OPNsense on a Windows machine?

[opnsensewin]

Am trying to install OPNsense on a desktop machine running Windows 7 (64bit) with no success.

After lots of digging I could not find any word about not being able to install on Windows, though every tutorial or post I found showed installation process on Linux or VM.

I'm not very familiar with configuring networks and had gotten to the point I think I might be wrong trying this.

Tried USB installer method which did not work at all.
With CDROM install I've managed to get to the 2nd installation menu, without getting the 1st installation menu.
After reboot I could not connect to OPNsense interface through a web browser.

Anyone here succeeded installing on Windows?
Any insight will be precious!


1st installation menu: https://www.linuxhelp.com/post_screenshots/7102/3284.png
2nd installation menu: https://www.linuxhelp.com/post_screenshots/7102/12147.png

[phoenix]

Am trying to install OPNsense on a desktop machine running Windows 7 (64bit) with no success.

What do you actually mean by that question? Do you mean you're trying to install it in a VM on Windows? If that's what you're telling us then do give details of what you're actually trying to do on this 'windows' machine.

[opnsensewin]

No, I'm actually trying to install on the actual Windows machine.
The idea is to use OPNsense as a main firewall (as opposed to use Windows Firewall or any other propriety software).

Am I very stupid for thinking it's possible?

[phoenix]

The simple answer is you can't do that, OPNsense is not a windows application it is meant to be installed on it's own hardware (all by itself). Some of us run a virtual environment and install OPNsense as a VM and use that as the firewall/gateway for the LAN but there is no way to use OPNsense as a 'firewall' running within windows.

If you're looking for a good, free firewall for windows then I would recommend Comodo, they have a complete free solution and I use it on any Windows machine that I have to run (thankfully not many) and you can find details here: https://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/free-internet-security.php?track=8234

[opnsensewin]

Thanks a million Bill!

Sorry again for the misinformed question 


So OPNsense is meant only to be installed on hardware (modem, router, etc.) and not on an actual OS?
It will also not run on a Linux system?

[phoenix]

Thanks a million Bill!

Sorry again for the misinformed question 

You're welcome and asking a question is no problem.

So OPNsense is meant only to be installed on hardware (modem, router, etc.) and not on an actual OS?
It will also not run on a Linux system?

You're mostly correct in those comments with the exception that OPNsense is actually an O/S, it's based on FreeBSD and you can read about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeBSD - it's meant to be installed on any hardware that is supported by FreeBSD and that means the same sort of hardware you run as a PC but it can be all sorts of variations of that concept such as an Intel NUC or a small bareboard low-power PC.

[opnsensewin]

You're mostly correct in those comments with the exception that OPNsense is actually an O/S, it's based on FreeBSD and you can read about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeBSD - it's meant to be installed on any hardware that is supported by FreeBSD and that means the same sort of hardware you run as a PC but it can be all sorts of variations of that concept such as an Intel NUC or a small bareboard low-power PC.

Will might give a try one day.
As for now will check out Comodo for Windows and will find a better solution for Linux.

Thank you 

[fabian]

As for now will check out Comodo for Windows and will find a better solution for Linux.

On Linux you may be looking for nftables:
https://wiki.nftables.org/wiki-nftables/index.php/Main_Page
Some background can be found here:
https://www.netfilter.org/
The best documentation is available via:
man nft

[opnsensewin]

On Linux you may be looking for nftables:
https://wiki.nftables.org/wiki-nftables/index.php/Main_Page
Some background can be found here:
https://www.netfilter.org/
The best documentation is available via:
man nft

Thanks Fabian.
Had a quick look and seems like I need something a bit more user friendly (maybe even GUI). But good to research the what it's all about before!

[fabian]

Thanks Fabian.
Had a quick look and seems like I need something a bit more user friendly (maybe even GUI). But good to research the what it's all about before!

If you are looking for an applicance like OPNsense there are some like ipfire, ipcop, endian etc.
If you are looking for something host based there are currently no tools for nftables but for the old firewall iptables. For example fwbuilder, yast, ufw and firewalld