Installing Open Source Firewall Software on Virtual Machines

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OPNSense, a powerful open-source firewall software package based on pfSense, provides enterprise-grade security features in an easy-to-deploy virtualized environment. This article will walk you through the process of installing OPNsahseFirewall on a newly created VM (Virtual Machine) using VMware vSphere Client.

Prerequisites

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Before proceeding with this guide, ensure that:

1. You have access to VMware vSphere Client or an equivalent hypervisor management tool.

2. Your system meets the minimum hardware requirements for running virtualized guest operating systems: 4GB RAM and a 32-bit (or higher) x86-64 compatible processor.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

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### Step 1 - Create a New Virtual Machine

1. Launch VMware vSphere Client or your preferred hypervisor management tool.

2. Navigate to the inventory view by clicking on 'Home' in the top navigation bar, then click on 'VMs and Templates.'

3. In the right-hand sidebar, under 'Quick Actions,' select 'New VM/Template...' (or equivalent depending on your hypervisor).

4. Follow through with the wizard until you reach the 'Select a template' step.

5. Choose an appropriate operating system template from the list that matches your needs; for this example, we will use Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS x64.

### Step 2 - Configure Virtual Hardware

1. Once the OS installation process has completed, power off your newly created VM by selecting it in the inventory and clicking on 'Power > Power Off' (or equivalent depending on your hypervisor).

2. Select your virtual machine from the inventory.

3. Click on the 'Edit' pencil icon next to its name or right-click (on Windows) / control+click (on Mac) then select 'Edit Virtual Machine.'

4. Navigate through each tab in order and make necessary adjustments as needed:

- CPU: Ensure that only one CPU is selected if running OPNSahseFirewall on a physical host.

- Memory: Allocate at least 8GB of RAM for optimal performance; however, more resources will not negatively impact the system's functionality.

### Step

Select your newly created VM 'OPNsenseFirewall' from the Virtual Machines. Examine your configurations to ensure accuracy, then select Power on. Allow OPNSahne Firewalldo run through all configuration modules until you see the login screen. Do not worry if something fails; however, the VM should still manage to get past this stage and reach a functional state where it can be accessed via its web interface.

Post-Installation Tasks

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After completing these steps, ensure that your OPNSahneFirewall instance is properly configured by following the official documentation provided with each release. Embedded vs Full Images

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OPNsense offers two Image types with all major releases: embedded and full images:

* Embedded: This image type provides a minimalistic installation footprint ideal for resource-constrained environments where space is at a premium.

* Full: The default image includes everything necessary to run OPNSahneFirewall out-of-the-box without requiring any additional configuration post-deployment.

Installing opnsense