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Barracuda CloudGen Firewall

This Firmware Version Is End-Of-Support

Documentation for this product is no longer updated. Please see End-of-Support for CloudGen Firewall Firmware for further information on our EoS policy.

How to Configure the URL Filter

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General service settings for the URL Filter include webfilter licensing, database usage and log settings. Using a local database is only recommended on systems with poor network connectivity to the central ISS database servers or for installations that serve more than 100 concurrent web users. An initial database download is triggered when this option is enabled (approximate download size is 160 MB).

On Flash RAM-based systems, you cannot use the local database and must deactivate it.

If the Barracuda NG Webfilter (Proventia Internet database) must be accessed through a proxy server, specify the login settings for the proxy. 

Before You Begin

Before you configure the settings, make sure that you have created the URL Filter service in the Barracuda CloudGen Firewall as described in How to Configure Services.

Configure Web Filter Settings

  1. Go to CONFIGURATION > Configuration Tree > Box > Virtual Servers > your virtual server > Assigned Services > URL-Filter > Web Filter Service.
  2. Click Lock.
  3. In the left Configuration Mode menu, select Switch to Advanced View.

    If you have to change the default maximum number of URL Filter processes that may be started simultaneously (Max URL Filter Processes), you must also change the Number of Redirectors value for the HTTP Proxy (see How to Configure URL Filtering in the HTTP Proxy); both settings must have the same value.

  4. If the Barracuda Webfilter engine is used for URL filtering,
    1. Enter the Serial number.
    2. Import the license Keyfile.
  5. Select Use local database to enable usage of a local categorization database.

    • To collect and upload unknown URLs to an ISS server for evaluation and categorization, select Upload Unknown URLs.

    Before enabling this setting, make sure that you have sufficient disk space capacity. This option should only be enabled to assist in case of problems.

  6. In the URL Filter Support Options section, edit the following settings if required:

    • Log Categories per URL – Extends Proventia log files by adding the category classification to each requested URL.

    • Write License Using Statistics – Generates statistics regarding URL Filter license usage.

    • Write License Using Log – Generates logs regarding URL Filter license usage.
    • Log Verbosity  To specify the verbosity level of logs, select a value from 0 to 9 (most verbose).
  7. Click Send Changes and Activate.

Configure Proxy Settings

If the URL Filter service must access the Proventia Internet databases through the local proxy server, specify login settings for the proxy. 

  1. Go to CONFIGURATION > Configuration Tree > Box > Virtual Servers > your virtual server > Assigned Services > URL-Filter > Web Filter Service.
  2. In the left menu, select Proxy.
  3. Click Lock.
  4. From the Enable Proxy list, specify the settings used to access the proxy. You can select:
    • Like-System-Settings – The URL filter uses the proxy that is configured on the system.
    • Direct – The URL filter uses the proxy that is configured on the Barracuda CloudGen Firewall.
    • Explicit Proxy – Use an explicit proxy server. If you select this option, you must enter the authentication data requested by the local proxy server in the Proxy HostPortUser, and Password fields.

      The password can consist of small and capital characters, numbers, and non alpha-numeric symbols, except the hash sign (#).

  5. Click Send Changes and Activate.

To configure the functional details for the URL Filter (e.g., individual categorization definitions, logging, and statistics configuration), continue with How to Configure URL Filtering in the HTTP Proxy.