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Table of Contents
Overview
This article focuses on best practices to configure Uplink Balancing and Multipath Rules for 2 or more WAN links.
Thanks to @BAlfson for great explanation about default multipath rule.
Basic setup
To distribute traffic evenly on 2 WAN links,
- Go to Interfaces & Routing > Interfaces > Uplink Balancing, enable Uplink Balancing.
- You don't have to create the following multipath rule, but you should know it is the default applied when traffic doesn't qualify for any multipath rule.
Go to Interfaces & Routing > Interfaces > Multipath Rules, create a multipath rule with
Source: an internal network
Itf. Persistence: By Connection
Balanced to: Uplink Intefacees
Note: Like all ordered (numbered) lists in UTM, once a rule applies, no subsequent rules are considered. - Go to Network Protection > NAT > Masquerading, create a masquearding rule with "Interface: Uplink interfaces". If no such masquearding rule, UTM might choose wrong WAN interface for outbound traffic.
Internal network uses a specific WAN interface for outbound traffic
- Enable Uplink Balancing, and create a masquerading rule with "Interface: Uplink interfaces" for the internal network as above
- Create a multipath rule with
Source: the internal network
Itf. Persistence: By Interface
Bind interface: the WAN interface designated for the internal network
Skip rule on interface error: checked, so that traffic will be sent out from another up WAN interface if bind interface is down.
WAN interface serves only one host
Target: WAN interface "WAN_200_225" is only used by 192.168.10.9 to access Internet, no other internal host/network can use it to access Internet.
- Enable Uplink Balancing, and create a masquerading rule with "Interface: Uplink interfaces" for the internal network as above
- Create a multipath rule, set
Source: host definition of 192.168.10.9
Itf. Persistence: By Interface
Bind interface: WAN_200_225
Skip rule on interface error: checked - Edit schedule of uplink balancing
- Change weight of interface "WAN_200_225" to 0, so that it won't be used by other multipath rule configured with "Itf. Persistence: Connection/Source/Destination"
Load traffic on specific WAN interfaces
Assume UTM has 3 WAN interfaces, traffic from an internal network needs to be loaded on 2 WAN interfaces only.
- Enable Uplink Balancing, and create a masquerading rule with "Interface: Uplink interfaces" for the internal network as above
- Create an interface group contains those 2 WAN interfaces, in UTM webadmin > Interfaces & Routing > Interfaces > Interfaces > New Interface… > Type: Group
- Go to Interfaces & Routing > Multipath Rules, create a multipath rule, configure
Source: the internal network
Itf. Persistence: By connection
In Advanced Settings, set Balanced to: the interface group
Technical KBA for reference
Sophos UTM: Uplink Balancing and Multipath rule, support.sophos.com/.../KB-000034635
Updated with default multipath rule, suggested by BAlfson
[edited by: taowang at 3:38 AM (GMT -8) on 7 Nov 2020]
[edited by: FloSupport at 1:05 AM (GMT -7) on 8 Jun 2021]