Source model Open source | Working state Current | |
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Developer Rubicon Communications, LLC (Netgate) Latest release 2.3.3 / February 20, 2017; 34 days ago (2017-02-20) | ||
pfSense is an open source firewall/router computer software distribution based on FreeBSD. It is installed on a physical computer or a virtual machine to make a dedicated firewall/router for a network and has been noted for its reliability and offering a range of features. It can be configured and upgraded through a web-based interface, and requires no knowledge of the underlying FreeBSD system to manage. pfSense is commonly deployed as a perimeter firewall, router, wireless access point, DHCP server, DNS server, and as a VPN endpoint. pfSense supports installation of third-party packages like Snort or Squid through its Package Manager. As of 2016 pfSense is described by servethehome.com as the "gold standard" for open source network appliances in its buyer guides.
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Name
The name was derived from the fact that it helps make the stateful packet-filtering tool PF (which acts as a firewall, packet filter, and routing service on many BSD and Unix platforms) make more sense to non-technical users. As of 2016, the pfSense-logo is still copyright by Electric Sheep Fencing, LLC.
History
The pfSense project started in 2004 as a fork of the m0n0wall project by Chris Buechler and Scott Ullrich. From the beginning, it focused on full PC installations, as opposed to m0n0wall's focus on embedded hardware. However, pfSense is also available as an embedded image for CompactFlash-based installations. Version 1.0 of the software was released on October 4, 2006. Version 2.0 was released on September 17, 2011. Version 2.1 was released on September 15, 2013.
In 2014 pfSense was acquired by Electric Sheep Fencing LLC (ESF) and the pfSense project licence terms changed. Subsequently, in order to get further access to the pfSense build repositories, an appropriate ESF Contributor License Agreement had to be signed by developers.
pfSense version 2.2 was released January 23, 2015. Version 2.3 was released on April 12, 2016. Since July 2016, pfSense is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 and is copyright by Rubicon Communications, LLC (Netgate).
Hardware
pfSense 2.1 through 2.3 has low minimum system requirements (for example 256 MB RAM and 500 MHz CPU) and can be installed on hardware with x86 or x86-64 architecture. After 2.3, pfSense will require the x86-64 architecture, ending support for 32-bit installations. It is also available for embedded system hardware using Compact Flash or SD cards. pfSense also supports virtualized installation.