Identify Your Network Settings

To configure your Firebox, you must know some information about your network. The sections below describe the network settings you need to know and how to find them.

Network Addressing Requirements

Before you can begin installation, you must know how your computer gets an IP address. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or corporate network administrator can give you this information. Use the same method to connect the Firebox to the Internet that you use for your computer. For example, if you connect your computer directly to the Internet with a broadband connection, you can put the Firebox between your computer and the Internet and use the network configuration from your computer to configure the Firebox external interface.

You can use a static IP address, DHCP, or PPPoE to configure the Firebox external interface. For more information about network addressing, go to Configure an External Interface.

In the factory default configuration, the Firebox assigns your computer an IP address with DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). You can set your computer to use DHCP and then you can connect to the device to manage it. You can also give your computer a static IP address that is on the same network as the trusted IP address of the Firebox. For more information, go to Enable Your Computer to Connect to Fireware Web UI.

Find Your TCP/IP Properties

To learn about the properties of your network, look at the TCP/IP properties of your computer or any other computer on the network. You must have this information to install your Firebox:

  • IP address
  • Subnet mask
  • Default gateway
  • Whether your computer has a static or dynamic IP address
  • IP addresses of primary and secondary DNS servers

If your ISP assigns your computer an IP address that starts with 10, 192.168, or 172.16 to 172.31, then your ISP uses NAT (Network Address Translation) and your IP address is private. We recommend that you get a public IP address for your Firebox external IP address. If you use a private IP address, you can have problems with some features, such as virtual private networking.

  1. On the Windows 8 Start page, type command .
  2. In the Apps search results list, click Command Prompt.
    The Command Prompt dialog box appears.
  3. At the command prompt, type ipconfig /all and press Enter.
  4. Write down the values that you see for the primary network adapter.
  1. Select the Apple menu > System Preferences, or select the icon from the Dock.
    The System Preferences dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Network icon.
    The Network preference pane appears.
  3. Select the network adapter you use to connect to the Internet.
  4. Write down the values that you see for the network adapter.
  1. Read your operating system guide to find the TCP/IP settings.
  2. Write down the values that you see for the primary network adapter.

Find Your PPPoE Settings

If your ISP uses Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) to assign IP addresses, you must get this information:

  • Login name
  • Domain (optional)
  • Password

Related Topics

Configure an External Interface

Enable Your Computer to Connect to Fireware Web UI

About Networks and Network Security