PacketFence is a network access control solution (NAC) and network that is supported and recognized. PacketFence provides an impressive list of network device management and features. PacketFence can be used to efficiently secure both small networks and very large heterogeneous networks.
PacketFence supports the provision of centralized user access to the network via wired and wireless channels with the ability to be activated through a web interface (captive portal).
Se supports integration with external user databases through LDAP and Active Directory. It is possible to block unwanted devices (for example, the prohibition to connect mobile devices or access points), check traffic for viruses, detect intrusions (integration with Snort), audit the configuration and software for computers on the network.
Media is available for integration with equipment from popular manufacturers such as Cisco, Nortel, Juniper, Hewlett-Packard, 3Com, D-Link, Intel, and Dell.
We can highlight that with PacketFence we are given the possibility to monitor the devices connected in a network and power manage your stay in it in which we can limit your time on the network, amount of band to use, apply Firewall policies.
We can also use an agent, allow compliance checks, configurations and more endpoints connected to your network. PacketFence can ensure that agents (or clients) are installed during the registration process and then for each new connection.
The software is released under the GPL v2 license.
What's new in PacketFence 9?
With the release of this new version of PacketFence 9 The redesign of the administration web interface stands out, which is now based on Vue.js and Bootstrap 4.
Also the developers added initial support for Let's Encrypt certificate management for RADIUS and also captive portals, support for Cisco ASA VPN networks and Fortnet VPN Management.
It can be found in the new interface a new module to support Aruba Instant Access and PICOS switches. Added support for Aerohive access points with switch ports. For Dell switches, support for VoIP has been added and the addition of Fortinet FortiSwitch COA and 802.1X.
An option to disable the function that allows a system to join a Windows Active Directory domain and the disabling of DNS lookup was also added in the MariaDB configuration.
Improvements
Among the improvements offered in this new release are, a period of time when authorizing a web user in the Ubiquity UniFi access point control equipment.
The default settings of Apache filters have been improved, as well as the default configuration also proposed for conf / stats.conf.
It also highlights the improved management of RADIUS attributes to extract your information. The VoIP configuration parameter in the node_cleanup task to bypass VoIP devices.
A new filter for DHCP has been implemented, which allows you to configure the return of arbitrary attributes in OFFER and ACK messages.
Added the ability to enable DHCP and DNS services only on certain network interfaces.
As well the inclusion of several authentication sources is highlighted, including Facebook and Google. And the automatic lock, if desired, unwanted devices like iPads, PlayStation Sony, xbox, among other devices.
Network equipment support (wired or wireless) such as 3Com, Aerohive, Allied Telesis, Aruba, BelAir / Ericsson, Brocade, Cisco, Dell / Force10, Enterasys, ExtremeNetworks, Extricom, Fortinet / Meru Networks, Hewlett-Packard / H3C, Huawei, Intel, Juniper Networks / Trapeze, LG-Ericsson US, Meraki, Mojo Networks, Motorola, Netgear, Nortel / Avaya, Ruckus, Xirrus and more.
How to get PacketFence 9?
The application offers us two installers for the different Linux distributions, one in deb format that can be downloaded from this link and another in rpm in this link.
For the rest of the distributions we can use the source code and compile the application