Book Image

Learn pfSense 2.4

By : David Zientara
Book Image

Learn pfSense 2.4

By: David Zientara

Overview of this book

As computer networks become ubiquitous, it has become increasingly important to both secure and optimize our networks. pfSense, an open-source router/firewall, provides an easy, cost-effective way of achieving this – and this book explains how to install and configure pfSense in such a way that even a networking beginner can successfully deploy and use pfSense. This book begins by covering networking fundamentals, deployment scenarios, and hardware sizing guidelines, as well as how to install pfSense. The book then covers configuration of basic services such as DHCP, DNS, and captive portal and VLAN configuration. Careful consideration is given to the core firewall functionality of pfSense, and how to set up firewall rules and traffic shaping. Finally, the book covers the basics of VPNs, multi-WAN setups, routing and bridging, and how to perform diagnostics and troubleshooting on a network.
Table of Contents (14 chapters)

Getting Started with pfSense

As the internet approaches its fiftieth anniversary, networked computers have essentially become the norm across much of the world. Computer networks are commonplace, even within the home, and it is not uncommon for households to have multiple internet-connected devices—a trend that undoubtedly will only accelerate with the growing popularity of the internet of things (IoT). With networks becoming part of our basic infrastructure, reliable networking equipment has become as essential as telephone exchanges and railways were to prior generations.

Even if you only have a home network, at a minimum, you will need a router to connect your private network with the public internet and a firewall to provide both ingress filtering (filtering for incoming traffic) and possibly egress filtering (for outgoing traffic). pfSense can perform both functions. In this chapter, we will introduce the pfSense project, explain how pfSense can help secure your network, and introduce you to the pfSense community, from which you can find out more about pfSense, and, hopefully, get answers to questions. Finally, we will briefly discuss the objectives of this book.

Reading this chapter should provide the reader with an understanding of the following:

  • The pfSense project
  • What pfSense can do
  • The pfSense community
  • The objectives of this book