OPNsense: the firewall of the future that newbies install
Published on 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
- Download the ISO from opnsense.org
- Write it to a USB stick (
ddor Rufus) - Boot → assign interfaces → done!
Auto-update via API:
curl -k -u admin:pass -X POST "https://192.168.1.1/api/core/firmware/upgrade"
🔥 Top 5 plugins
| Plugin | What it does |
|---|---|
| Zenarmor | IDS/IPS like Cisco |
| HAProxy | Load balancing and SSL termination |
| CrowdSec | Bans hackers by IP |
| WireGuard | Fast VPN |
| Telegraf | Metrics to Grafana |
🧠 Best hardware
| Model | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Protectli Vault FW4B | $300 | 4× Intel NICs, AES-NI |
| Qotom Q555G6 | $250 | i5, 6 ports, quiet |
🎯 Conclusion
OPNsense is a modern, fast, and user-friendly firewall.
Suitable for those who want automation and regular updates.
Need a ready XML config for an office? 👇 Send the task — I’ll make a template.