant alerts—both via e-mail.
Network administrators can establish restricted access policies based on time-of-day, Website
addresses and address keywords.
The FVX538 is a plug-and-play device that can be installed and configured within minutes.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•“Key Features” on page 1-1
•“Package Contents” on page 1-5
•“Router Front and Rear Panels” on page 1-6
•“The Router’s IP Address, Login Name, and Password” on page 1-9
Key Features
The VPN firewall provides the following features:
• Dual 10/100 Mbps Ethernet WAN ports for load balancing or failover protection, providing
increased system reliability and load balancing. The WAN ports do not respond at all to
unsolicited traffic (stealth mode).
• Support for up to 200 simultaneous IPSec VPN tunnels.
• Support for up to 400 internal LAN users (and 50K connections).
• Bundled with the 5-user license of the NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Client software (VPN05L)
• Quality of Service (QoS) and SIP 2.0 support for traffic prioritization, voice, and multimedia.
• Built-in 10/100 Mbps ports plus 1 Gigabit Switch port.
• One console port for local management.

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v1.0, March 2009
• SNMP Manageable, optimized for the NETGEAR ProSafe Network Management Software
(NMS100).
• Easy, web-based setup for installation and management.
• Advanced SPI Firewall and Multi-NAT support.
• Extensive Protocol Support.
• Login capability.
• Front panel LEDs for easy monitoring of status and activity.
• Flash memory for firmware upgrade.
• One U Rack mountable.
Dual WAN Ports for Increased Reliability or Outbound Load
Balancing
The FVX538 has two broadband WAN ports, WAN1 and WAN2, each capable of operating
independently at speeds of either 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps. The two WAN ports let you connect a
second broadband Internet line that can be configured on a mutually-exclusive basis to:
• Provide backup and rollover if one line is inoperable, ensuring you are never disconnected.
• Load balance, or use both Internet lines simultaneously for the outgoing traffic. The firewall
balances users between the two lines for maximum bandwidth efficiency.
See “Network Planning for Dual WAN Ports” on page B-1 for the planning factors to consider
when implementing the following capabilities with dual WAN port gateways:
• Single or multiple exposed hosts
• Virtual private networks
A Powerful, True Firewall with Content Filtering
Unlike simple Internet sharing NAT routers, the FVX538 is a true firewall, using stateful packet
inspection to defend against hacker attacks. Its firewall features include:
• DoS protection. Automatically detects and thwarts DoS attacks such as Ping of Death, SYN
Flood, LAND Attack, and IP Spoofing.
•Secure Firewall. Blocks unwanted traffic from the Internet to your LAN.
•Block Sites. Blocks access from your LAN to Internet locations or services that you specify as
off-limits.

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•Logs security incidents. The FVX538 will log security events such as blocked incoming
traffic, port scans, attacks, and administrator logins. You can configure the firewall to email
the log to you at specified intervals. You can also configure the firewall to send immediate
alert messages to your email address or email pager whenever a significant event occurs.
•Keyword Filtering. With its URL keyword filtering feature, the FVX538 prevents
objectionable content from reaching your PCs. The firewall allows you to control access to
Internet content by screening for keywords within Web addresses. You can configure the
firewall to log and report attempts to access objectionable Internet sites.
Security Features
The VPN firewall is equipped with several features designed to maintain security, as described in
this section.
•PCs Hidden by NAT. NAT opens a temporary path to the Internet for requests originating
from the local network. Requests originating from outside the LAN are discarded, preventing
users outside the LAN from finding and directly accessing the PCs on the LAN.
•Port Forwarding with NAT. Although NAT prevents Internet locations from directly
accessing the PCs on the LAN, the firewall allows you to direct incoming traffic to specific
PCs based on the service port number of the incoming request. You can specify forwarding of
single ports or ranges of ports.
•DMZ port. Incoming traffic from the Internet is normally discarded by the firewall unless the
traffic is a response to one of your local computers or a service for which you have configured
an inbound rule. Instead of discarding this traffic, you can have it forwarded to one computer
on your network.
Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink
With its internal 8-port 10/100 switch, the FVX538 can connect to either a 10 Mbps standard
Ethernet network or a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network. Both the LAN and WAN interfaces are
autosensing and capable of full-duplex or half-duplex operation.
The firewall incorporates Auto UplinkTM technology. Each Ethernet port will automatically sense
whether the Ethernet cable plugged into the port should have a ‘normal’ connection such as to a
PC or an ‘uplink’ connection such as to a switch or hub. That port will then configure itself to the
correct configuration. This feature also eliminates the need to worry about crossover cables, as
Auto Uplink will accommodate either type of cable to make the right connection.

ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 FVX538 Reference Manual
1-4 Introduction
v1.0, March 2009
Extensive Protocol Support
The VPN firewall supports the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and
Routing Information Protocol (RIP). For further information about TCP/IP, refer
to “Internet Configuration Requirements” in Appendix B.”
•IP Address Sharing by NAT. The VPN firewall allows several networked PCs to share an
Internet account using only a single IP address, which may be statically or dynamically
assigned by your Internet service provider (ISP). This technique, known as NAT, allows the
use of an inexpensive single-user ISP account.
•Automatic Configuration of Attached PCs by DHCP. The VPN firewall dynamically
assigns network configuration information, including IP, gateway, and domain name server
(DNS) addresses, to attached PCs on the LAN using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
(DHCP). This feature greatly simplifies configuration of PCs on your local network.
•DNS Proxy. When DHCP is enabled and no DNS addresses are specified, the firewall
provides its own address as a DNS server to the attached PCs. The firewall obtains actual DNS
addresses from the ISP during connection setup and forwards DNS requests from the LAN.
•PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE). PPPoE is a protocol for connecting remote hosts to the Internet
over a DSL connection by simulating a dial-up connection. This feature eliminates the need to
run a login program such as EnterNet or WinPOET on your PC.
Easy Installation and Management
You can install, configure, and operate the ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 within minutes after
connecting it to the network. The following features simplify installation and management tasks:
•Browser-Based Management. Browser-based configuration allows you to easily configure
your firewall from almost any type of personal computer, such as Windows, Macintosh, or
Linux. A user-friendly Setup Wizard is provided and online help documentation is built into
the browser-based Web Management Interface.
•Auto Detect. The VPN firewall automatically senses the type of Internet connection, asking
you only for the information required for your type of ISP account.
•VPN Wizard. The VPN firewall includes the NETGEAR VPN Wizard to easily configure
VPN tunnels according to the recommendations of the Virtual Private Network Consortium
(VPNC) to ensure the VPN tunnels are interoperable with other VPNC-compliant VPN routers
and clients.
•SNMP. The VPN firewall supports the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to let
you monitor and manage log resources from an SNMP-compliant system manager. The SNMP
system configuration lets you change the system variables for MIB2.