Chapter 14 Definitions
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Figure14.8 Servicedefinition — source and destination port setting
Protocol Inspectors
WinRouteincludes special subroutines that monitor all traffic using application protocols, such
asHTTP, FTP or others. Themodules can be used to modify (filter) the communication or adapt
the firewall’s behavior according to the protocol type. Benefits of protocol inspectors can be
better understood through the two following examples:
1. HTTP protocol inspector monitors traffic between clients (browsers) and Web servers. It
can be used to block connections to particular pages or downloads of particular objects
(i.e. images, pop-ups, etc.).
2. With active FTP, the server opens a data connection to the client. Under certain conditions
this connection type cannot be made through firewalls, therefore FTP can only be used
in passive mode. The FTP protocol inspector distinguishes that the FTP is active, opens
the appropriate port and redirects the connection to the appropriate client in the local
network. Due to this fact, users in the local network are not limited by the firewall and
they can use both FTP modes (active/passive).
The protocol inspector is enabled if it is set in the service definition and if the correspond-
ing traffic is allowed. Each protocol inspector applies to a specific protocol and service. In
the default WinRoute configuration, all available protocol inspectors are used in definitions
of corresponding services (so they will be applied to corresponding traffic automatically), ex-
cept protocol inspectors for SIPand H.323 (SIP and H.323 are complex protocols and protocol
inspectors may work incorrectly in some configurations).
Toapply a protocol inspector explicitly to another traffic, itis necessary to define a new service
where this inspector will be used or to set the protocol inspector directly in the corresponding
traffic rule.
Example
You want to perform inspection of the HTTP protocol at port 8080. Define a new service: TCP
protocol, port 8080,HTTP protocol inspector. This ensures that HTTP protocol inspector will
be automatically applied to any TCP traffic at port 8080 and passing through WinRoute.