• SonicOS 7
• Zones
  • How Zones Work
  • Predefined Zones
  • Security Types
  • Allow Interface Trust
  • Enabling SonicWall Security Services on Zones
  • Effect of Wireless and Non-Wireless Controller Modes
    • Effects of Enabling Non-Wireless Controller Mode
    • Effects of Enabling Wireless Controller Mode
  • Match Objects > Zones
    • The Zone Settings Table
    • Adding a New Zone
    • Configuring a Zone for Guest Access
    • Configuring a Zone for Open Authentication and Social Login
    • Configuring a Zone for Captive Portal Authentication with RADIUS
    • Configuring a Zone for Customized Policy Message
    • Configuring a Zone for Customized Login Page
    • Configuring the WLAN Zone
    • Configuring the RADIUS Server
    • Configuring DPI-SSL Granular Control per Zone
    • Enabling Automatic Redirection to the User-Policy Page
    • Deleting a Zone
• Addresses
  • Types of Address Objects
  • About Address Groups
  • About UUIDs for Address Objects and Groups
  • Addresses Page
    • Common Features
      • Common Functions
      • Common Column Headings
    • Sorting the Entries
  • Default Address Objects and Groups
  • Default Pref64 Address Object
  • Default Rogue Address Groups
  • Adding an Address Object
  • Editing Address Objects
  • Deleting Custom Address Objects
  • Purging MAC or FQDN Address Objects
  • Creating Address Groups
  • Editing Address Groups
  • Deleting Address Groups
  • Working with Dynamic Address Objects
    • Key Features of Dynamic Address Objects
    • Enforcing the Use of Sanctioned Servers on the Network
    • Using MAC and FQDN Dynamic Address Objects
      • Blocking All Protocol Access to a Domain using FQDN DAOs
      • Using an Internal DNS Server for FQDN-based Access Rules
      • Controlling a Dynamic Host’s Network Access by MAC Address
      • Bandwidth Managing Access to an Entire Domain
• Services
  • About Default Service Objects and Groups
  • Predefined IP Protocols for Custom Service Objects
  • Adding Service Objects using Predefined Protocols
  • Adding Custom IP Type Services
    • Configuration Example
  • Editing Custom Service Objects
  • Deleting Custom Service Objects
  • Adding Custom Service Groups
  • Editing Custom Service Groups
  • Deleting Custom Service Groups
• URI Lists
  • About URIs and the URI List
  • About URI List Groups
  • About Keywords and the Keyword List
  • Matching URI List Objects
  • Using URI List Objects
  • Managing URI List Objects
    • About the URI List Objects Table
    • Configuring URI List Objects
    • Exporting a URI List Object
    • Editing a URI List Object
    • Deleting URI List Objects
  • Managing URI List Groups
    • About the URI List Groups Table
    • Adding URI List Groups
    • Editing a URI List Group
    • Deleting URI List Groups
• Match Objects
  • About Match Objects
    • About Regular Expressions
      • Regular Expression Syntax
    • About Negative Matching
  • About Application List Objects
    • About Application Filters
    • About Category Filters
  • Configuring a Match Object
  • Configuring Application List Objects
• Schedules
  • Adding a Custom Schedule
  • Modifying Schedules
  • Deleting Custom Schedules
• Dynamic Group
  • About the Dynamic External Address Group File
  • DEAG and DEAO Maximums
  • High Availability Requirements
  • Adding a Dynamic External Object
  • Editing Dynamic External Objects
  • Deleting Dynamic External Objects
• Email Addresses
  • Configuring Email Address Objects
• SonicWall Support
  • About This Document

About Negative Matching

Negative matching provides an alternate way to specify which content to block. You can enable negative matching in a match object when you want to block everything except a particular type of content. When you use the object in a policy, the policy will execute actions based on absence of the content specified in the match object. Multiple list entries in a negative matching object are matched using the logical AND, meaning that the policy action is executed only when all specified negative matching entries are matched.

Although all App Rules policies are DENY policies, you can simulate an ALLOW policy by using negative matching. For instance, you can allow email .txt attachments and block attachments of all other file types. Or you can allow a few types, and block all others.

Not all match object types can utilize negative matching. For those that can, you will see the Enable Negative Matching checkbox on the Match Object Settings dialog.