Edge Networking Interface

The Edge Networking page allows School Manager administrators to configure network connectivity, traffic, and network security.

Dashboard

The Dashboard page gives a snapshot of active Wide Area Network (WAN) connections.

1. The Virtual Interface Utilization panel shows the current day’s network utilization. Drag the time selector to narrow down the display to the relevant hours.
2. The Uplink Status panel shows the status of uplink traffic. Selecting the Settings icon takes you to the Configuration > Networking > Interfaces page, where you can configure virtual interfaces.
3. The Client VPN Status panel displays VPN connections. Selecting the Settings icon on the right takes you to the Client VPN configuration page. 

Firewall

Without rules, the default behaviour of the firewall is to allow all traffic. With rules, the default behaviour of the firewall is to block all traffic unless you also create a rule that allows all traffic and place it at the bottom of your rules list. School Manager implements rules based on their placement on the list, so the rules that are on top of the list take priority over those below.

Managing Firewall Rules

1. Selecting Add Rule creates a new firewall rule.  This creates a rule that allows any traffic, as indicated in the Destination and Destination columns. 
2. Selecting Edit (pencil) opens the Editing Rule dialog where you can configure a firewall rule.
3. Selecting Delete (bin) removes a firewall rule.
4. Selecting and dragging Move (cross) places the rule up or down the list.
5. Selecting or deselecting the Enabled check box activates or deactivates a rule.
      

Multicast DNS (MDNS) Bridge

The MDNS Bridge page displays the list of active multi-DNS bridges in the network.

1. Clicking Add MDNS Bridge opens the Add MDNS Bridge dialog.
   1. Assign a name to the new bridge.
   2. Enter a bridge slave. A bridge slave is a virtual interface assigned to the bridge (for example, eth0, eth1).
2. Select Edit to edit an existing MDNS Bridge.
3. Click Delete to remove an MDNS bridge.

Gateway Virtual Private Network (VPN)

The Gateway VPN page shows a list of VPN gateways configured within the school's network. It allows devices by certain users, networks, or remote sites to bridge their connection or communication directly.

1. Selecting Add VPN opens the Add VPN dialog. Enter the name of the new VPN and select Add. The new VPN gateway is not enabled until you have configured it in the Manage Gateway VPN screen.
2. Selecting Edit opens the Manage Gateway VPN screen where you can configure the following settings:
   1. Enabled: Toggle to enable/disable the VPN.
   2. Auto Configure Firewall: Automatically configures School Manager’s Firewall to accept the inbound VPN Traffic
   3. Secret Key: Passphrase or Pass Key to access the VPN.
   4. Local ID: The IP Address of School Manager’s External address for which the VPN will be configured (this can also be a FQDN or hostname.
   5. Listening Interface: The Interface in which the External Address of School Manager is configured.
   6. Remote IP: IP used to connect the VPN on the remote end. Usually a public IP Address (can also be an FQDN)
   7. Local Network: The Local IP Network that is assigned to users connecting to the VPN (usually a private network).
   8. Remote Network: The Remote IP Network that is configured on the Remote End of the VPN (usually a private network).
   9. Remote ID: The IP used to connect the VPN on the remote end (can also be a FQDN).
   10. Save: Saves the VPN configuration.
3. Selecting Delete removes a gateway VPN.

Client VPN

The Client VPN page allows administrators to configure, enable, or disable client VPNs that allow individual users to connect to virtual private networks.

1. Selecting Enabled activates the Client VPN.
2. Dynamic Addressing is assigned to users when they connect to the network.
3. Authentication Options provides users or groups with a secret key that allows them to connect through the VPN.
   
   

Quality of Service (QoS)

The QoS page manages network connectivity by creating rules that allow School Manager to prioritize, allocate, or limit data traffic.

Rate Limiting

The Rate Limiting page shows options for managing network traffic by setting rules on usage.

1. Selecting Add Rule creates a new QoS rule.
2. Selecting or deselecting a rule's check box on the Enabled column enables or disables that rule. 
3. Selecting the Edit icon opens the Editing Rule page, which allows you to configure the new rule by updating:

1. 1. Name of the Rate Limiting rule
   2. Source(s) of traffic (e.g., User, Protocol, network range, IP address,  quota, etc.)
      Note: You can select multiple source criteria, and each criterion has its own configuration requirements.  
   3. Destination of the traffic (e.g., Website, HTTPS path, content type, IP address, etc.)
   4. Options for applying the rate limiting rule (Per User or Per Device, or both)  
   5. Upload Rate limit
   6. Download Rate limit

4. Select Delete to remove a QoS rule.

Priority

The QOS > Priority page allows administrators to set up access priorities. 

1. Selecting Add Rule creates a new priority rule.
2. Selecting Edit displays the Editing Rule dialog where you can configure the new priority rule by entering the following details:
   1. Name: Name for the new Priority Rule.
   2. Sources: Select source criteria for the new rule.
      Note: Each criterion has unique required data. You can select multiple sources. 
   3. Destination: The network traffic’s destination, such as a website, IP address, network range, application, etc.
      Note: Each criterion has unique required data. You can select multiple sources.
   4. Priority - Indicates how School Manager will prioritize the new rule.
3. Selecting Add saves the new priority.