Pfsense vm setup

Click Next. In the Configuration window, I always like to take the Custom option. Now we need to decide where disk storage will be allocated to hold the configuration and operating files for the virtual machine. This is not necessarily the same location as the file system for pfSense software, as shown later. There are two datastores on this server — a small 80GB drive on which ESXi is installed and a GB disc which is for virtual machine storage.

Highlight a datastore from the list and click Next. Here is where the virtual machine version to use for the pfSense installation is configured in ESXi.

Note the warning above. Select version 8 and click Next. Make sure the hardware is capable of running bit virtual machines, which it must be to run ESXi, and download the pfSense ISO image for installation, choosing the amd64 architecture.

To get started, a single-socket, single-core configuration will do for now. This and other virtual machine settings can always be changed later if needed. A lot of simple, non-virtual installations run on old PCs with MB and less, so long as swap space is available on the disk. If lots of memory-hungry packages will be run, give it more. This is where we attach those networks to the pfSense virtual machine. In this case it will be 2.

This is why the virtual machine port groups were given these names — they are much easier to recognize. On pfSense software version 2. This may differ from the screenshots shown here. The interface assignment prompt will no longer appear for hosts using em NICs, so be careful not to attach a LAN to em0!

Note that for each NIC an Adapter type may also be selected. Different adapter types may give better or worse performance and some may not work at all but that is beyond the scope of this document. To get started, choose the dependable E type for each adapter. Make sure that Connect at Power On is checked and click Next. An emulation of an LSI Logic SCSI controller is offered on this system and, as far as I know, the recommendation is based on the operating system of the virtual machine intend to be installed.

Accept the default and click Next. Read the help to learn more about this set of options, if desired. Before finishing, check the box Edit virtual machine settings before completion. The label on the Finish button will change to Continue. This will allow the boot CD from which the pfSense software will be installed to be configured. Click Continue. As the contents of the CD will be read across the network, this will be a bit slower than using a drive in the ESXi host.

In addition, Connect at power on is not available. This is much faster than the other options, and more convenient to keep the install media around for re-use. In the left-hand pane of the vSphere client window, right-click the new pfSense virtual machine.

Select that or highlight the virtual machine and click the green arrowhead in the toolbar. Now click the Console tab and the virtual machine will begin booting from the CD. If the option was chosen to use the drive in the client PC, put the CD into its drive. Because the CD drive is not attached to the virtual machine yet, it may attempt to boot from the network or it may be showing an Operating system not found or some other error. What follows is very much a standard pfSense installation procedure.

The next few screens are the standard pfSense install screens and are fairly self explanatory. Take the highlighted choice in each of the following screenshots:. It can be easily done from the properties of the network cards in this screen.

These will be handy with the next article steps. VMXNET 3 allows far more flexibility, better performances and best of all the open-vm tools already include the drivers. At this point a final screen to review the main setting before amending changes. The final screen will look something similar to this. The aim of Domalab. Always open to constructive feedback and new challenges. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.

Learn how your comment data is processed. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address. Looking for ideas? Intel NUC. Michele Domanico. Add Comment. What can I use the pfSense for? The list of topics is open and can be extended at any time: Deploy pfSense in VMware this article Install pfSense virtual router pfSense setup First time pfSense configuration pfSense interface assignments Squid and pfSense install Sample pfSense firewall configuration for a homelab pfSense Backup pfSense upgrade First step is to prepare a VMware virtual machine to accommodate and deploy pfSense virtual router install.

Next is to provide a name and the Data Center location where to deploy pfSense virtual router. Don't be shy and share with the Community! Like this: Like Loading Tags VCSA. You may also like. Virtualisation VMware 7. About the author. Stages are really simple but essential for the configuration from the Web GUI. Right after first boot there is one more step to before setup pfSense for the the first time.

The install wizard in fact is booting with a new script which will guide for the main configuration of at least one WAN and LAN interfaces.

Of course the pfSense can be equipped with one interface only and this will provide different options for the built-in firewall setup. This is when comparing on having multiple interfaces available.

Generally speaking a pfSense router with 2 or 3 separate network interfaces is suitable for the majority of scenarios including homelab setup. In this context the aim is to setup pfSense with at least 2 network interfaces. The first one will be used to connect to the Management network or WAN. Essentially the closest point to the internet gateway.

These are just a few ideas based on desired configurations. Combinations are countless. Would be great to hear more in the comments about other scenarios too. The great news is pfSense is so popular as a virtual router for VMware that the pfSense Community also provides open-vm-tools to increase the overall performance of the pfSense virtual machine and the required device drivers. This is an important step as it pretty much dictates the available configurations and support from the Community.

As per screenshot below the pfSense installer recognized two network cards vmx0, vmx1. Both are working and ready to be associated to a network eg. Just for reference it is a good idea to keep track of the MAC address. It will be handy later on. The first question from the install wizard is to setup VLANs.

Personally the preference is to use this wizard only for the first basic setup and then move to the Web GUI.