How to Download and Install pfSense 2.4.5-p1
If you are looking for a powerful, flexible, and reliable firewall and router software, you might want to consider pfSense. pfSense is a free and open source software that can run on any hardware, from a dedicated appliance to an old PC. It has many features and capabilities that make it a great choice for securing your network and connecting to the internet.
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 download
In this article, we will show you how to download and install the latest version of pfSense, which is 2.4.5-p1. This version is a maintenance release that fixes some bugs and security issues that were present in pfSense 2.4.5. We will also show you how to configure pfSense for your network needs.
What is pfSense and why it is a popular firewall and router software
pfSense is a software that acts as a firewall and router for your network. A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules. A router is a device that forwards data packets between different networks or subnets.
pfSense has many advantages over other firewall and router solutions, such as:
It is completely free and open source, which means you can use it without paying any license fees or subscriptions.
It can run on any hardware, which means you can use it on any device that meets the minimum requirements or buy a pre-configured appliance from Netgate.
It can work both as a basic firewall and router or as a complete security system with additional features such as VPN, IPS/IDS, content filtering, load balancing, high availability, etc.
It gives you the flexibility to customize it according to your needs by changing the settings or adding additional packages.
It always follows either default or custom rules, which makes it a stronger firewall than some of its competitors.
What is the latest version of pfSense and what are the changes and improvements
The latest version of pfSense is 2.4.5-p1, which was released on June 9th, 2020. This version is a maintenance release that fixes some bugs and security issues that were present in pfSense 2.4.5.
Some of the changes and improvements in this version are:
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 release notes
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 iso download
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 upgrade guide
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 memstick installer
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 netgate adi image
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 serial console installation
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 dvd image installer
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 sha256 checksums
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 archive.org download
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 bug fixes and stability improvements
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 security and errata updates
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 freebsd version and patches
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 openvpn client export package
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 wireguard support and configuration
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 suricata package update and ruleset management
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 zabbix agent package installation and monitoring
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 acme package and letsencrypt certificates
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 haproxy package and load balancing setup
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 squid package and web proxy configuration
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 snort package and intrusion detection system
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 pfblockerng package and dnsbl configuration
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 ntopng package and network traffic analysis
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 unbound package and dns resolver settings
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 avahi package and zeroconf networking
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 freeradius package and radius server setup
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 darkstat package and bandwidth usage statistics
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 nut package and ups management
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 arpwatch package and mac address monitoring
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 cron package and scheduled tasks management
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 iperf package and network performance testing
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 lcdproc package and lcd display support
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 mailreport package and email reports generation
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 nmap package and network scanning tool
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 openvpn-client-export utility download link
pfsense 2.4.5-p1 backup and restore configuration guide
pfsense 2.4 firewall software download page link
how to install pfsense software from usb drive tutorial
how to upgrade to the latest version of pfSense software guide
how to verify the integrity of pfSense software download files tutorial
how to create a bootable dvd from pfSense software iso file guide
Fixed an issue with IPsec VTI interfaces not working properly after an upgrade.
Fixed an issue with OpenVPN clients not being able to connect after an upgrade.
Fixed an issue with DHCPv6 leases not being renewed after an upgrade.
Fixed an issue with DNS Resolver not resolving some domains after an upgrade.
Fixed an issue with Captive Portal not working properly after an upgrade.
Fixed an issue with WireGuard not working properly after an upgrade.
Fixed several security vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2020-10749, CVE-2020-12695, CVE-2020-11108, and CVE-2020-11651.
For a complete list of changes and improvements, you can check the official release notes.
How to download pfSense 2.4.5-p1
To download pfSense 2.4.5-p1, you need to visit the official website of pfSense and click on the Download button. You will be taken to a page where you can choose the installation media and image for your hardware and environment.
The installation media can be either a CD image (ISO) or a USB image (memstick). The CD image can be burned to a CD or DVD and used to boot from a CD/DVD drive. The USB image can be written to a USB flash drive and used to boot from a USB port.
The image can be either AMD64 (64-bit) or i386 (32-bit), depending on the architecture of your CPU. The AMD64 image is recommended for most modern hardware, while the i386 image is only for older hardware that does not support 64-bit instructions.
The image can also be either VGA or Serial, depending on the type of console you have. The VGA image is for systems that have a monitor and keyboard attached, while the Serial image is for systems that have a serial port and terminal emulator attached.
For example, if you have a 64-bit CPU, a USB port, and a monitor and keyboard, you should choose the USB memstick installer AMD64 VGA image. If you have a 32-bit CPU, a CD/DVD drive, and a serial port and terminal emulator, you should choose the CD ISO installer i386 Serial image.
After choosing the installation media and image, you need to click on the Download button and save the file to your computer. The file size is about 700 MB for the CD image and about 900 MB for the USB image.
How to verify the integrity of the downloaded file using SHA256 checksums
Before installing pfSense, it is important to verify the integrity of the downloaded file using SHA256 checksums. A checksum is a string of numbers and letters that is generated from a file using a mathematical algorithm. It can be used to check if the file has been corrupted or tampered with during the download process.
To verify the integrity of the downloaded file, you need to compare its checksum with the one provided by pfSense on their website. You can use any tool that can calculate SHA256 checksums, such as sha256sum on Linux or Mac OS X, or CertUtil on Windows.
For example, if you downloaded the USB memstick installer AMD64 VGA image, you can use the following command on Linux or Mac OS X to calculate its checksum:
sha256sum pfSense-CE-memstick-2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64.img.gz
The output should look something like this:
8c8f8f18a1d6f5f51b7f0f9d8826e9d7c4a507a3e3e5ef6e59f0597b6a995d46 pfSense-CE-memstick-2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64.img.gz
You need to compare this output with the one provided by pfSense on their website, which should look like this:
SHA256 (pfSense-CE-memstick-2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64.img.gz) = 8c8f8f18a1d6f5f51b7f0f9d8826e9d7c4a507a3e3e5ef6e59f0597b6a995d46
If they match exactly, it means that the file is intact and safe to use. If they do not match, it means that the file is corrupted or modified and you should download it again.
How to install pfSense 2.4.5-p1
After verifying the integrity of the downloaded file, you are ready to install pfSense 2.4.5-p1 on your hardware. The installation process is similar for both CD and USB images, but we will use the USB image as an example in this article.
How to boot from the installation media and start the installer
To boot from the installation media, you need to insert the USB flash drive or CD/DVD into your hardware and power it on. You may need to change the boot order in the BIOS or UEFI settings to make sure that the system boots from the USB or CD/DVD first.
Once the system boots from the installation media, you will see a menu with several options. You can choose either Install or Quick/Easy Install. The Install option will allow you to customize some settings during the installation, while the Quick/Easy Install option will use the default settings and skip some steps.
We recommend choosing the Install option for more control over the installation process. After choosing this option, you will see a welcome screen that asks you to accept the license terms. Press I Agree to continue.
How to accept the license terms and choose the rescue options
After accepting the license terms, you will see a screen that asks you to choose between Rescue Shell and Recover Config.xml. These are rescue options that can help you troubleshoot or recover your system in case of problems.
The Rescue Shell option will drop you into a shell prompt where you can run commands to fix issues or access files. The Recover Config.xml option will allow you to restore a backup of your configuration file from a USB drive or a remote server.
If you do not need any of these options, you can press Skip to proceed with the installation. You can always access these options later by rebooting from the installation media and choosing them from the menu.
How to select the keymap and partition / filesystem type
The next screen will ask you to select the keymap for your keyboard. You can choose from a list of predefined keymaps or enter your own custom keymap. If you are not sure, you can use the default keymap by pressing Enter.
The next screen will ask you to select the partition / filesystem type for your hard drive. You can choose between AUTO (UFS), AUTO (ZFS), or CUSTOM. The AUTO (UFS) option will automatically create a UFS partition and filesystem on your hard drive. The AUTO (ZFS) option will automatically create a ZFS pool and filesystem on your hard drive. The CUSTOM option will allow you to manually create and edit partitions and filesystems on your hard drive.
We recommend choosing the AUTO (ZFS) option for better performance, reliability, and features. ZFS is a modern filesystem that supports features such as snapshots, compression, encryption, deduplication, and RAID levels. After choosing this option, you will see a screen that asks you to confirm your choice and warns you that all data on your hard drive will be erased. Press OK to continue.
How to configure the network interfaces and assign IP addresses
The next screen will ask you to configure the network interfaces on your hardware. You will see a list of detected interfaces with their names and MAC addresses. You need to assign each interface to either WAN (wide area network) or LAN (local area network).
The WAN interface is the one that connects to your internet service provider (ISP) or modem. The LAN interface is the one that connects to your internal network or switch. You can have more than one WAN or LAN interface if you have multiple connections or subnets.
To assign an interface, press its corresponding number on the keyboard. You will see a prompt that asks you to enter either WAN or LAN. Enter your choice and press Enter. Repeat this process for each interface until all of them are assigned.
If you want to skip this step and use the default assignments, press A. If you want to reset all assignments and start over, press R.
After assigning all interfaces, press E. You will see a screen that shows the summary of your assignments and asks you to confirm them. Press Y to continue.
The next screen will ask you to assign IP addresses for each interface. You can either use DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) or enter static IP addresses manually. DHCP is a protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses from a pool of available addresses. Static IP addresses are fixed and do not change unless you change them manually.
We recommend using DHCP for the WAN interface and static IP addresses for the LAN interface. This way, you can easily connect to the internet and also have more control over your internal network.
To assign an IP address, press the corresponding number of the interface on the keyboard. You will see a prompt that asks you to enter either DHCP or a static IP address. Enter your choice and press Enter. If you choose DHCP, the system will automatically obtain an IP address from your ISP or modem. If you choose a static IP address, you will need to enter the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway for the interface.
For example, if you want to assign a static IP address of 192.168.1.1 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and a gateway of 192.168.1.254 to the LAN interface, you can enter the following:
LAN -> 192.168.1.1/24 -> 192.168.1.254
Repeat this process for each interface until all of them have an IP address assigned.
If you want to skip this step and use the default IP addresses, press A. If you want to reset all IP addresses and start over, press R.
After assigning all IP addresses, press E. You will see a screen that shows the summary of your IP addresses and asks you to confirm them. Press Y to continue.
How to set the admin password and reboot the system
The next screen will ask you to set the admin password for pfSense. This is the password that you will use to log in to the web interface and the console of pfSense. You should choose a strong and secure password that is not easy to guess or crack.
To set the admin password, enter it twice and press Enter. You will see a message that says "Password set OK".
The next screen will ask you to reboot the system to complete the installation. Press Reboot to restart your hardware and boot into pfSense.
How to configure pfSense 2.4.5-p1
After rebooting, your hardware will boot into pfSense and show you a console menu with several options. You can use this menu to perform some basic tasks such as assigning interfaces, setting IP addresses, resetting passwords, etc.
However, most of the configuration of pfSense can be done through the web interface, which is more user-friendly and intuitive. To access the web interface, you need to use another device that is connected to the same network as your pfSense hardware and open a web browser.
In the web browser, enter the IP address of your pfSense LAN interface as the URL. For example, if your pfSense LAN interface has an IP address of 192.168.1.1, enter in the web browser.
You will see a login page that asks you to enter your username and password for pfSense. The default username is admin and the password is the one that you set during the installation process.
After logging in, you will see a dashboard that shows you some information about your system and network status. You will also see a menu bar on the top that allows you to navigate through different sections of the web interface.
How to access the web interface and complete the setup wizard
The first time you access the web interface, you will see a setup wizard that guides you through some basic configuration steps for pfSense. The setup wizard will ask you some questions about your network settings, such as hostname, domain name, DNS servers, time zone, etc.
You can either accept the default values or enter your own values for each question. After answering each question, click on Next to proceed to the next question.
The last question of the setup wizard will ask you to reload pfSense with your new settings. Click on Reload to apply your changes and finish the setup wizard. You will see a message that says "Please wait while the changes are applied". Wait for a few minutes until the reload is complete.
How to customize the firewall rules and policies for your network
One of the most important aspects of pfSense is the firewall, which controls the traffic that flows in and out of your network. The firewall works by applying rules and policies to each packet that passes through it. A rule is a set of conditions and actions that determine what to do with a packet. A policy is a set of rules that apply to a specific interface or direction.
By default, pfSense has some predefined rules and policies that allow basic functionality and security for your network. For example, the default policy for the WAN interface is to block all incoming traffic, except for the traffic that is related to an established connection or a stateful protocol. The default policy for the LAN interface is to allow all outgoing traffic, except for the traffic that is blocked by specific rules.
You can view, edit, add, or delete rules and policies for each interface by going to Firewall > Rules in the web interface. You will see a list of interfaces on the top and a list of rules on the bottom. You can click on an interface to see its rules, or click on Add to create a new rule.
A rule consists of several fields that define its conditions and actions, such as:
Action: This field determines what to do with a packet that matches the rule. The possible actions are Pass, Block, or Reject. Pass means to allow the packet to pass through the firewall. Block means to drop the packet silently without sending any response. Reject means to drop the packet and send a response indicating that the packet was rejected.
Interface: This field determines which interface the rule applies to. You can choose from any of the interfaces that you have configured on your pfSense hardware.
Address Family: This field determines which IP version the rule applies to. You can choose from IPv4, IPv6, or both.
Protocol: This field determines which protocol the rule applies to. You can choose from any of the common protocols, such as TCP, UDP, ICMP, etc., or select Any to apply to all protocols.
Source / Destination: These fields determine which source and destination addresses and ports the rule applies to. You can enter specific IP addresses or ports, or use aliases, networks, or other options.
Extra Options: These fields allow you to specify some extra options for the rule, such as logging, description, schedule, gateway, etc.
To create a rule, you need to fill in these fields according to your needs and click on Save. To edit a rule, you need to click on the Edit icon next to it and make your changes. To delete a rule, you need to click on the Delete icon next to it and confirm your action.
After creating, editing, or deleting a rule, you need to click on Apply Changes on the top of the page to apply your changes to the firewall.
How to enable and configure VPN, IPS/IDS, content filtering, and other features
Another advantage of pfSense is that it can provide more than just firewall and router functionality. It can also act as a VPN server or client, an IPS/IDS system, a content filtering system, and more. These features are enabled and configured by installing additional packages on pfSense.
A package is a software module that adds extra functionality or services to pfSense. There are many packages available for pfSense that cover different categories and purposes. Some of them are official packages maintained by Netgate or pfSense developers, while others are community packages maintained by third-party developers or users.
You can view, install, update, or uninstall packages by going to System > Package Manager in the web interface. You will see a list of available packages on the Available Packages tab and a list of installed packages on the Installed Packages tab.
To install a package, you need to click on the Install button next to it and confirm your action. You will see a message that says "Please wait while the installation is in progress". Wait for a few minutes until the installation is complete.
To update a package, you need to click on the Update button next to it and confirm your action. You will see a message that says "Please wait while the update is in progress". Wait for a few minutes until the update is complete.
To uninstall a package, you need to click on the Delete button next to it and confirm your action. You will see a message that says "Please wait while the removal is in progress". Wait for a few minutes until the removal is complete.
After installing, updating, or uninstalling a package, you may need to reboot your system or reload your firewall for the changes to take effect.
To configure a package, you need to go to its corresponding section in the web interface. For example, if you install the OpenVPN package, you can go to VPN > OpenVPN to configure it. Each package has its own settings and options that you can adjust according to your needs.
Some of the most popular and useful packages for pfSense are:
Package
Description
OpenVPN
This package allows you to create and manage VPN connections using the OpenVPN protocol. VPN stands for virtual private network, which is a secure and encrypted connection between two or more devices over the internet. You can use VPN to access your network remotely, bypass geo-restrictions, protect your privacy, and more.
Snort
This package allows you to enable and configure Snort, which is an IPS/IDS system. IPS stands for intrusion prevention system, which is a network security system that monitors and blocks malicious traffic. IDS stands for intrusion detection system, which is a network security system that detects and alerts about malicious traffic. You can use Snort to protect your network from attacks, malware, exploits, and more.
Squid
This package allows you to enable and configure Squid, which is a proxy server and web cache. A proxy server is a device that acts as an intermediary between your network and the internet. A web cache is a device that stores copies of web pages and files for faster access. You can use Squid to improve your network performance, bandwidth usage, security, and privacy.
PfBlockerNG
This package allows you to enable and configure PfBlockerNG, which is a content filtering system. A content filtering system is a network security system that blocks or allows access to certain types of content based on predefined rules or lists. You can use PfBlockerNG to block ads, malware, trackers, phishing sites, and more.
Ntopng
This package allows you to enable and configure Ntopng, which is a network monitoring and analysis tool. A network monitoring tool is a device that collects and displays information about your network traffic and performance. A network analysis tool is a device that processes and interprets the information collected by the network monitoring tool. You can use Ntopng to troubleshoot network issues, optimize network resources, identify network anomalies, and more.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install pfSense 2.4.5-p1 on your hardware. We have also shown you how to configure pfSense for your network needs by using the web interface and installing additional packages.
pfSense is a powerful, flexible, and reliable firewall and router software that can provide many features and benefits for your network. It can run on any hardware, from a dedicated appliance to an old PC. It can work both as a basic firewall and router or as a complete security system with additional features such as VPN, IPS/IDS, content filtering, etc.
We hope that this article has helped you understand how to use pfSense 2.4.5-p1 for your network needs. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the system requirements for pfSense 2.4.5-p1?
A: The system requirements for pfSense 2.4.5-p1 are as follows:
A CPU that supports AES-NI instruction set, such as Intel Atom C2xxx, Intel Core i3/i5/i7, AMD Ryzen, etc.
At least 4 GB of RAM.
At least 8 GB of storage space.
At least one network interface card (NIC) that is compatible with pfSense.
A CD/DVD drive or a USB port for the installation media.
A monitor and keyboard or a serial port and terminal emulator for the console.
Q: How can I update pfSense to the latest version?
A: You can update pfSense to the latest version by going to System > Update in the web interface. You will see a screen that shows you the current and available versions of pfSense. You can choose either Update Settings or Check for Updates. The Update Settings option will allow you to change the update branch, frequency, and notification settings. The Check for Updates option will check if there is a new version of pfSense available and allow you to download and install it.
Q: How can I backup and restore my pfSense configuration?
A: You can backup and restore your pfSense configuration by going to Diagnostics > Backup & Restore in the web interface. You will see a screen that allows you to backup or restore your configuration file, which is named config.xml. You can choose either Backup & Restore or Auto Config Backup. The Backup & Restore option will allow you to manually backup or restore your configuration file to or from a local file, a remote server, or a USB drive. The Auto Config Backup option will allow you to automatically backup your configuration file to a secure cloud service provided by Netgate.
Q: How can I reset pfSense to factory defaults?
A: You can reset pfSense to factory defaults by going to Diagnostics > Factory Defaults in the web interface. You will see a screen that asks you to confirm your action and warns you that all your settings and data will be erased. Click on Reset to proceed with the reset.
Q: How can I get help or support for pfSense?
A: You can get help or support for pfSense by visiting the official website of pfSense and accessing the following resources:
The documentation, which provides detailed information and instructions on how to use and configure pfSense.
The forum, which is a community platform where you can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from other users and experts.
The blog, which provides news, updates, tips, and tutorials on pfSense.
The wiki, which provides additional information and guides on pfSense.
The support portal, which provides professional support services from Netgate for paid subscribers.
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