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31.08.2007
Creating a site-to-site VPN Hub and Spoke architecture with ISA 2006 Firewall Standard Edition

 

Lets us assume that you have three different locations, LocationA, LocationB and LocationC. LocationA, LocationB and LocationC are protected using ISA 2006 Firewalls Standard Edition. Each location has one Internet connection.
You would like to connect all the locations togheter.
So you think on using site-to-site VPN connections. You have opted for L2TP/IPsec connections.
There is a site-to-site VPN connection between LocationA and LocationB.
There is a site-to-site VPN connection between LocationA and LocationC.
ISAA at LocationA(HQ) is acting like a hub. Communications from LocationB to LocationC and vice-versa must pass through ISAA. LocationA and LocationB are branch offices.
Bellow is the network diagram.
SiteA IP address range: 192.168.10.0/24
SiteB IP address range: 192.168.40.0/24
SiteC IP address range: 192.168.50.0/24

The Network Diagram 
Figure1: The network diagram

First me must set up ISAA(a domain member).

We need to create two site-to-site VPN connections. One to ISAB and one to ISAC.

First the connection to ISAB.

ISA can play the role of the Calling Gateway or the Answering Gateway. Suppose that a client from SiteB wants to connect to a computer from SiteA. Since the tunnel is not up yet, when ISAB at the SiteB will receive the client request will try to initiate the connection. In this way ISAB is acting as the Calling Gateway. Obviuosly ISAA(domain member) will be the Answering Gateway. Remember that L2TP/IPsec requires two level of authentication: machine(through IKE) and user(PPP authentication). So we need to configure ISAB with a user name and password that are available at the ISAA location, user which has “Dial-in” permissions set to allowed. Even more, the user name must match the remote site name from ISAA.

Using the site-to-site wizard we are going to create on ISAA the connection to ISAB, We'll name it Branch.
Site-to-site wizard on ISAA adding the connection to ISAB
Figure2:  Site-to-site wizard on ISAA adding the connection to ISAB
Choose L2TP/IPsec:
Choosing L2TP/IPsec
Figure3:  Choosing L2TP/IPsec
We receive the user warning that I have told you about:
User account warning Figure4: User account warning
Enter the remote site address(it can be an IP address or a FQDN):
The Remote site VPN server
Figure5: The Remote site VPN server
You can configure ISAA to act as the Calling Gateway for this connection(at least one side must be configured to do so). We’ll name the user Main. If you want that only ISAB to initiate the connection to ISAA uncheck the checkbox:
Allow ISAA to act as the Calling Gateway
Figure6: Allow ISAA to act as the Calling Gateway
Next we need to specify the outgoing authentication method for IKE when ISAA is acting as the Calling Gateway. Make sure you use certificates and not pre-shared key in a production environment. Right now I’m going to use a pre-shared key.
IKE authentication when ISAA acts as the Calling Gateway
Figure7: IKE authentication when ISAA acts as the Calling Gateway
 If you did not enable “VPN Client Access” and there specified for example a pre-shared key you will be prompted by ISA to define an authentication method for incoming connections.
Enable VPN Client Access
Figure8: Enable VPN Client Access
Incoming connections Authentication method
Figure9: Incoming connections Authentication method
If ISAA is the Answering Gateway and you are using pre-shared keys make sure you add a pre-shared key.
I know is weird, but actually the Calling Gateway is "acting" like a "VPN client" and therefore if you use pre-shared keys on the Answering Gateway for VPN clients too, then everybody(Calling Gateways and VPN clients) will use the same pre-shared key. Keep in mind that there are separate System Policies enabled for you by ISA(when you click “Enable VPN Client Access” or define a site-to-site VPN) for VPN clients and site-to-site connections so you do not need to create any access rules or whatever.
System Policy VPN client access enabled Figure10: System Policy VPN client access enabled(PPTP and L2TP/IPsec)
System Policy VPN site-to-site enabled Figure11: System Policy VPN site-to-site enabled
Add the remote site IP address range:
Remote site IP address range 
Figure12: Remote site IP address range
 Next create a network rule between the new remote site and your Internal Network(a route relationship):
The network relationship
Figure13: The network relationship
And the access rules for allowing communications between Branch and Internal and vice-versa. Right now I have defined an allow all rule.
The access rule
Figure14: The access rule
And then click “Finish”.
So by now you should have the System Policies enabled, the access rules and the network relationship defined:
Access rule between Branch and Internal and vice-versa Figure15: Access rule between Branch and Internal and vice-versa
Network rule between Branch and Internal
Figure16: Network rule between Branch and Internal
Now head onto RRAS and make sure you uncheck the “Register this connection’s addresses in DNS” on the “Branch” interface:
Uncheck the “Register this connection’s addresses in DNS”
Figure17: Uncheck the “Register this connection’s addresses in DNS”

Now we will repeat the above steps for creating the site-to-site connection to ISAC.
We’ll name it Branch2:
The site-to-site connection from ISAA to ISAC
Figure18: The site-to-site connection from ISAA to ISAC
Choose again L2TP/IPsec and enter the server address:
The Remote site VPN server
Figure19: The Remote site VPN server
For avoiding confusion let’s call the user Main1.
User name when ISAA is acting as the Calling Gateway for ISAC
Figure20: User name when ISAA is acting as the Calling Gateway for ISAC
Configure the outgoing authentication method for IKE(I have used the pre-shared key 12345qwert). Define the remote site range: 192.168.50.0/24, the access rules and network rules.
Branch2 remote site on ISAA
Figure21: Branch2 remote site on ISAA
Don’t forget about the RRAS setting and uncheck the “Register this connection’s addresses in DNS” for “Branch2” interface.
And we need to define two users Branch(matching ISAB remote site name from ISAA) and Branch2(matching ISAC remote site name from ISAA) in order to enable ISAA to act as the Answering Gateway for the two site-to-site connections. As said before they will be used by ISAB and ISAC. Since ISAA is a domain member we are going to define the users in Active Directory.
The users
Figure22: The users
Don’t forget to set their “Dial-in” permission(you can use “Control access through Remote Access Policy” but let’s keep it simple right now):
Branch user “Dial-in” permission
Figure23: Branch user “Dial-in” permission

Branch2 user “Dial-in” permission
Figure24: Branch2 user “Dial-in” permission

Now let's visualize the site-to-site summary for Branch:

Branch summary
Figure25: Branch site-to-site summary

As we can see at the local side only 192.168.10.0/24 is routable. This means that the remote side can only access resources located on the Internal Network(remember that we have define a route network relationship). Also ISAA "expects" that ISAB remote site range to be 192.168.10.0/24 and between this remote site and the local ISAB network 192.168.40.0/24 to exist a network relationship.

The Branch2 site-to-site summary:

Branch2 Summary 
Figure25: Branch site-to-site summary

Again at the local side only 192.168.10.0/24 is routable. This means that the remote side can only access resources located on the Internal Network(remember that we have define a route network relationship). Also ISAA "expects" that ISAC remote site range to be 192.168.10.0/24 and between this remote site and the local ISAC network 192.168.50.0/24 to exist a network relationship.

What we are going to do is to create on ISAA a route network relationship between Branch and Branch2 and create an access rule allowing access between the two networks.

Network rule between Branch and Branch2
Figure26: Network rule between Branch and Branch2

Acess rule between Branch and Branch2 Figure27: Access rule between Branch and Branch2

And let's look one more time at the Branch site-to-site summary on ISAA:

New Branch site-to-site summary 
Figure28: New Branch site-to-site summary

New Branch site-to-site summary
Figure29: New Branch site-to-site summary, new routable addresses

As we can see at the ISAA side, now 192.168.50.0/24 is also a local routable network. ISAA "expects" that ISAB remote site range to be 192.168.10.0/24 plus 192.168.50.0/24 and between this remote site and the local ISAB network 192.168.40.0/24 to exist a network relationship.

And the Branch2 site-to-site summary:

New Branch2 site-to-site summary 
Figure30: New Branch2 site-to-site summary

New Branch2 site-to-site summary
Figure31: New Branch2 site-to-site summary, new routable addresses

As we can see at the ISAA side, now 192.168.40.0/24 is also a local routable network. ISAA "expects" that ISAC remote site range to be 192.168.10.0/24 plus 192.168.40.0/24 and between this remote site and the local ISAC network 192.168.50.0/24 to exist a network relationship.

So since we created a network rule between Branch and Branch2 now ISA will route traffic between the two networks(route relationship). And we have the access rules in place in order that communications to be allowed.

And we are done with ISAA.

Moving to ISAB now.

First we define the site-to-site connection with ISAA.
We'll name it Main(the user name we defined on ISAA in the wizard):
Main remote site on ISAB
Figure32: Main remote site on ISAB
Choose L2TP/IPsec. Enter ISAA address:
The Remote site VPN server
Figure33: The Remote site VPN server
The user name will be Branch since this is how on ISAA is named the remote site.
The user on ISAB required for ISAB to act as the Calling Gateway
Figure34: The user on ISAB required for ISAB to act as the Calling Gateway
Next, if  ISAA is configured to accept incoming connections using pre-shared keys for IKE authentication make sure you fill the correct pre-shared key on ISAB(outgoing authentication):
Outgoing Authentication on ISAB
Figure35: Outgoing Authentication on ISAB
And probably you will be prompted for authentication for incoming connections(use the pre-shared key with which ISAA is configured to initialize connections):
Incoming Authentication
Figure36: Incoming Authentication
OK. I will use everywhere the same pre-shared key. Remember if ISAA acts as the Answering Gateway and ISAB and ISAC as the Calling Gateways, ISAB and ISAC will use the same pre-shared key for outgoing authentication.
The IP address range is 192.168.10.0/24 and 192.168.50.0.

Main site range on ISAB
Figure37: Remote site Main on ISAB

Create the network rule and access rules.
Access rules
Figure38: Access rules
Network rule
Figure39: Network rule

Don’t forget about the RRAS setting and uncheck the “Register this connection’s addresses in DNS” for the “Main” interface.
Since ISAB is not yet joined to the domain(it will be after the site-to-site connection is up) we will define a local user called Main with his “Dial-in” permissions set to allowed.
ISAB local user 
Figure40: ISAB local user

And ISAB is good to go.

Moving to ISAC.

The site-to-site connection to ISAA. We’ll name it Main1 as the user define on ISAA in the wizard.
The site-to-site VPN connection from ISAC to ISAA
Figure41: The site-to-site VPN connection from ISAC to ISAA
Select the L2TP/IPsec connection. The remote server address is 192.168.22.234.
The user name is Branch2, like the remote site defined on ISAA.
The user used by ISAC to act as the Calling Gateway against ISAA
Figure39: The user used by ISAC to act as the Calling Gateway against ISAA
The outgoing authentication.
The outgoing authentication
Figure40: The outgoing authentication
If you are prompted for incoming authentication you must match it with one configured on ISAA(for outgoing):
The incoming authentication
Figure41: The incoming authentication
The IP address range is 192.168.10.0/24 and 192.168.40.0/24

Main1 remote site range on ISAC
Figure42: Main1 remote site range

Configure the network rule(route relationship) and the access rules.
Don’t forget about the RRAS setting and uncheck the “Register this connection’s addresses in DNS” for “Main1” interface.
And let’s add a local user(ISAC is not a domain member yet), Main1 with the “Dial-in” permission set to allowed.
ISAC local user
Figure43: ISAC local user

And ISAC is good to go.

Let's assume that no tunnel is yet up between ISAB and ISAA. A user from 192.68.40.2(behind ISAB) will try to contact a computer behind ISAA(192.168.10.2).

So the tunnel must come up. A ping command:

Bringing the tunnel up between ISAB and ISAA
Figure44:Bringing the tunnel up between ISAB and ISAA

Let's assume that the same user wants to contact a computer(192.168.50.10) situated behind ISAC.

So traffic will go through ISAA to ISAC. Since right now the tunnel is not up yet between ISAA and ISAB, ISAA will act as the Calling Gateway to ISAC.

Bringing the tunnel up from ISAA to ISAC
Figure44:Bringing the tunnel up between ISAA and ISAC

And it worked.

A quick test from a computer behind ISAC, 192.168.50.10 to see if can access resources located behind ISAA and ISAB.

Ping test behind ISAC
Figure45: Ping test behind ISAC

A quick test from a computer behind ISAA, 192.168.10.2 to see if can access resources located behind ISAB and ISAC.

Ping test behind ISAA
Figure46: Ping test behind ISAA

And things seem to work.

You can now proceed and join ISAB and ISAC to the domain if you want. Actually if you could, it was better to prepare ISAB and ISAC on LocationA. Install additional domain controllers on LocationB and LocationC and so on.

Remember to use certificates for IKE authentication. Use pre-shared keys only for testing. You can go and configure EAP-TLS for user authentication instead of ms-chapv2.

That's it!

If you want a related article to ISA Enterprise Edition please refer to the below article:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/isa/2004/plan/vpn_deployment_ee.mspx



 

Copyright ©2008 Adrian F. Dimcev