Recommended Posts

Hey guys,

As you may know from previous Threads I've got a pfSense box as my router and am diverting all WAN bound traffic through a OpenVPN connection.

Now I've installed SQUID and set it to Transparent mode so everyone gets the Caching Benefits (large hard drive so I've set a massive cache) but now my WAN IP is showing as my Virgin Media IP address and not my VPN IP, how can I have SQUID Traffic sent via the OVPN Interface instead of the WAN Interface?

Thanks

Chris

Love to see topics about pfsense and all here on neowin, but your prob better off we these types of questions on their forums.. I am also pretty active there under a different nick

Quick google found this

http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=32732.0

HOW TO - OpenVPN to a public VPN provider + transparent SQUID

I am currently not using squid, nor a vpn provider so sad to say prob wont be much help with this one.

edit: I was just reading this linked thread, and I think the guy is off his rocker ;) hehehehe there has to be a much easier way than the nonsense he is spouting.

Im thinking something as simple as telling squid which gateway to use would be more like it.

# TAG: tcp_outgoing_address

in squid.conf?

squid.conf file shouldn't be modified manually on pfsense from what I've read.

Love to see topics about pfsense and all here on neowin, but your prob better off we these types of questions on their forums.. I am also pretty active there under a different nick

Quick google found this

http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=32732.0

HOW TO - OpenVPN to a public VPN provider + transparent SQUID

I am currently not using squid, nor a vpn provider so sad to say prob wont be much help with this one.

edit: I was just reading this linked thread, and I think the guy is off his rocker ;) hehehehe there has to be a much easier way than the nonsense he is spouting.

Im thinking something as simple as telling squid which gateway to use would be more like it.

I agree, not wasting my time with Virtual Machines etc. I've read everything on the pfSense forum and nothing has been helpful.

So pfSense is a software engine that runs on top of whatever managing software comes with the router/firewall ?

confused - for instance we have a SonicWall firewall & Cisco routers - where would this come in to play ?

pfSence is an x86 Firewall Distro based on FreeBSD. So, this PC is my Router/Firewall/SQUID/etc

I have been toying with testing out a vpn provider to be able play with policy based routing.. I have my server that runs my utorrent, and would like to play with just routing its torrent traffic through the vpn. This is more and more common type setup and would like some experience with it to help others going down that path.

It shouldn't be that difficult since traffic is going to be from one port, etc.

Just not sure when I will get around to it, wife had to go and get me a kindle fire for xmas and I can see that will keep me occupied for a few days ;) tinkering. Need to get a openvpn client working on it, and then would love to get a remote desktop app working on it, etc.

You might want to bring sc302 in on this, I know he is actively using squid on pfsense -- I fire it up now and then if need to answer a question for someone. But my pfsense box is only a 800mhz p3 with 512MB ram and since I really have no need to filter anything. And don't have a vpn - also been toying with creating a site to site to work, but have to pull the cert out of my tiks card, etc. Again on my list of things to play with but just not on the front burner.

I really suggest you POST your question on the pfsense forums, very responsive normally!!

And there is nothing saying you can not directly edit the squid.conf -- I have been doing it with the unbound package on pfsense since it came out, to get ipv6 features and acl settings before the gui had the options available, etc. Just the changes got overwritten if you install updated package, etc. But sure there is nothing wrong with tinkering with the underlaying conf files with anything you install on pfsense.. Once you figure it out make sure you post a how to on pfsense so there is something other than that junk I linked too ;)

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • Friday Windows 11 preview builds are here. Insiders in the Experimental (formerly Dev) and Beta Channel can download builds 26300.8697 and 26220.8690. My Windows11 device on the Preview Channel just got 26220.8728. My guess is this build is a nightly update from 26220.8690.
    • Traffic has a surprisingly unexpected impact on your surroundings by Sayan Sen Image by Radik 2707 via Pexels A collaborative study by researchers from several Israeli institutions found that everyday pollution from traffic and industrial activity measurably changed the atmospheric electric field over the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, providing new evidence of how human activity can influence the lower atmosphere. The research was led by Dr. Roy Yaniv of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Gertner Institute at Sheba Medical Center, Dr. Assaf Hochman of the Fredy & Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University, and Prof. Yoav Yair of Reichman University. The study also involved Itay Froomer, a student from Hadera High School and the Israeli Museum of Medicine and Science (Technoda), who carried out the work as part of the Ministry of Education's 5-unit physics research track. The researchers focused on the atmospheric electric field under fair-weather conditions. Even in the absence of storms, a weak electric field naturally exists between Earth's surface and the atmosphere. One of the main ways scientists measure this field is through the Potential Gradient (PG), which is the inverse of the vertical component of the electric field. PG is a key part of the global electric circuit, a planet-wide system of electrical currents maintained by thunderstorms and electrified clouds around the world. Scientists have long known that the atmospheric electric field can be influenced by factors ranging from large-scale atmospheric processes to local weather conditions such as dust, fog and clouds. Human-made pollution is also known to play a role, but understanding exactly how urban emissions affect the electric field close to the ground has remained an area of ongoing research. To investigate this relationship, the team analyzed measurements from a newly installed electric field mill, an instrument used to continuously monitor the strength of the atmospheric electric field. The instrument was installed at the Center for Technological Education (Roter House) in Holon and became operational in August 2024. It was funded by Israel's Ministry of Education and the Holon municipality. The electric field mill forms part of a broader monitoring network that includes nearby meteorological stations and air-quality monitoring sites. This allowed researchers to compare electric field measurements with detailed weather data and pollution records to better understand what was driving changes in the Potential Gradient. The study focused on two major urban pollutants: fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), both commonly produced by vehicle traffic and industrial activity. PM2.5 refers to microscopic airborne particles small enough to remain suspended in the atmosphere for extended periods, while NOx is a group of gases released during fuel combustion. Researchers examined daily, weekly and seasonal patterns in the atmospheric electric field and compared them with changes in pollutant concentrations. Their analysis revealed a clear relationship between NOx levels and changes in the Potential Gradient, particularly during morning and evening rush hours when traffic emissions were at their highest. “What we observe is a direct physical link between emission peaks and electrical variability,” explained Dr. Roy Yaniv. “NOx reduces atmospheric conductivity very quickly, so the electric field responds almost instantaneously during traffic rush hours.” Atmospheric conductivity describes how easily electrical charges move through the air. According to the researchers, nitrogen oxides rapidly alter this conductivity, causing a near-immediate response in the electric field. PM2.5, however, was associated with a delayed response. The researchers attributed this difference to the particles' longer atmospheric residence time, meaning they remain in the atmosphere for longer periods, as well as their different microphysical interactions with surrounding air and atmospheric components. The study also identified a pronounced "weekend effect." In Israel, traffic volumes and some industrial activity decline significantly on Fridays and Saturdays. During these periods, concentrations of both NOx and PM2.5 dropped, and corresponding changes were observed in the atmospheric electric field. “The weekend signal demonstrates just how sensitive the electric field is to changes in human activity,” the researchers noted. “When emissions decline, the electrical environment adjusts at once, providing a high-resolution indicator of urban atmospheric conditions.” The findings showed that pollution levels can influence not only the chemical composition of the atmosphere but also its electrical properties. Researchers said the results strengthened the case for using atmospheric electricity as an additional tool for environmental monitoring, particularly in densely populated urban areas where anthropogenic, or human-caused, influences are most pronounced. The study also pointed to potential public health applications. By combining air-quality measurements with observations of atmospheric electricity, researchers said they could gain a more complete picture of how urban atmospheric conditions change over time. “Integrating air-quality data with electric-field measurements gives us a clearer picture of how the lower atmosphere evolves moment by moment,” the researchers added. “It’s a framework that can support both scientific insight and practical environmental decision-making.” Beyond the scientific findings, the project highlighted a collaboration between universities, public institutions and secondary education. Researchers said the work demonstrated how students could take part in real-world environmental research while contributing to studies of air quality, atmospheric processes and their potential effects on society. Source: Hebrew University, ScienceDirect This article was generated with some help from AI and reviewed by an editor. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, this material is used for the purpose of news reporting. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing
    • We aren't even at the all-star game and Microsoft is talking about an update that will most likely be released during the World Series if not after. A lot can happen in the world between now and the 2026 World Series, including the 2026 FIFA Cup. Tell me about it again after the FIFA Cup is concluded. That should allow plenty of time to prepare for it.
    • Great, tell me when I have a "Bad Pool Caller" elsewhere not in Windoze.
    • The first improvement they need to make to audio in W11 is to add an equalizer that actually works.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      AMV earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      AMV earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Collaborator
      ryansurfer98 went up a rank
      Collaborator
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      542
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      186
    3. 3
      Michael Scrip
      77
    4. 4
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      77
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      71
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!