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IPFire RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: IPFire

IPFire


Last Update: 2024-10-16 13:33 UTC


IPFire is a Linux distribution that focuses on easy setup, good handling and high level of security. It is operated via an intuitive web-based interface which offers many configuration options for beginning and experienced system administrators. IPFire is maintained by developers who are concerned about security and who update the product regularly to keep it secure. IPFire ships with a custom package manager called Pakfire and the system can be expanded with various add-ons.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 172 (47), 6 months: 138 (61), 3 months: 145 (55), 4 weeks: 181 (37), 1 week: 179 (36)

Average visitor rating: 9.17/10 from 12 review(s).


IPFire Summary
Distribution IPFire
Home Page https://www.ipfire.org/
Mailing Lists https://lists.ipfire.org/mailman/listinfo
User Forums https://forum.ipfire.org/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation https://wiki.ipfire.org/
Screenshots --
Screencasts
Download Mirrors https://www.ipfire.org/downloadDistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker --
Related Websites  
Reviews 2.5: LWN
Where To Donate, Buy, or Try

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2024-08-09: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.29 Core 187
 • 2023-07-16: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.27 Core 176
 • 2023-02-27: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.27 Core 173
 • 2022-09-16: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.27 Core 170
 • 2022-06-13: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.27 Core 168
 • 2022-03-10: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.27 Core 164
 • 2021-12-21: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.27 Core 162
 • 2021-10-05: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.27 Core 160
 • 2021-08-18: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.27 Core 159
 • 2021-06-21: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.25 Core 157
 • 2021-03-03: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.25 Core 154
 • 2020-11-16: Distribution Release: IPFire 2.25 Core 152
 • More IPFire releases...

  Headlines:
 • 2024-12-02 IPFire mini appliance available
 • 2021-02-02 IPFire to drop 32-bit support
 • 2020-11-09 Tips for working with IPS
 • 2020-10-14 IPFire explores IP address lookups
 • 2020-08-18 IPFire publishes firewall setup tips
 • 2020-08-05 IPFire explains DNS security
 • 2020-07-22 IPFire publishes guide to security
 • 2020-03-17 IPFire signing kernel modules
 • 2020-02-18 IPFire considers WireGuard
 • 2020-02-12 IPFire improves DNS options
 • More IPFire headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations

(Please refer to the table below.)
  • Select view:
  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
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Feature 2.29-core189 2.27-core176 2.25-core158 2.23-core139 2.21-core130 2.19-core120 2.17-core99 2.15-core86 2.13-core76 2.11-core65 2.9-core52 Feature
Release Date 2024-10-16 2023-07-11 2021-07-19 2020-01-09 2019-04-16 2018-04-30 2016-03-05 2015-01-24 2014-04-16 2012-12-19 2011-09-17 Release Date
End Of Life                       End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB) 300-400 300-400 300-400 200-300 190-240 170-250           Image Size (MB)
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Installation
Default Desktop -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Default Desktop
Package Management pakfire pakfire pakfire pakfire pakfire pakfire pakfire pakfire pakfire pakfire pakfire Package Management
Release Model Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Release Model
Office Suite -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Office Suite
Processor Architecture aarch64, x86_64 armv6l, x86_64 armv5tel, i586, x86_64 armv5tel, i586, x86_64 armv5tel, i586, x86_64 armv5tel, i586, x86_64 armv5tel, i586, x86_64 armv5tel, i586 armv5tel, i586 armv5tel, i586 i586 Processor Architecture
Init Software other other other other other other other other other other other Init Software
Journaled File Systems                       Journaled File Systems
Multilingual de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru de, en, es, fr, pl, ru Multilingual
Asian Language Support -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Asian Language Support
Full Package List   2.27-core176 2.25-core158 2.23-core139 2.21-core130 2.19-core120 2.17-core99 2.15-core86 2.13-core76 2.11-core65 2.9-core52 Full Package List

Full Package List:   IPFire 2.17-core87
  Number of packages: 448 (download as TXT)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  •  acl-2.2.47
  •  acpid-2.0.16
  •  alsa-lib-1.0.27.1
  •  amavisd-new-2.5.2
  •  apcupsd-3.14.10
  •  Archive-Tar-1.29
  •  Archive-Zip-1.16
  •  arm-1.4.5.0
  •  arping-2.05
  •  asterisk-1.8.19.0
  •  attr-2.4.43
  •  autoconf-2.69
  •  automake-1.12.4
  •  avahi-0.6.31
  •  backports-3.18.1-1-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire
  •  backports-3.18.1-1-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire-pae
  •  backup-ipfire
  •  bacula-5.2.13
  •  bash-4.3
  •  batctl-2014.3.0
  •  bc-1.06
  •  beep-1.3
  •  BerkeleyDB-0.27
  •  bind-9.9.5
  •  binutils-2.22
  •  bison-2.5.1
  •  bitstream-1.0
  •  bluez-libs-3.36
  •  boost_1_55_0
  •  br2684ctl
  •  bridge-utils-1.5
  •  bwm-ng-0.6
  •  bzip2-1.0.6
  •  cacti-0.8.8b
  •  cairo-1.10.2
  •  calamaris-2.59
  •  capi4k-utils-2005-07-18
  •  Carp-Clan-6.04
  •  check_mk_agent-1.2.4p5
  •  cifs-utils-5.9
  •  clamav-0.98.4
  •  client175_0.7
  •  ClientForm-0.2.9
  •  cmake-2.6.4
  •  collectd-4.10.7
  •  Compress-Zlib-1.35
  •  conntrack-tools-1.2.2
  •  Convert-TNEF-0.17
  •  Convert-UUlib-1.06
  •  coreutils-8.23
  •  cpio-2.11
  •  cpufrequtils-008
  •  crda-3.13
  •  cryptodev-linux-6aa62a2c320b04f55fdfe0ed015c3d9b48997239-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire
  •  cryptodev-linux-6aa62a2c320b04f55fdfe0ed015c3d9b48997239-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire-pae
  •  Crypt-PasswdMD5-1.3
  •  cups-1.7.0
  •  curl-7.31.0
  •  cyrus-imapd-2.2.12
  •  cyrus-sasl-2.1.21
  •  daq-2.0.2
  •  Date-Calc-6.3
  •  Date-Manip-6.40
  •  db-4.4.20
  •  DBD-mysql-4.010
  •  DBD-SQLite-1.40
  •  DBI-1.631
  •  dbus-1.0.3
  •  ddns-004
  •  ddrescue-1.12
  •  dejavu-fonts-ttf-2.33
  •  Device-Modem-1.56
  •  Device-SerialPort-1.000002
  •  DFB++-1.0.0
  •  dhcp-4.2.2
  •  dhcpcd-5.2.9
  •  diffutils-2.8.1
  •  Digest-1.08
  •  Digest-HMAC-1.01
  •  Digest-SHA1-2.10
  •  DirectFB-1.1.1
  •  dnsmasq-2.72
  •  dosfstools-3.0.9
  •  dpfhack-0.12devel
  •  dracut-038
  •  dvb-firmwares-20141125
  •  dvdrtools-0.2.1
  •  e1000e-3.1.0.2-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire
  •  e1000e-3.1.0.2-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire-pae
  •  e2fsprogs-1.42.6
  •  ebtables-v2.0.10-4
  •  ed-0.2
  •  elinks-0.12pre6
  •  espgs-8.15.1
  •  etherwake-1.09
  •  ethtool-3.0
  •  expat-2.0.0
  •  ez-ipupdate-3.0.11b8
  •  faad2-2.7
  •  fbset-2.1
  •  fcron-3.0.4
  •  feedparser-4.1
  •  fetchmail-6.3.26
  •  ffmpeg-export-2008-04-13
  •  file-5.11
  •  File-ReadBackwards-1.05
  •  File-Tail-0.99.3
  •  findutils-4.4.2
  •  fireinfo-v2.1.11
  •  flac-1.2.1
  •  flex-2.5.35
  •  fontconfig-2.5.91
  •  foomatic-4.0.9
  •  fping-3.10
  •  freefont-20060126
  •  freetype-2.1.10
  •  fuse-2.8.3
  •  fwhits
  •  gawk-3.1.5
  •  gcc-4.4.7
  •  gd-2.0.33
  •  GD-2.35
  •  gdbm-1.8.3
  •  GDGraph-1.4308
  •  GDTextUtil-0.86
  •  Geo-IP-PurePerl-1.17
  •  gettext-0.18.1.1
  •  git-1.8.5.2
  •  glib-2.32.3
  •  glibc-2.12-2-gc4ccff1
  •  gmp-4.3.2
  •  gmp-6.0.0
  •  gnump3d-3.0
  •  gnupg-1.4.12
  •  gperf-3.0.4
  •  gpgme-1.3.2
  •  grep-2.14
  •  groff-1.21
  •  grub-2.00
  •  guardian-ipfire
  •  gutenprint-5.2.9
  •  gzip-1.3.5
  •  hdparm-9.42
  •  hostapd-2.3
  •  hostname_3.15
  •  hplip-3.12.6
  •  HTML-Parser-3.45
  •  HTML-Tagset-3.04
  •  HTML-Template-2.94
  •  htop-1.0.2
  •  httpd-2.2.27
  •  hwdata
  •  iana-etc-2.10
  •  icecast-2.3.2
  •  icegenerator-0.5.5-pre2
  •  icinga-1.11.4
  •  iftop-0.17
  •  igb-5.2.9.3-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire
  •  igb-5.2.9.3-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire-pae
  •  igmpproxy-0.1
  •  imspector-20101008
  •  intltool-0.40.5
  •  IO-Socket-SSL-1.78
  •  IO-stringy-2.110
  •  iotop-0.6
  •  ipaddr-1.2
  •  iperf-2.0.5
  •  ipfire-netboot-v1.0
  •  iproute2-3.5.1
  •  iptables-1.4.21
  •  iptraf-ng-1.1.4
  •  iputils-ss020927
  •  ipvsadm-1.26
  •  iw-3.14
  •  ixgbe-3.21.2-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire
  •  ixgbe-3.21.2-kmod-3.14.33-ipfire-pae
  •  joe-3.7
  •  jquery-1.10.2
  •  jwhois-4.0
  •  kbd-1.12
  •  keepalived-1.2.7
  •  kmod-13
  •  krb5-1.12.1
  •  l7-protocols-2009-05-10
  •  lame-3.97
  •  lcd4linux-0.11.0-svn1200-dpf
  •  lcdproc-0.5.6
  •  lcr-20121008
  •  less-443
  •  libart_lgpl-2.3.17
  •  libassuan-2.0.3
  •  libcap-2.19
  •  libdaemon-0.14
  •  libdnet-1.11
  •  libdvbpsi5-0.1.6
  •  libevent-1.4.14b-stable
  •  libevent-2.0.13-stable
  •  libexif-0.6.21
  •  libffi-3.0.11
  •  libgcrypt-1.6.1
  •  libgpg-error-1.13
  •  libid3tag-0.15.1b
  •  libidn-0.6.14
  •  libjpeg-turbo-1.3.0
  •  libmad-0.15.1b
  •  libmnl-1.0.3
  •  libmpdclient-2.5
  •  libnet-1.1.2.1
  •  libnl-1.1.4
  •  libnl-3.2.25
  •  libogg-1.3.0
  •  liboping-1.3.4
  •  libpcap-1.4.0
  •  libpng-1.2.46
  •  libpri-1.4.10.2
  •  libshout-2.2.2
  •  libsmooth
  •  libsolv-0.0.0-c02d759
  •  libstatgrab-0.17
  •  libtool-2.4.2
  •  libupnp-1.6.18
  •  libusb-0.1.12
  •  libusbx-1.0.11
  •  libvorbis-1.3.3
  •  libwww-perl-5.803
  •  libxml2-2.6.32
  •  libxslt-1.1.17
  •  linux-3.14.33-ipfire
  •  linux-3.14.33-ipfire-headers
  •  linux-3.14.33-ipfire-pae
  •  linux-atm-2.4.1
  •  linux-firmware-78535e8
  •  linux-initrd-3.14.33-ipfire
  •  linux-initrd-3.14.33-ipfire-pae
  •  Linux-PAM-0.99.10.0
  •  lm_sensors-3.3.4
  •  Locale-Codes-2.07
  •  logrotate-3.7.1
  •  logwatch-7.3.6
  •  lsof-4.78
  •  LVM2.2.02.95
  •  lynis-1.2.9
  •  lzo-2.06
  •  M2Crypto-0.21.1
  •  m4-1.4.16
  •  Mail-SpamAssassin-3.1.3
  •  MailTools-2.07
  •  make-3.81
  •  man-db-2.4.3
  •  man-pages-2.34
  •  mc-4.8.12
  •  mdadm-3.3.2
  •  mechanize-0.1.8
  •  mediatomb-0.12.1
  •  memtest86+-5.01
  •  miau-0.6.5
  •  MIME-tools-5.502
  •  minicom-2.4
  •  minidlna-1.1.3
  •  miniupnpd-1.8
  •  misc-progs
  •  mISDNuser-20121008
  •  motion-3.2.12
  •  mpage-2.5.6
  •  mpc-0.21
  •  mpd-0.16.5
  •  mpeg2dec-0.4.0b
  •  mpfire-ipfire
  •  mpfr-3.1.2
  •  mtools-3.9.10
  •  mtr-0.86
  •  multicat-2.0
  •  multipath-tools-120613
  •  mysql-5.0.96
  •  nagios-3.0.6
  •  nagiosql-303
  •  nano-2.2.6
  •  nasm-2.10.03
  •  ncftp-3.2.1-src
  •  ncurses-5.9
  •  netcat-0.7.1
  •  Net-DNS-0.47
  •  Net-IPv4Addr-0.10
  •  netkit-telnet-0.17
  •  netpbm-10.26.46
  •  Net-Server-0.97
  •  net-snmp-5.4.2.1
  •  Net-SSLeay-1.55
  •  Net-Telnet-3.03
  •  nettle-3.0
  •  net-tools-1.60
  •  newt-0.52.17
  •  nfs-utils-1.2.7
  •  nginx-1.4.4
  •  nmap-6.01
  •  noip_updater_v1.6
  •  nrpe-2.12
  •  ntfs-3g-2011.1.15
  •  ntp-4.2.8
  •  nut-2.7.2
  •  oinkmaster-2.0
  •  openldap-2.3.20
  •  openmailadmin-1.0.0
  •  openssh-6.6p1
  •  openssl-0.9.8zd
  •  openssl-1.0.1k
  •  open-vm-tools-8.4.2-261024
  •  openvpn-2.3.6
  •  owncloud-7.0.0
  •  p7zip_4.65
  •  pakfire-0.9.25
  •  pam_mysql-0.7RC1
  •  pango-1.30.1
  •  parted-3.1
  •  patch-2.7.1
  •  paxctl-0.7
  •  pciutils-3.1.10
  •  pcmciautils-014
  •  pcre-7.7
  •  pcre-8.31
  •  PDF-API2-2.020
  •  perl-5.12.3
  •  perl-gettext-1.05
  •  php-5.3.27
  •  phpSANE-0.3.3
  •  pigz-2.3.1
  •  pixman-0.26.0
  •  pkg-config-0.20
  •  popt-1.10.4
  •  portmap_6.0
  •  postfix-2.10.0
  •  Pound-2.7
  •  powertop-1.13
  •  ppp-2.4.7
  •  pptp-1.7.2
  •  procps-3.2.6
  •  progressbar-2.2
  •  psmisc-22.2
  •  pycurl-7.19.0
  •  pygpgme-0.3
  •  pyliblzma-0.5.3
  •  Python-2.7.3
  •  python-distutils-extra-2.25
  •  pyxattr-0.5.0
  •  qemu-kvm-0.15.0
  •  readline-5.2
  •  readline-6.3
  •  reiserfsprogs-3.6.21
  •  rng-tools-5
  •  rrdtool-1.4.7
  •  rssdler-0.4.0a
  •  rsync-3.1.1
  •  samba-3.6.24
  •  sane-1.0.24
  •  sarg-2.3.3
  •  screen-4.0.3
  •  SDL-1.2.11
  •  sdparm-1.07
  •  sed-4.2.1
  •  sendEmail-v1.56
  •  setserial-2.17
  •  setuptools-0.6c11
  •  shadow-4.0.15
  •  slang-2.2.4
  •  smartmontools-6.1
  •  snort-2.9.6.1
  •  Sort-Naturally-1.03
  •  sox-12.18.1
  •  spandsp-0.0.6pre12
  •  sqlite-autoconf-3070603
  •  squid-3.4.8
  •  squid-accounting-1.0.1
  •  squidclamav-5.11
  •  squidGuard-1.4.1
  •  sshfs-fuse-2.2
  •  sslh-1.7a
  •  sslscan-1.10.2
  •  strace-4.7
  •  streamripper-1.63.5
  •  stress-1.0.4
  •  strongswan-5.2.1
  •  stunnel-5.01
  •  sudo-1.8.10p3
  •  swatch-3.2.3
  •  swig-2.0.1
  •  sysbench-0.4.12
  •  sysfsutils-1.3.0
  •  sysklogd-1.5
  •  syslinux-4.06
  •  sysstat-6.0.2
  •  sysvinit-2.88dsf
  •  taglib-1.5
  •  tar-1.22
  •  tcl8.4.13
  •  tcpdump-4.4.0
  •  tcpick-0.2.1
  •  tcp_wrappers_7.6
  •  teamspeak-2.0.24.1
  •  texinfo-4.13a
  •  Text-Tabs+Wrap-2005.0824
  •  tftp-hpa-0.48
  •  tiff-3.9.4
  •  TimeDate-1.20
  •  tmux-1.9a
  •  tor-0.2.4.23
  •  traceroute-2.0.18
  •  transmission-2.84
  •  tripwire-2.4.1.2
  •  tunctl
  •  tzdata-2015a
  •  udev-208
  •  Unix-Syslog-0.100
  •  unzip552
  •  URI-1.35
  •  urlgrabber-3.9.1
  •  usb-modeswitch-2.1.1
  •  usb-modeswitch-data-20140327
  •  usbutils-007
  •  util-linux-2.24
  •  vdr-2.0.5
  •  vdradmin-am-3.6.9
  •  vdr-epgsearch-1.0.1.beta5
  •  vdr-plugin-dvbapi-1.0.6
  •  vdr-plugin-eepg-master
  •  vdr-streamdev-10db11ac
  •  vdr-vnsiserver3-cc03615
  •  vdr-vnsiserver5-1.0.0
  •  vim-7.4
  •  vlan.1.9
  •  vnstat-1.11
  •  vsftpd-2.3.4
  •  watchdog-5.13
  •  wavemon-0.7.5
  •  wget-1.14
  •  whatmask-1.2
  •  which-2.16
  •  wireless-regdb-2014.11.18
  •  wireless_tools.30.pre9
  •  wpa_supplicant-2.3
  •  w_scan-20130331
  •  xfsprogs-2.9.4
  •  xinetd-2.3.15
  •  XML-Parser-2.34
  •  xvidcore-1.2.1
  •  xz-5.0.5
  •  zd1211-firmware-1.4
  •  zerofree-1.0.1
  •  zlib-1.2.7


Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for IPFire

Average rating
9.2
from 12 review(s)
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Version: 2.29-core187
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-10
Votes: 11


IPFire: A Community-Driven Firewall OS with a Bright Future.

IPFire is a standout in the realm of open-source firewall operating systems. It’s a community-driven project that truly prioritises its users, distinguishing it from competitors that might lean more towards corporate interests.

Strengths:
One of IPFire’s most compelling features is its commitment to security. The OS is hardened from the ground up, with a well-configured Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) powered by Suricata, offering a broad selection of rulesets. The geo-location blocking feature, libloc, provides accurate geo-blocking or allow-listing, which adds an extra layer of security. Additionally, IPFire’s update schedule is impressive, with packages being updated roughly every month or even sooner if a critical vulnerability is discovered. The inclusion of CAKE QoS ensures smooth connections, even under heavy network load.

Another strength is the wealth of community-driven documentation, which is a treasure trove of tips and advice. This, along with an active forum, makes IPFire accessible not only to advanced users but also to those just beginning to explore networking.

Areas for Improvement:
That said, IPFire does have a few areas where it could improve. The Web User Interface (WUI), while reliable, is a bit dated and could benefit from a refresh. Modern networking features like Full-Stack IPv6 Support, WireGuard, and more advanced VLAN functionality are currently missing, though these are on the roadmap for a future major release. Soon™.

The Future:
Looking ahead, I believe IPFire has the potential to become the go-to firewall OS for home-lab enthusiasts within the next 5 years. Even now, it’s a strong contender for both home and business use, thanks to its robust security features and the dedication of its community.

Conclusion:
In summary, while there are areas where IPFire could improve, its strong focus on community, coupled with a solid feature set, makes it a strong contender in the firewall OS space. As it continues to evolve, I’m confident it will meet and exceed the needs of its users.


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Version: 2.29-core186
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-09
Votes: 0


I've been using IPFire for over 10 years, both at home and in the workplace. Many years ago I used pfSense for awhile and while it was excellent, it was much less intuitive. Getting the most out of it required a lot of effort if you weren't familiar with FreeBSD. IPFire can do most of the things that pfSense does, but in a more intuitive way.

It has features such as proactive blocking of hostile networks with zero configuration needed; an intrusion prevention system that blocks malicious traffic by rules (some built in, some that require payment due to their high quality) on both the WAN and the LAN; other user configurable blocklists; blocking inbound traffic by country; a very effective Quality of Service module to help high density networks feel more responsive. There are more features which make this not just a quality router, but an effective firewall. It can be installed on most any system that has at least two network adapters (one for WAN, one for LAN) and is easy to do. Beef up your security at home, or integrate it into a SMB. It is light on resources too and can be installed on most firewall appliances such as those sold by Protectli.

The community forums are super helpful and often the features can be extended with a little command line knowledge. Forum users are very helpful in this way.

Lastly, they have a regular blog that talks about new features and upcoming features. IPFire gets updated quite frequently, on average 8-10 updates per year. They provide an easy and intuitive backup and restore process so that on the offchance something goes wrong, simply reinstall the OS and restore your backup and you're back up and running. If you want to try ditching your home router and rolling your own better one, this is a great option. And like I said, it is powerful enough to use in a business environment as well.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 2.29-core186
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-08
Votes: 1


I've been using IPFire for over 10 years, both at home and in the workplace. Many years ago I used pfSense for awhile and while it was excellent, it was much less intuitive. Getting the most out of it required a lot of effort if you weren't familiar with FreeBSD. IPFire can do most of the things that pfSense does, but in a more intuitive way.

It has features such as proactive blocking of hostile networks with zero configuration needed; an intrusion prevention system that blocks malicious traffic by rules (some built in, some that require payment due to their high quality) on both the WAN and the LAN; other user configurable blocklists; blocking inbound traffic by country; a very effective Quality of Service module to help high density networks feel more responsive. There are more features which make this not just a quality router, but an effective firewall. It can be installed on most any system that has at least two network adapters (one for WAN, one for LAN) and is easy to do. Beef up your security at home, or integrate it into a SMB. It is light on resources too and can be installed on most firewall appliances such as those sold by Protectli.

The community forums are super helpful and often the features can be extended with a little command line knowledge. Forum users are very helpful in this way.

Lastly, they have a regular blog that talks about new features and upcoming features. IPFire gets updated quite frequently, on average 8-10 updates per year. They provide an easy and intuitive backup and restore process so that on the offchance something goes wrong, simply reinstall the OS and restore your backup and you're back up and running. If you want to try ditching your home router and rolling your own better one, this is a great option. And like I said, it is powerful enough to use in a business environment as well.


Was this review helpful? Yes No

See all 12 reader reviews of IPFire...

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