How to install pfSense firewall ?

Installing pfSense firewall is a straightforward process that can be completed by following a few simple steps. In this guide, we will cover the installation process in detail, including downloading the latest version of pfSense Firewall, creating a bootable medium, and configuring the network settings.

Step 1: Download pfSense Firewall

The first step in installing pfSense Firewall is to download the latest version of the software from the official website. It is recommended to download the appropriate version based on your hardware specifications.

Once you have downloaded the pfSense Firewall image file, you need to verify its integrity using a checksum tool. This ensures that the downloaded file has not been corrupted during the download process. You can use tools like MD5 or SHA256 to verify the integrity of the downloaded file.

Step 2: Create a Bootable Medium

After downloading the pfSense Firewall image file, you need to create a bootable medium such as a USB drive. This can be done using tools like Rufus or Etcher, which are available for free.

To create a bootable USB drive using Rufus, follow these steps:

1. Insert a USB drive into your computer and open Rufus.

2. In Rufus, select the USB drive you want to use as the bootable medium.

3. Next, select the pfSense Firewall image file that you downloaded earlier.

4. Choose the partition scheme as "MBR" if your computer has a traditional BIOS, or "GPT" if your computer has a UEFI BIOS.

5. Select the file system as "FAT32" and click on the "Start" button to begin the process.

The process of creating a bootable USB drive using Etcher is similar. Simply select the USB drive, choose the pfSense Firewall image file, and click on the "Flash" button to create the bootable USB drive.

Step 3: Boot from the Bootable Medium

Once you have created the bootable medium, you need to boot your computer from it. To do this, you need to change the boot order in the BIOS.

To change the boot order in the BIOS, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer and press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS setup. The key to enter the BIOS may vary based on your computer's manufacturer, but it is usually F2 or Del.

2. In the BIOS setup, navigate to the "Boot" tab and change the boot order so that the bootable medium is the first device in the list.

3. Save your changes and exit the BIOS setup. Your computer will now boot from the bootable medium.

Step 4: Choose the Installation Options

Once your computer has booted from the bootable medium, you will see the pfSense Firewall installation menu. Here, you need to choose the appropriate installation options based on your requirements.

The installation options include:

1. Install: This option installs pfSense Firewall on your computer and overwrites any existing operating system or data.

2. Quick/Easy Install: This option is similar to the Install option but includes a few pre-configured settings to make the installation process quicker and easier.

3. Custom Install: This option allows you to customize the installation process and choose the packages and settings that you want to install.

Choose the installation option that best suits your needs and follow the on-screen instructions to continue with the installation process.

Step 5: Configure the Network Settings

After choosing the installation options, you need to configure the network settings. This includes setting up the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS server.

To configure the network settings, follow these steps:

1. Select the network interface that you want to configure. You can choose from a list of detected interfaces or enter the name of the interface manually if it is not detected.

2. Set the IPv4 Configuration type. You can choose from three options: DHCP, Static IPv4, or PPPoE.

• DHCP: This is the most common configuration type. It allows the pfSense firewall to automatically obtain an IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS server from your network's DHCP server.
• Static IPv4: This configuration type requires you to manually enter the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS server. This is typically used in situations where you need to assign a static IP address to the pfSense firewall.
• PPPoE: This configuration type is used when your ISP requires you to use PPPoE to connect to the Internet. You will need to enter your PPPoE username and password, as well as any other settings required by your ISP.

3. Enter the necessary network settings based on your chosen configuration type.

• If you chose DHCP, the settings will be automatically obtained from your network's DHCP server.
• If you chose Static IPv4, you will need to enter the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS server manually. Make sure to enter the correct values based on your network's configuration.
• If you chose PPPoE, you will need to enter your PPPoE username and password, as well as any other settings required by your ISP.

4. Once you have entered the necessary network settings, click on the "Next" button to proceed.

Step 6: Set a Strong Root Password

After configuring the network settings, you need to set a strong root password to prevent unauthorized access to the system. A strong password should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

To set a strong root password, follow these steps:

1. Enter a strong password in the "Set root password" field.

2. Confirm the password by entering it again in the "Confirm root password" field.

3. Click on the "Next" button to proceed.

Step 7: Complete the Installation Process

After setting the root password, the installation process will begin. During this process, necessary files will be copied to the hard drive and the system will be configured based on the options you selected earlier.

The installation process may take a few minutes to complete, depending on the hardware you are using and the options you selected.

Step 8: Reboot and Configure the Firewall

Once the installation process is complete, you will be prompted to reboot the system. Click on the "Reboot" button to reboot the system.

After the system has rebooted, you can start configuring the firewall by setting up network interfaces, configuring firewall rules, and other advanced features.

To configure the firewall, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the pfSense firewall using the root username and the password you set earlier.

2. Click on the "Interfaces" option in the top menu to configure network interfaces.

3. Click on the "+" button to add a new interface. You can choose from a variety of interface types, including Ethernet, VLAN, PPPoE, and others.

4. Configure the interface settings based on your requirements. This includes setting up the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and other network settings.

5. Click on the "Firewall" option in the top menu to configure firewall rules.

6. Click on the "+" button to add a new firewall rule. You can configure rules based on various criteria, including IP address, port, protocol, and more.

7. Configure the firewall rule settings based on your requirements. This includes specifying the source and destination addresses, ports, protocols, and actions such as allow or block.

8. Click on the "Services" option in the top menu to configure various services such as DHCP, DNS, and NTP.

9. Configure the services settings based on your requirements. This includes setting up DHCP scopes, configuring DNS forwarding or caching, and synchronizing time with an NTP server.

10. Click on the "System" option in the top menu to configure various system settings such as hostname, time zone, and user accounts.

11. Configure the system settings based on your requirements. This includes setting the hostname, configuring time zone and NTP servers, and adding or managing user accounts.

12. Once you have configured the firewall and system settings, click on the "Apply Changes" button to save and apply the changes.

13. Test the firewall rules and network settings to ensure they are working as expected.

Note: The configuration process may vary slightly based on your specific requirements and the version of pfSense you are using. It is recommended to refer to the official documentation for detailed instructions and guidance.