Policy Based Forwarding applications

[kk555]

I realize that PBF application based routing is limited to a subset of applications supported.

We're specifically looking to use PBF for Outlook-Web-Online and it's not in the list but many other things are, like MS-OCS-* and SMTP, etc...

Do we know why some applications are listed and why?

Is it possible to make a feature request to support this application?

Thoughts?

Thanks.

[HULK]

Hello Kk555,

Not all Apps can be used for PBF, because the routing decision is made at sessions start, you can only use Apps that can be discovered at session start.

For your example:

google-docs-base has a dependency of web-browsing & SSL. At session start the PAN will discover web-browsing or SSL and make a routing decision

Once this decision is made the PAN will keep it for this Session.

This is why you can't select all Apps for PBF.

Please find below similar discussion thread:

Re: PBF rule - applications

Using Applications in PBF

PBF based on Apps

Re: APP limitation using PBF

Re: Policy Based Forwarding for Application "Ping"

Hope this helps.

Thanks

[HULK]

Here is a snippet from the admin guide for using apps with PBF:

"The initial session on a given destination IP address and port that is associated with an application will not match an application-specific rule and will be forwarded according to subsequentPBF rules (that do not specify an application) or the virtual router’s forwarding table. Allsubsequent sessions on that destination IP address and port for the same application willmatch an application-specific rule. To ensure forwarding through PBF rules, application specific rules are not recommended."

which means the PBF rule will not match 100% of the time. PBF routing is determined by the first packet and most of the apps we have are not identified with the first packet which implies this will take the normal routing route. After the app is identified, the subsequent sessions of the same app with same src and destn will match the PBF rule. Again, it is not recommended to use apps with PBF.

Thanks