💻Deploying NFV functionality on a SD-WAN edge🌐
Step-by-step guide to deploying NFVs on SD-WAN edge.
Using Nepean Networks’ SD-WAN it is possible to deploy an edge that has a floating static IP of /32 which is associated with a fully functional router and firewall using Openwrt. This software is an exceptional open-source project revolutionizing embedded operating systems based on Linux. Tailored for embedded devices, it efficiently routes network traffic, boasting a powerful lineup of components. Designed to optimize storage and memory usage, Openwrt fits seamlessly into SD-WAN edge nodes, ensuring smooth performance even with limited resources.
What sets Openwrt apart is its innovative firewall based on nft, the leading cloud-native low-level firewall, ensuring robust security measures. Configuration is a breeze with Openwrt, offering flexibility through a command-line interface (ash shell) or a user-friendly web interface (LuCI). With a whopping 8000 optional software packages available for installation via the opkg package management system, customization options are virtually endless.
But wait, there's more! Openwrt is capable of virtualization on x86 hardware using libvirt, expanding its versatility and compatibility to being used with the Nepean Networks’ SD-WAN ecosystem. This solution provides for optimizing performance, enhancing security, and unlocking the full potential of SD-WAN within a small business.
First we setup the edge as follows:
This setups up the basic interfaces where br0 with be the LAN for Openwrt and br1 will be the WAN. Setup the broadband connections to provide Internet using legs as normal. The following step sets up WAN connection for Openwrt including the floating IP. The DHCP IP is also defined.
We can use the following custom DNSMASQ settings:
cache-size=4096
min-cache-ttl=900
no-resolv
# Include any extra threatblocks here
addn-hosts=/etc/extra-threatblock/tiktok
server=1.1.1.3
server=208.67.222.123
server=94.140.14.15
The setup for extra threatblocks on the edge is described below. In our example above we have blocked tiktok. It is also possible to run ControlD and and DNSgate.
There is one more setting required on the edge that needs to be double checked. The CPE NAT needs to be the IP of the NFV and not the GW.
So next, we need to install libvirt on the edge.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system libvirt-clients virtinst cpu-checker libguestfs-tools libosinfo-bin
sudo apt-get remove dnsmasq-base
sudo virsh net-autostart --disable default
Voila! The Linux KVM solution is now up and running on the edge. We are now going to setup openwrt.
# Download the latest img
wget https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/23.05.5/targets/x86/64/openwrt-23.05.5-x86-64-generic-ext4-combined-efi.img.gz
gunzip openwrt-23.05.5-x86-64-generic-ext4-combined-efi.img.gz
sudo mv openwrt-23.05.5-x86-64-generic-ext4-combined-efi.img /var/lib/libvirt/images/openwrt.img
# Create the VM
sudo virt-install --os-type=generic --virt-type=kvm --name=openwrt --ram=512 --vcpus=2 --virt-type=kvm --hvm --network bridge=br0,model=virtio --network bridge=br1,model=virtio --connect qemu:///system --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/openwrt.img,bus=ide --import --wait 0
# Use this for console access instead of vnc
--connect qemu:///system
# The following starts openwrt when the edge boots
# Modify the units section in /lib/systemd/system/libvirtd.service to include
BindsTo=sys-devices-virtual-net-br0.device
BindsTo=sys-devices-virtual-net-br1.device
After=sys-devices-virtual-net-br0.device
After=sys-devices-virtual-net-br1.device
sudo virsh define /etc/libvirt/qemu/openwrt.xml
sudo virsh autostart openwrt
sudo apt-get install ebtables
sudo systemctl enable libvirtd
You can now add apps as normal on openwrt which include bbr, btop, mtr, SQM/CAKE, Wireguard VPN, etc. Below is the theme we use which is known as Argon.
sudo virsh console openwrt
# On openwrt
# Change ssh login by changing /etc/banner
# install argon
wget https://github.com/jerrykuku/luci-theme-argon/releases/download/v2.3.1/luci-theme-argon_2.3.1_all.ipk -O $(basename https://github.com/jerrykuku/luci-theme-argon/releases/download/v2.3.1/luci-theme-argon_2.3.1_all.ipk)
wget https://github.com/jerrykuku/luci-app-argon-config/releases/download/v0.9/luci-app-argon-config_0.9_all.ipk -O $(basename https://github.com/jerrykuku/luci-app-argon-config/releases/download/v0.9/luci-app-argon-config_0.9_all.ipk)
opkg update
opkg install luci-compat
opkg install luci-lib-ipkg
opkg install luci-theme-argon*.ipk
opkg install luci-app-argon-config*.ipk
# Confirm package is installed and up to date
opkg install luci-theme-argon*.ipk
opkg install luci-app-argon-config*.ipk
opkg update && opkg install bash && wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dylanaraps/neofetch/master/neofetch && bash neofetch
The NFV instance of OpenWRT can be configured as follows:
NB: Check your firewall Zones
The edge configuration to log these events and onwards forward them as notifications are as follows:
sudo nano /etc/rsyslog.conf
# Uncomment the below
# provides UDP syslog reception
module(load="imudp")
input(type="imudp" port="514")
# Add this to the bottom of the file
$template remote-incoming-logs,"/var/log/%HOSTNAME%/%PROGRAMNAME%.log"
*.* ?remote-incoming-logs
sudo systemctl restart rsyslog
# Enable the logs to be received
# /etc/nftables/nft_remote_systemlog.nft
table ip remotesyslog {
chain input {
type filter hook input priority -1; policy accept;
iifname br1 udp dport 54 counter accept
}
}
The log files are now stored in /var/log/FusionRT
The following script can be used to hourly check the logs and send notifications.
#!/bin/bash
# Script to check NFV logs and forward notifications
# Run hourly
# Define log files
uhttpd_log="/var/log/FusionRT/uhttpd.log"
dropbear_log="/var/log/FusionRT/dropbear.log"
# Get current time and time one hour ago in epoch format
current_time=$(date +%s)
one_hour_ago=$((current_time - 3600))
# Check if modification time of each log file is within the last hour
if [[ $(stat -c %Y "$uhttpd_log") -gt $one_hour_ago ]]; then
echo "Last 3 lines of $uhttpd_log:"
note=`tail -n 3 "$uhttpd_log"`
curl \
-H "Authorization: Bearer humptydumpty" \
-H prio:high \
-H tags:penguin \
-d "FusionRT web on ${HOSTNAME}: $note" \
ntfy.sh/hadagreatfall
fi
if [[ $(stat -c %Y "$dropbear_log") -gt $one_hour_ago ]]; then
echo "Last 3 lines of $dropbear_log:"
note=`tail -n 3 "$dropbear_log"`
curl \
-H "Authorization: Bearer humptydumpty" \
-H prio:high \
-H tags:penguin \
-d "FusionRT cli on ${HOSTNAME}: $note" \
ntfy.sh/hadagreatfall
fi
Change the NTP servers: openwrt.pool.ntp.org , debian.pool.ntp.org , and ntp.nap.africa.
Change to ssh access to port 22222.
To copy the machine img file to a qcow2 file:
qemu-img convert -f raw -O qcow2 openwrt.img openwrt.qcow2
You can add RouterOS:
sudo virt-install --os-type=generic --virt-type=kvm --name=mikrotik --ram=512 --vcpus=2 --virt-type=kvm --hvm --network bridge=br0,model=e1000 --graphics=vnc --disk path=/home/amastelek/chr-7.8.img,bus=ide --import
Or even a Clavister Next Generation Firewall instance:
sudo virt-install --os-type=generic --virt-type=kvm --name=clavister --ram=1024 --vcpus=2 --virt-type=kvm --hvm --network bridge=br0,model=virtio --network bridge=br1,model=virtio --graphics=vnc --disk path=/home/amastelek/clavister-cos-core-14.00.09.08-kvm-x86_64-bios-en.qcow2,bus=ide --import
Ronald Bartels works connecting Internet inhabiting things at Nepean Networks.
