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We are pleased to present another ITW development. A Sophos Firewall FQDN object import generator. XML imports for host objects, URL groups and web exceptions can be created in a flash from lists of FQDNs.

Introduction

To this day, many people (including myself) struggle with the API. I don't want to badmouth the API. It is important and also practical, but not always the easier way when it comes to creating multiple objects. Activate API, set authorizations, allow access, search for script, authenticate, ... and so on.

I am therefore a friend of ready-made configuration snippets that can be imported in the GUI via the import function in a flash, without having to do much.

This is how this generator was created. You can enter a list of FQDNs, select which objects are to be created and the import file is ready. I have tried to make it as convenient as possible. Take a look at it and give it a try! 😀

What can be created?

Below you will find an overview of the configurations you can create using the generator.

• FQDN host
  Objects under "Host and services -> FQDN host". This includes the FQDN itself, of course, but also the display name in some cases. You can add a prefix to the name. If no prefix is set, the FQDN is used. Due to the length restriction, the name may be shortened from the beginning. Other name options are not possible.
• FQDN host group
  The host group "Host and services -> FQDN host group" depends on the creation of the individual host. If the option is set, all specified FQDN hosts are also packed into an FQDN host group. The name of the group is freely definable.
• URL group in the proxy
  Under "Internet -> URL group" a new list can be filled with the specified FQDN. The name of the group is freely definable. Wildcards (*.) are removed.
• URL exceptions in the proxy
  Exceptions can be created under "Internet -> Web Exceptions". However, only the URL field is ever filled in here. The exception options are all activated, but can be adjusted after the import. The name of the exception is freely definable.

Operating aid

Is the generator intuitive? Well, let's hope so. 😉
But the reality is often different. If only because everyone's understanding and level of knowledge is different. So here are a few tips.

General notes

• Wildcard domains
  Wildcards are supported. Simply enter the FQDN with "*.domain.de". Any existing wildcard will be removed from the URL group.
• Names
  Except for the naming of the FQDN hosts (only a prefix is possible here), you can freely choose the names of the configuration yourself. The selection of possible characters was deliberately limited. If you want to add a different character, you have to adjust it yourself after the import. Possible characters: a-z A-Z 0-9 - _ + # ! = * + $ / German umlauts and of course the space character.
• Multiple submissions for an XML
  An XML can end up with different configurations. The first time you submit the form, for example, you can have only FQDN Host, the second time only one URL group and the third time all four options. The combination is up to you. When importing, the data is imported together, but not merged!
• FQDN check
  When lists are submitted, the FQDNs are checked for plausibility. Most error cases should be covered. Errors are displayed in detail.
  Already sent in data before? Don't worry, they will remain until the end.
• IDN domains
  IDN (International Domain Name) domains are supported. You can enter müller.de, or xn--mller-kva.de. Both work. When creating the XML, all domains that require conversion are converted to Punycode. You don't need to worry about it here.

Data input

1. Enter FQDN list (max. 100 entries / lines per forum form submission)
2. Select any combination of options
3. Send data (max. 20 submissions per XML)
4. Start from scratch or create XML

Generator

Step 1: Enter FQDNs  

List of FQDNs:  

General:
Enter the list of FQDNs here.

Conditions:

• Only one FQDN per line
• Max characters per FQDN: 253
• IDNs (International Domain Names) are allowed
• IDNs are converted automatically
• IDN domains to be converted are only converted when the XML file is created
• A maximum of 100 lines is allowed per entry.

Close help

1.

Step 2: Select one or more options

Create host objects:  

General:

With this option, FQDN objects are created under the configuration item "Host and Services -> FQDN Host".
If the option "Group" is also activated, an FQDN host group is created for the specified FQDN.

Name conditions:

• Prefix empty means object name equal to the FQDN
• An underscore is always automatically placed after a prefix
• Set prefix means name equal to Prefix_sub.domain.de
• Total length incl. prefix: 60. If the name from the prefix and FQDN is longer, the text is cut off the front of the FQDN
• Max character prefix: 20
• Permitted characters: a-zA-Z0-9_+-#!=* äüöÄÜÖß German umlauts and spaces

Conditions for the group:

• optional
• If the option is activated, the host group is also created automatically. Any prefix that may have been set is taken into account.
• Name must be set
• max characters: 60
• Permitted characters: a-zA-Z0-9_+-#!=* äüöÄÜÖß German umlauts and spaces

Close help

Create FQDN hosts (mandatory for "Create FQDN host group")

Create FQDN host group

Create URL group:  

General:

With this option, a URL group is created under the configuration item "Web -> URL groups".

Conditions for the name:

• Mandatory if option is activated
• max characters: 50
• Permitted characters: a-zA-Z0-9_+-#!=* äüöÄÜÖß German umlauts and spaces

Close help

Create URL group

Create web exception:  

General:

This option is used to create an exception for URLs under the configuration item "Web -> Exceptions".

The exceptions are created according to the following scheme:

• *.domain.de is converted into
  ^([A-Za-z0-9.-]*\.)?domain\.de/?
• simpledomain.de is adopted 1:1

Conditions for the name:

• Mandatory if option is activated
• max characters: 60
• Permitted characters: a-zA-Z0-9_+-#!=* äüöÄÜÖß German umlauts and spaces

Close help

Create web exception(s) for the FQDN listed above

Discard all previously submitted data and restart?

Yes No

Step 3 (optional): Check submitted data

Click here to view the data submitted so far (JSON format)

General:

This option is used to create an exception for URLs under the configuration item "Web -> Exceptions".

The exceptions are created according to the following scheme:

• *.domain.de is converted into
  ^([A-Za-z0-9.-]*\.)?domain\.de/?
• simpledomain.de is adopted 1:1

Conditions for the name:

• Mandatory if option is activated
• max characters: 60
• Permitted characters: a-zA-Z0-9_+-#!=* äüöÄÜÖß German umlauts and spaces

Close help

No data has been entered yet

Step 4: Select action

Number of submissions still possible until the XML must be created: 20/20

Version history

25.04.2024 - Initial release

15.05.2024 - Minor adjustments to the text

FAQ

Where and how is the XML imported?

Please upload and import the created file (.tar) as it is under "Backup & Firmware -> Import/Export". After the message that the process was successful, the desired objects have been created.

Other interesting articles

! in progress ! IP object generator