The Internet is a scary place these days. Almost daily, a new zero day, security breach, or ransomware occurs leaving many people wondering if it is possible to secure their systems.
Many organizations spends hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars trying to install the latest and greatest security solutions to protect their infrastructure and data. Home user’s though are at a monetary disadvantage. Investing even a hundred dollars into a dedicated firewall is often beyond the scope of most home networks.
Thankfully, there are dedicated projects in the open source community that are making great strides in the home user security solutions arena. Projects like IPfire, Snort, Squid, and pfSense all provide enterprise level security at commodity prices!
PfSense is a FreeBSD based open source firewall solution. The distribution is free to install on one’s own equipment or the company behind pfSense, NetGate, sells pre-configured firewall appliances.
The required hardware for pfSense is very minimal and typically an older home tower can easily be re-purposed into a dedicated pfSense Firewall. For those looking to build or purchase a more capable system to run more of pfSense’s advanced features, there are some suggested hardware minimums:
Hardware Minimums
Suggested Hardware
Serious Home User Hardware Suggestions (and Enterprises)
In the event that a home user would like to enable many of the extra features and functions of pfSense such as Snort, Anti-Virus scanning, DNS blacklisting, web content filtering, etc the recommended hardware becomes a little more involved.
To support the extra software packages on the pfSense firewall, it is recommended that the following hardware be provided to pfSense:
Installation of pfSense 2.4.4
In this section, we will see the installation of pfSense 2.4.4 (latest version at the time of writing this article).
The Lab Setup
pfSense is often frustrating for users new to firewalls. The default behavior for many firewalls is to block everything, good or bad. This is great from a security standpoint but not from a usability standpoint. Before starting into the installation, it is important to conceptualize the end goal before beginning the configurations.
Downloading pfSense
Regardless of which hardware is chosen, installing pfSense to the hardware is a straightforward process but does require the user to pay close attention to which network interface ports will be used for which purpose (LAN, WAN, Wireless, etc).
Part of the installation process will involve prompting the user to begin configuring LAN and WAN interfaces. The author suggests only plugging in the WAN interface until pfSense has been configured and then proceed to finish the installation by plugging in the LAN interface.
Default Pfsense Username Password
The first step is to obtain the pfSense software from https://www.pfsense.org/download/. There are a couple of different options available depending on the device and installation method but this guide will utilize the ‘AMD64 CD (ISO) Installer’.
Using the drop down menu’s on the link provided earlier, select an appropriate mirror to download the file.
Once the installer has been downloaded, it can either be burned to a CD or it can be copied to a USB drive with the ‘dd’ tool included in most Linux distributions.
The next process is to write the ISO to a USB drive to boot the installer. To accomplish this, use the ‘dd’ tool within Linux. First, the disk name needs to be located with ‘lsblk’ though.
Find Device Name in Linux
With the name of the USB drive determined as ‘/dev/sdc’, the pfSense ISO can be written to the drive with the ‘dd’ tool.
Important: The above command requires root privileges so utilize ‘sudo’ or login as the root user to run the command. Also this command will REMOVE EVERYTHING on the USB drive. Be sure to backup needed data.
Installation of pfSense
Once ‘dd’ has finished writing to the USB drive or the CD has been burnt, place the media into the computer that will be setup as the pfSense firewall. Boot that computer to that media and the following screen will be presented.
At this screen, either allow the timer to run out or select
1 to proceed booting into the installer environment. Once the installer finishes booting, the system will prompt for any changes desired in the keyboard layout. If everything shows in a native language, simply click on ‘Accept these Settings’.
pfSense Configure Console
The next screen will provide the user with the option of a ‘Quick/Easy Install’ or more advanced install options. For the purposes of this guide, it is suggested to simply use the ‘Quick/Easy Install’ option.
The next screen will simply confirm that the user desires to use the ‘Quick/Easy Install’ method which won’t ask as many questions during the installation.
The first question that is likely to be presented will ask about which kernel to install. Again, it is suggested that the ‘Standard Kernel’ be installed for most users.
pfSense Standard Kernel
When the installer has finished this stage, it will prompt for a reboot. Be sure to remove the installation media as well so the machine doesn’t boot back into the installer.
pfSense Configuration
After the reboot, and the removal of the CD/USB media, pfSense will reboot into the newly installed operating system. By default, pfSense will pick an interface to set-up as the WAN interface with DHCP and leave the LAN interface unconfigured.
pfSense Interface Configuration
While pfSense does have a web based graphical configuration system, it is only running on the LAN side of the firewall but at the moment, the LAN side will be unconfigured. The first thing to do would be to set an IP address on the LAN interface.
To do this follow these steps:
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Is there any way to change the password of the web GUI administrator user in pfSense from the console?
Just to mention I didn't lock myself out from the web GUI.
techraf
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anksoankso
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2 Answers
Please check https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/I_locked_myself_out_of_the_WebGUI,_help!Bottom line:
AndyAndy
I found the way to change the password for a user from a console/ssh of a pfSense.
Fist you have to download the change admin script to your /etc/phpshellsessions with the following command > fetch -o /etc/phpshellsessions/ https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pfsense/pfsense/c07e853bb4a67a3b728b7546b36801eaef770c19/etc/phpshellsessions/changepassword
And then you run the the following: pfSsh.php playback changepassword , it will ask you the new password and to confirm the new password for the user.
After you complete the above you can try log in the webgui with the new password.
Have a nice day.
anksoankso
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Is there any way to change the password of the web GUI administrator user in pfSense from the console?
Just to mention I didn't lock myself out from the web GUI.
techraf
3,40888 gold badges1717 silver badges3737 bronze badges
anksoankso
11311 gold badge22 silver badges1111 bronze badges
2 Answers
Please check https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/I_locked_myself_out_of_the_WebGUI,_help!Bottom line:
Pfsense Gui Default Password Download
AndyAndy
I found the way to change the password for a user from a console/ssh of a pfSense.
Fist you have to download the change admin script to your /etc/phpshellsessions with the following command > fetch -o /etc/phpshellsessions/ https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pfsense/pfsense/c07e853bb4a67a3b728b7546b36801eaef770c19/etc/phpshellsessions/changepassword
And then you run the the following: pfSsh.php playback changepassword , it will ask you the new password and to confirm the new password for the user.
After you complete the above you can try log in the webgui with the new password.
Have a nice day.
anksoankso
11311 gold badge22 silver badges1111 bronze badges
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged networkingfirewallfreebsdpfsenseconsole or ask your own question.
The Internet is full of harmful objects or security issues such as viruses, malware, ransomware hackers and more. The big organizations spend an enormous amount of money to maintain security infrastructure and in building firewalls to protect their internal networks and data.
To secure home or office networks you don’t need to spend a heavy amount, it can be possible with the help of simple open source firewall Linux operating systems like PfSense. It is a network firewall or router software distribution based on FreeBSD. Anyone with some technical knowledge can turn an old system or routers into a dedicated network firewall.
However, the pfSense is not alone opensource firewall there are a couple of others too, you can see our articles for more information on this: Nine Top opensource network firewall Linux systems.
The pfSense should be installed between the Internet and other products that are using the Internet as shown in the above diagram. Also, make sure the system you are using for the pfSense must have two network interfaces one for WAN and others to connect LAN.
The minimum hardware or system requirements for the pfSense are also basic, any old system with below-given configuration can easily handle the installation and process…
Here in this tutorial, we let you know how to install & setup pfSense on Virtualbox and Vmware.
The process of Linux pfSense installation on Virtualbox is same for Linux Ubuntu, Windows, MacOS or any other operating system and the same for Vmware Workstation player too.
Note: To set up and use pfSense on Virtualbox virtual machine environment as a firewall to save the network from threats; your physical machine should have two adapters. It can be Wireless+Wilress or Wireless + Ethernet or Ethernet+Ethernet.
Note: If you just want to test the pfSense then one network adapter can be used to access it by setting up a same physical adapter for both virtual adapter of VirtualBox and later when the installation is done the just manually enter the LAN address within same range to WAN address from pfSense management screen.
In our case: We have one Wireless that we are using to access the internet and one is ethernet that is connected to the internet network switch from where further devices such as laptops, printers, router, are connected.
pfSense VirtualBox / Vmware Virtual machine internal/external network diagram
Step 1: Download pfSense ISO file
Go to the pfSense website and download the pfSense ISO file. Select the architecture AMD64 and CD image (ISO) installer and click on the Download button.
Step 2: Setup Virtual box for pfSense
Assuming that you already have the Virtualbox installed on your system, if not then first download and install that.
Step 3: Create a Virtual hard disk for pfSense
Step 4: Add pfSense ISO image to Virtualbox
Select the newly created pfSense virtual machine and then click on the settings option.
Once you select the pfSense image it will show under the Storage devices section of the Virtual box.
Step 5: VirtualBox network settings for the pfSense virtual machine
Now from the Network settings, you need to add two adapters for your pfSense firewall. One is acting as WAN and another one is for LAN or internal network.
Note: If you just want to test the firewall and only have one physical adapter then you can use the same adapter in Adapter 1 and Adapter 2.
Enable the second adapter and select the adapter that is attached to your internal network. Add press OK
Note: The Name of the adapter would be different in your case.
Step 6: Start pfSense Virtual machineStep 7: pfSense Boot screen
The pfSense will start boot automatically in few seconds to install the firewall on Virtualbox.
Step 8: Accept the distribution license for pfSense.
Hit the Enter key to move further
Step 9: Install pfSense
Again leave the default settings and just hit the Enter button to make the install.
Step 10: Guided Disk setup
Hit the OK button…
Step 11: Continue with default keymap
If you are using the standard keyboard which generally we all do, then leave the setting as it is and press the Enter button.
Step 12: Manual configuration: Select No
There is no need to do any manual modifications just select the No option and press the Enter button
Step 13: Eject the attached ISO image of pfSense.
Select the Devices->Optical Drives and then click on pfSense ISO.
You will get a pop-up to force unmount the ISO click on the Force unmount option.
Step 14: Reboot the pfSense virtual machine
Click on the Reboot option when appears.
Step 15: pfSense IP addresses
Once the pfSesne gets booted you will receive two IP addresses one is which pfSesne got for WAN access and other is for the local network.
In our case:
WAN: 192.168.43.141 (Adapter 1 of Virtual box)
LAN: 192.168.1.1 (Adapter 2 of Virtual box)
To access the front end or Web interface of pfSesne to configure it. You need to go to the system that connected to the Adapter 2 or LAN (em1) network of the computer/server in which you have installed the pfSense Virtual machine.
Step 16: pfSense default password
In the browser, type, the LAN IP address mentioned on the pfSense booted screen. As soon as you enter it will show https error just add it as an exception and click on the link proceed safely. When the pfSense login screen appears to enter the default password and username type them username: adminand password: pfsense respectively.
Step 17: Follow the guides screen of pfSense firewall
Leave LAN interface IP address as it is… and click on the Next.
Update the Admin password when it asks for…
Complete the pfSesne setup wizard and Click on the Finish button…
Now the Dashboard of the pfSense will appear from where you can control firewall, VPN, Status, Interfaces, System, Diagnostics…
If you are using the VMware Workstation then everything from pfSense installation to setup will same except the creating of Virtual Machine on it.
To create a virtual machine on VMware open it and click on the Create a New Virtual Machine option.
Select the Installed disc Image file (ISO) option and then click on the Browser button and select the downloaded pfSesne ISO image and then click on the Next button.
Type some custom name if you wish to give your pfSense VM and then click on the Next button.
Click on the Customize Hardware button…
Change the RAM to 1 or 2GB and then click on the ADD button to add one more Network Adapter for pfSense VM. For both, the network adapters select the bridge option and then select the Adapters using the Configure adapter option. As we did for Virtualbox above.
In this way, you can use the install, setup and use the pfSense firewall on Virtualbox or Vmware workstation player virtual machine to use it as a commercial, home or office firewall solutions without wasting hardware resources.
Other Useful Resources:
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