Open Source
pfSense is open-source software, meaning it is free to use and has a large community-driven development environment. This allows for continuous improvement and updates.
Comprehensive Feature Set
pfSense provides a wide array of features including firewall, VPN, routing, load balancing, and more, all within a single platform.
Customizability
The platform offers extensive customization options for advanced users, allowing for tailored security and network solutions.
Excellent Documentation
pfSense has a robust and detailed documentation repository, as well as an active community forum, which helps users troubleshoot and optimize their setup.
Enterprise Level Security
With features like stateful packet filtering, role-based access control, and intrusion detection systems, pfSense offers high levels of security suitable for enterprise applications.
Scalability
pfSense is highly scalable, suitable for small home networks up to large enterprise environments, allowing businesses to grow without having to switch platforms.
Yes, pfSense is generally considered a good option for network security.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if pfSense is good.
Check the traffic stats of pfSense on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of pfSense on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of pfSense's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of pfSense on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about pfSense on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
Https://pfsense.org (netgate hardware is used in businesses). Source: over 2 years ago
I am having trouble seeing available packages, updating pkg, or getting a response from pfsense.org. Is anyone else seeing this or am I going to spend the rest of my day chasing bugs? Source: almost 3 years ago
From the PIA Client to pfsense.org PING pfsense.org (208.123.73.69) from 10.6.112.128: 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=0 ttl=49 time=49.455 ms 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=1 ttl=49 time=51.927 ms 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=2 ttl=49 time=49.333 ms 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=3 ttl=49 time=49.133 ms 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=4 ttl=49 time=49.027 ms ... Source: almost 3 years ago
The above setup is critical to a reliable system. I'd use enterprise quality routers for a store and home connection. I personally use https://pfsense.org but there are many to choose from and several open source. Source: about 3 years ago
What I would do is put that thing in DMZ and install a good router behind it like https://www.pfsense.org. No affiliation, just been my router for many years. There's also it's sibling https://opnsense.org. There are many, just get a enterprise quality router. Source: about 3 years ago
For example: In Python Mode, if I run a dig command to pfsense.org the query time is 419 msec. If I run it a second time, the query time is 587 msec. Source: over 3 years ago
I recently installed pfSense on bare metal and not able to connect pfSense to the internet. I can ping 1.1.1.1 from Diagnosis -> ping. But cannot ping pfsense.org from Diagnosis -> ping. System does not show update information with "Unable to check for updates". Same with Package, I am receiving "unable to receive package information" message. GUI takes forever to load as well. Source: over 3 years ago
Thank you! I am not able to reach netgate.com or pfsense.org either, the weird part is that I have been receiving this error for almost 1 week now at exactly 9pm every day. I wonder if this is when most systems backup, so it floods the server. Source: over 4 years ago
Https://netgate.com is down currently due to some DNS issues. This error is likely related to that - nothing on your end. Keep monitoring. If you can reach netgate.com in your browser and ACB still fails, we have an issue after all. But I would hazard a guess you will be OK. pfsense.org also effected. Same issue. Source: over 4 years ago
Both the aruba and brocade switches are L3 which means they can be routers. But they do not do NAT functionality. You're going to need to do a Router or Firewall on a stick topology for the NAT functionality. My suggestion is to build a Firewall/router or buy a pre-made one pfsense.org or opnsense.org. Source: over 4 years ago
pfSense, an open-source firewall and router operating system, holds a distinctive position within the cybersecurity landscape. Based on FreeBSD, it has carved out a strong niche mainly due to its robust feature set, open-source nature, and adaptability. As a solution widely acknowledged among network administrators and tech enthusiasts, pfSense is perceived as a reliable choice for perimeter security and firewall duties.
Public opinion generally highlights pfSense's strength in providing commercial firewall-level features for free. Its robust open-source value proposition is complemented by its extensive customization capabilities, which allow users to tailor security parameters to their specific needs. This customizability makes it suitable for a diverse range of applications from small home networks to enterprise-level deployments. The system's flexibility is enhanced by its ability to operate on both dedicated hardware and virtual machines.
pfSense's popularity is further bolstered by its large and active community. Users benefit from a wealth of documentation, tutorials, forums, and community-driven support, which ease the learning curve significantly. This community involvement has been crucial in keeping the system relevant and improving it consistently over the years.
Despite its strengths, some users perceive pfSense as having a challenging setup process, particularly for those without extensive networking knowledge. The system's comprehensive interface, while powerful, can appear overwhelming initially, potentially deterring less technically inclined users. These usability concerns highlight the need for ongoing interface refinements to make it more accessible.
Additionally, there have been discussions around network connectivity issues with pfSense.org's site as reported by users, which seem to be related to external technical issues rather than the software itself. While these connectivity issues can cause frustration, they are generally seen as minor when weighed against the solution's comprehensive feature offerings.
In the competitive landscape of firewall and security solutions, pfSense is placed alongside alternatives like OPNsense, SonicWall, and others. OPNsense, in particular, offers a closely related free and open-source solution, providing similar features with some users indicating a preference due to its specific attributes or community-driven improvements.
Netgate, the organization behind pfSense, has also made strides by offering pfSense Plus, which diverges from the community edition by providing additional features and support options. This bifurcation may appeal to entities seeking more robust solutions backed by professional support.
In summary, pfSense continues to be a formidable player in the cybersecurity domain, finding favor among those who value open-source solutions that do not compromise on capability. While areas such as user accessibility and potential site reliability need attention, pfSense's overall robust functionality and community support ensure its position as a preferred option in its category. As it evolves with contributions and developments, its trajectory indicates continued relevance and adaptability in the face of advancing technological needs.
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Is pfSense good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss pfSense here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.
