Struggling with Firewall Configurations—Any Tips?

The basics are pretty much universal once you get the hang of access control lists (ACLs) and NAT. After that, it all comes down to how different firewalls manage their objects, groups, and zones. So, focus on the core concepts, and the specifics will become clearer with practice.

While the interfaces might look different, the underlying concepts remain consistent. Remember these tips to navigate your configurations:
1. Rules that are higher up in the list take priority.
2. Block rules also come before allow rules in priority.
3. Rules are typically applied at the LAN interface level.
4. The WAN interface reflects what’s allowed from the internet.
5. Be aware of hidden rules that might affect your setup.
6. NAT is helpful because it allows multiple devices on your LAN to share a single WAN address, which is key for internet access while enhancing security.
7. Always double-check that your devices have the correct routing and are using the right interfaces. Hopefully, this clears up some confusion!

I usually avoid using NAT unless it's absolutely necessary. Just the other day, I watched a trainee struggle with his first XGS firewall. He was trying to set up a DNAT, which he had done successfully on previous models, but it just wouldn’t work on this one. It brought back some tough memories of the learning curve we all face!