pfSense

pfSense is a widely trusted open-source firewall and router distribution based on FreeBSD. It offers a comprehensive set of features typically found only in expensive commercial firewalls, making it suitable for securing networks of all sizes, from home labs to large enterprises.

Advantages

• Completely open-source with no licensing fees or artificial limitations
• Extensive feature set including VPN, load balancing, traffic shaping, and captive portal
• Highly configurable through a user-friendly web interface
• Strong community support and extensive documentation
• Regular updates and security patches from Netgate

Use Cases

• Network edge security
• Advanced routing and VLANs
• Multi-WAN failover configurations

Alternatives

• OPNsense (Fork of pfSense) (Sovereignty: 5)
• Cisco ASA (Sovereignty: 1)
• Palo Alto Networks (Sovereignty: 1)

Installation Steps

1. Download the appropriate pfSense installer image (ISO or USB memstick)
2. Write the image to installation media (USB drive or CD/DVD)
3. Boot the target hardware from the installation media
4. Follow the on-screen installation prompts (accept defaults for most)
5. Assign network interfaces (WAN, LAN) during initial setup
6. Access the web interface from the LAN side to complete configuration

Resources

• Official Documentation
• Netgate Website