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Optimizing Bridge Performance

To: misc@openbsd.org
Subject: Optimizing Bridge Performance
From: Mike <owensmk@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 11:46:01 -0600
Sender: owner-misc@openbsd.org
I am at the last step of setting up a screened perimeter network. The
inner gateway, which shields the LAN and provides Internet access, is
running OpenBSD, as is the outer bridge. The latter is what I need help
with.

We have a fractional T1 with voice and data. The data is split from an
Adtran unit using a V35 interface to a 3COM router. Although I would
prefer a different arrangement, this is what I have to work with.

Now I don't really want to filter with the 3COM unit, because it is
proprietary and a royal pain. I guess I will if I have to, but I would
much prefer to put a OpenBSD machine between the 3COM unit and
everything else to do filtering:

        [3COM]
           |
           |
     [OpenBSD:Filter]
           |
           |
      --------------
     |   Perimeter  |---[OpenBSD:Servers]
      --------------
           |
           |
       [OBSD:NAT] //Works just fine
           |
       -------------
      |     LAN     |
       -------------

The OpenBSD:NAT is working great, as are all the servers---mail, DNS,
and Web. But I don't know how to approach setting up the OpenBSD:Filter
in the middle. I configured it as a bridge, which does the job, but it
is incredibly slow---it bottlenecks. When I put it in, going out through
the NAT machine really drags. I even defaulted all the filtering to
'pass in all,' but to no increase in performance.

Any suggestions? I have a /27 range of addresses. So I need to listen to
all traffic coming in and going out. Is there something I can do to
either optimize the bridge or use another configuration to do the
filtering?

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