Configuring Palo Alto in OCI

Example Config for Palo Alto Network VM-Series in OCI

In this document, we provide an example to set up the VM-Series for you to validate that packets are indeed sent to the VM-Series for VCN to VCN and from VCN to internet traffic inspection.

VM-Series in AWS can be set up using Palo Alto Networks VM-Series AWS Example.

VM-Series in Azure can be set up using the guide Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Azure Example.

You must first have launched a firewall instance in OCI.

After the firewall is launched, you can access its UI from the Firewall tab.

firewall managementui oci

Downloading VM-Series Access Key

You can download the .pem file for SSH access to the instance by clicking the vertical ellipsis 25 and selecting Download Access Key.

If you get a download error, usually it means the VM-Series is not ready. Wait until it is ready, refresh the browser and then try again.

Resetting VM-Series Password

After you download the .pem file, change the file permission to 600. If you are asked to enter a password during the login, the VM-Series is still not ready. Wait and try again. It usually takes up to 15 minutes for the VM-Series to be ready. When the VM-Series is ready, you will no longer be prompted for a password.

For Metered AMI, open a terminal and run the following command.

ssh -i <private_key.pem> admin@<public-ip_address>
configure
set mgt-config users admin password
commit

For BYOL, open a terminal and run the following command.

ssh -i <private_key.pem> admin@<public-ip_address>
configure
set mgt-config users admin password
set deviceconfig system dns-setting servers primary <ip_address>
commit

Terminate the SSH session.

Logging in to VM-Series

  1. Navigate to Security > FireNet > Firewall and click the Management UI link. It takes you to the VM-Series you just launched.

  2. Login with Username "admin." The password is the password you set in the previous step.

Dynamic Updates

  1. From Device > Dynamic Updates, click on Check Now to download and then install the latest versions of Applications and Threats and Wildfire updates.

  2. Click on Check Now again to download and then install the latest version of Antivirus.

Configuring VM-Series ethernet1/1 with WAN Zone

After logging in, select the Network tab to see a list of ethernet interfaces. Click ethernet1/1 and configure as per the following screenshot.

  1. Select the Network tab.

  2. Click ethernet1/1.

  3. Select "layer3" for Interface Type.

  4. Select the Config tab in the popup Ethernet Interface window.

  5. Select the default for Virtual Router at Config tab.

  6. Click New Zone for Security Zone to create a WAN zone.

  7. At the next popup screen, name the new zone "WAN" and click OK.

    new_zone

  1. Select the IPV4 tab in the popup Ethernet Interface window.

  2. Select Static.

  3. Add the Private IP of eth1 firewall WAN NIC, as shown below.

    ipv4

  1. Click Commit. Once Commit is complete, you should see the Link State turn green at the Network page for ethernet1/1.

Configuring VM-Series ethernet1/2 with LAN Zone

Repeat the steps in the Configuring VM-Series ethernet1/1 with WAN Zone section above for ethernet1/2. Name the new zone LAN. Also, allow ICMP on LAN interface for health check, as shown below.

  1. Go to Network > Interface Mgmt under Network Profiles and click Add.

  2. Give any name in Interface Management Profile, check Ping or ICMP checkbox under Administrative Management Service, and click OK.

  3. Attach Profile with LAN interface: go to Network > Interfaces > Select LAN Ethernet Interface > Advanced > Management Profile > Select the appropriate profile.

ipv4_2

  1. Click Commit. Once Commit is complete, you should see the Link State turn green at the Network page for ethernet1/2.

Configuring Allow All Policies

Go to Policies > Security. Click Add.

  1. Name the policy > Allow-All.

  2. Source tab > Any.

  3. Destination tab > Any.

  4. Application tab > Any.

  5. Click OK.

Configuring NAT for Egress

If you would also like to enable NAT to test egress, follow these steps.

  1. Navigate to Policies > NAT and click Add.

  2. Select the General tab and name the policy.

  3. Click Original Packet.

  4. At Source Zone, click Add and select LAN.

  5. At Destination Zone, select WAN.

  6. At Destination Interface, select Ethernet1/1, as shown below.

    nat_original_packet

  1. Click Translated Packet.

  2. At Translation Type, select Dynamic IP And Port.

  3. At Address Type, select Interface Address.

  4. At Interface, select ethernet1/1, as shown below.

    nat_translated_packet

Setting up API Access

For the Aviatrix Controller to automatically update firewall instance route tables, monitor firewall instance health, and manage instance failover, you need to set up API access permissions.

Follow the instructions here to enable API access.

Ready to Go

Now your firewall instance is ready to receive packets.

For example, launch one instance in Spoke-1 VCN and Spoke-2 VCN. From one instance, ping the other instance. The ping should go through.

Viewing the Traffic Log

You can view if traffic is forwarded to the firewall instance by logging in to the VM-Series console.

  1. Click Monitor.

  2. Start pinging packets from one Spoke VCN to another Spoke VCN.