pfSense: a legend proven over decades

2025-11-03

pfSense — a tank in the world of firewalls.
Is updated less often, but runs for years without surprises.

🏢 Who pfSense is for

• Corporation with 100+ users
• Needs official support
• Has old but reliable hardware
• Value stability

📚 pfSense Features

• Multi-WAN and automatic failover
• Traffic Shaping — bandwidth management
• Captive Portal — guest authentication
• OpenVPN and IPsec — encrypted tunnels

⚙️ Installation

1. ISO → USB
2. Install → configure WAN/LAN
3. In about 10 minutes — a ready firewall

Example HAProxy config:

OPNsense: the firewall of the future that newbies install

2025-11-02

OPNsense — it’s like pfSense, but prettier, faster, and with an API.
Want an office firewall you wouldn’t be embarrassed to show your boss? Here it is.

💼 Who OPNsense is for

• Office of 10–50 people
• VPN for all employees
• Backup internet connection
• Modern web interface

🎨 Apple-like interface

• Dark theme
• Real-time graphs
• REST API for automation
• WireGuard out of the box

⚙️ Installation in 5 minutes

1. Download the ISO from opnsense.org
2. Write it to a USB stick (dd or Rufus)
3. Boot → assign interfaces → done!

Auto-update via API:

OpenWRT: turning an old router into a powerhouse

2025-11-01

Imagine: an old router for 2000 ₽ blocks ads, shares a VPN, works as a Mesh system and doesn’t slow down even with 50 devices.
This is not magic — this is OpenWRT.

🏠 Who needs OpenWRT

OpenWRT turns an ordinary router into a mini-server. If you have at least one item from the list — it’s definitely time to try it:

• Want AdBlock for the whole house
• Need a VPN without a subscription
• Have an old router lying around
• Like to tinker with settings

90% of users install OpenWRT — and forget about the router forever.

MySQL Proxy: A Database Intermediary 🛠️

2025-10-28

MySQL Proxy is a proxy application that sits between client applications (for example, your web server) and one or more MySQL servers. It uses the MySQL Network Protocol, which allows any standard MySQL-compatible client to connect to the proxy without changes, believing it is talking directly to a MySQL server.

How MySQL Proxy Works

In its basic configuration the proxy simply forwards requests from the client to the MySQL server and returns responses back.
However the key feature of MySQL Proxy and its counterparts is monitoring, analyzing, and modifying the passing traffic:

🚫 Remove ads across your entire network: The complete guide to Pi-hole

2025-10-21

Tired of intrusive ads that slow down page loads and track your every move?
Browser extensions are good, but what if you could block ads for your entire home network — smartphones, Smart TVs and IoT devices — all at once?

Meet: Pi-hole. It’s a free open-source tool that turns your small computer (for example, a Raspberry Pi) into a DNS server and network-wide ad blocker. It works at a level browser plugins can’t reach, providing a clean and fast internet for all your gadgets.

Case: Launching and Registering an MTProto Proxy in 5 Minutes Using Docker

2025-10-01

Task

🚀 Create your own fast and reliable proxy, register it in Telegram to track statistics, and optionally make it public.

Solution Choice: Docker + Official MTProto Image

• Why Docker? Docker allows you to run the proxy in an isolated container without installing unnecessary dependencies on the server. It’s clean, secure, and incredibly fast. The docker-compose.yml file describes the entire configuration in one place, making the launch and management process trivial.