Starting pfsense for New Users

[TanKianW]

Do u enable powerd? The box runs quite hot sia

Yes. I run it at "Hi-Adaptive".

 

[firesong]

What temperature does your pfsense box sit at? Mind at 58c to 60c. Is that normal? OK for long term?it's a Celeron N5105

Passively cooled, no fan cos I haven't replaced it. It's in a cabinet. No aircon at home.

 

[jackycar]

Passively cooled, no fan cos I haven't replaced it. It's in a cabinet. No aircon at home.

View attachment 30896

My temp was showing quite low until I enabled some Intel temp sensor setting and it started showing higher numbers than fluctuate

 

[Mach3.2]

Hot topic imo.

 

[jackycar]

Passively cooled, no fan cos I haven't replaced it. It's in a cabinet. No aircon at home.

View attachment 30896

Interesting also to know the j4105 runs so much cooler

 

[TanKianW]

**ADD-ONS: Integrating pfSense with Home Assistant for Remote Monitoring**

Some have asked me what could be a good way to remote monitor (or a quick glance) of their pfsense running at home. In fact if you have been using "Home Assistant", you could integrate your pfsense with the (opensource) smart home supervisor. Some will know that I've been actively promoting forumers to integrate their IoTs and smart home devies with home assistant (HA) which is a very powerful smart home automation tool, that is opensource and yet highly customizable (using python or .yaml data language file). Below I will cover the basic step-by-step guide for integrating pfsense with HA.

For those who are interested to know more about the opensource HA project, could check out here:
https://www.home-assistant.io/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Some pre-condition before you follow this basic set-up. You must have an up and running HA server with HACS (home assistant community stall) installed and properly configured.

You can learn more about HACS here:
https://hacs.xyz/docs/setup/prerequisites

Useful Youtube tutorial on HA at SlackerLabs can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCipZJ6748kd8TbelSxcvcVg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE*
Step 1: Click Explore Icon at the bottom from the "HACS" tab. Search for "pfsense integration for HA" and click install integration. After installation, you will need to reboot the HA host under configuration -> add-ons, backup & Sup -> System -> Reboot Host. Ignore the "pfsense gateway monitoring" integration which is no longer supported.

Step 2: After reboot, log back into your HA supervisor. You will be able to find the pfsense integration under the Configuration -> Devices & Services -> click "add integration" tab at the bottom right -> search for pfsense -> key in the settings as shown and click submit. (Note: URL will be your firewall IP address)

Step 3: Add card under the lovelace dashboard and select the monitoring entity under the heading of "pfsense". On the right, you will be able to preview the dashboard card. Feel free to customize your lovelace dashboard to your liking or download custom themes to spice up the outlook.

Step 4: You can create a separate dashboard tab and name it as "pfsense", select vertical stacks and customize the pfsense monitoring entity you want to view at a glance (Eg. services, software upgrade, etc). I also prefer to create a separate tab which is more mobile friendly, where you can easily have a glance of the Gateway status of your pfsense.

Or spice up the dashboard design with custom templates ==================>

************************************************************************

*NOTE: If you wish to access your Home Assistant dashboard on the go (mobile), you can either setup a VPN server on your pfsense OR use HAproxy to run a proxy server on pfsense for http/https offload with ACME certs packages.

You can learn more on HAproxy and ACME packages here:
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/starting-pfsense-for-new-users.6390714/#post-130207504
​

 

[jackycar]

wanna thank all the pfsense senseis here again for your recommendation.

under heavy torrenting load + speedtest at max speed, about 13% processor usage only. Celeron N5105 Quad Core FTW. 73c temperature
compared to my cisco router that used to cap out at 70-100% CPU usage when this happened.

 

[TanKianW]

wanna thank all the pfsense senseis here again for your recommendation.

under heavy torrenting load + speedtest at max speed, about 13% processor usage only. Celeron N5105 Quad Core FTW. 73c temperature
compared to my cisco router that used to cap out at 70-100% CPU usage when this happened.

Recommend a USB fan over the passively cooled heatsinks to improve air circulation around your network storage area (esp if t was in a cabinet).

Celeron N5105 is quite a capable SOC for pfsense (about 20% better than J4105) from my field setup, but could get slightly warmer.​

 

[TanKianW]

**ADD-ONS: Integrating pfSense with Home Assistant for Remote Monitoring**

Some have asked me what could be a good way to remote monitor (or a quick glance) of their pfsense running at home. In fact if you have been using "Home Assistant", you could integrate your pfsense with the (opensource) smart home supervisor. Some will know that I've been actively promoting forumers to integrate their IoTs and smart home devies with home assistant (HA) which is a very powerful smart home automation tool, that is opensource and yet highly customizable (using python or .yaml data language file). Below I will cover the basic step-by-step guide for integrating pfsense with HA.

For those who are interested to know more about the opensource HA project, could check out here:
https://www.home-assistant.io/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: Some pre-condition before you follow this basic set-up. You must have an up and running HA server with HACS (home assistant community stall) installed and properly configured.

You can learn more about HACS here:
https://hacs.xyz/docs/setup/prerequisites

Useful Youtube tutorial on HA at SlackerLabs can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCipZJ6748kd8TbelSxcvcVg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE*
Step 1: Click Explore Icon at the bottom from the "HACS" tab. Search for "pfsense integration for HA" and click install integration. After installation, you will need to reboot the HA host under configuration -> add-ons, backup & Sup -> System -> Reboot Host. Ignore the "pfsense gateway monitoring" integration which is no longer supported.

Step 2: After reboot, log back into your HA supervisor. You will be able to find the pfsense integration under the Configuration -> Devices & Services -> click "add integration" tab at the bottom right -> search for pfsense -> key in the settings as shown and click submit. (Note: URL will be your firewall IP address)

Step 3: Add card under the lovelace dashboard and select the monitoring entity under the heading of "pfsense". On the right, you will be able to preview the dashboard card. Feel free to customize your lovelace dashboard to your liking or download custom themes to spice up the outlook.

Step 4: You can create a separate dashboard tab and name it as "pfsense", select vertical stacks and customize the pfsense monitoring entity you want to view at a glance (Eg. services, software upgrade, etc). I also prefer to create a separate tab which is more mobile friendly, where you can easily have a glance of the Gateway status of your pfsense.

Or spice up the dashboard design with custom templates ==================>

************************************************************************

*NOTE: If you wish to access your Home Assistant dashboard on the go (mobile), you can either setup a VPN server on your pfsense OR use HAproxy to run a proxy server on pfsense for http/https offload with ACME certs packages.

You can learn more on HAproxy and ACME packages here:
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/starting-pfsense-for-new-users.6390714/#post-130207504
​

Example of a more polished remote monitoring dashboard (on mobile) for pfsense with custom "mushroom" and "minimalist" theme/lovelace using Home Assistant (HA):​

 

[jackycar]

Recommend a USB fan over the passively cooled heatsinks to improve air circulation around your network storage area (esp if t was in a cabinet).

Celeron N5105 is quite a capable SOC for pfsense (about 20% better than J4105) from my field setup, but could get slightly warmer.​

it's in an open air setting. but air circulation not very free flowing.

Didn't know N5105 will run warmer, i thought same 10w TDP + next gen supposed to run cooler instead ? ( is it because of slightly higher clock speed?)

 

[brtan]

Trying to install on a protecli vault.... any ideas? Thanks

 

[TanKianW]

Trying to install on a protecli vault.... any ideas? Thanks

Seems to me that at 0:06s, you did not select the disk. I think you need to press [*] or some keys.

 

[brtan]

yes, thanks @TanKianW u are right. I am now at the menu : what option should i choose
:

Thanks

 

[TanKianW]

yes, thanks @TanKianW u are right. I am now at the menu : what option should i choose
:

Thanks

Seems to me your pfsense has been installed and booted up. You will need to access its WebGUI to start the initial set up.

Moving on, you just need to watch and follow the setup video tutorial on the first page of the thread on your own. Answers can be found there, which should carry you through.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/starting-pfsense-for-new-users.6390714/#post-130207493​

 

[brtan]

Hi all,

I am getting really bad speed performance from Viewqwest. Which ISP would you recommend ? Thanks !

 

[TanKianW]

Hi all,

I am getting really bad speed performance from Viewqwest. Which ISP would you recommend ? Thanks !

Check out here:

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/singapore-isp-comparisons.6665380/

 

[jackycar]

Hi all,

I am getting really bad speed performance from Viewqwest. Which ISP would you recommend ? Thanks !

Which location? Vq has been excellent for me. Think last few days got some outage issit?

Using m1 it's been super excellent and value for money so far also. Out of the big 3 they throttle the least. Also customer service is excellent

 

[brtan]

Thanks. Been getting really slow speed and the lack of response is poor. I have switched to myRepublic ( fingers crossed) ... can I request for a bridge network from MR? Thanks

 

[TanKianW]

Thanks. Been getting really slow speed and the lack of response is poor. I have switched to myRepublic ( fingers crossed) ... can I request for a bridge network from MR? Thanks

I am using MR.

As far as I know, they are using ONT (mine‘s an Alcatel), not ONR. So there is no need to bridge.

Hope you’ve gotten their plan with static IP…..if not, you will be on CGNAT. You can read up on this forum the disadvantage of CGNAT.​

 

[brtan]

I am using MR.

As far as I know, they are using ONT (mine‘s an Alcatel), not ONR. So there is no need to bridge.

Hope you’ve gotten their plan with static IP…..if not, you will be on CGNAT. You can read up on this forum the disadvantage of CGNAT.​

Yes, glad I am using the same ISP as yours. Yes, I signed up with a static IP address.