# m0n0wall

> firewall distribution

**Wikidata**: [Q263666](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q263666)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M0n0wall)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/m0n0wall

## Summary
m0n0wall is a firewall distribution based on the BSD operating system, designed to provide network security through customizable traffic monitoring and control. It is an open-source project released under the BSD license, offering a lightweight solution for securing networks. The software is distributed as an operating system image for easy deployment on hardware or virtual machines.

## Key Facts
- m0n0wall is a firewall distribution and operating system based on BSD, first released in 2003.
- The latest version is 1.8.1, released on January 15, 2014.
- It is licensed under the BSD licenses, allowing free use and modification.
- The project’s official website is http://m0n0.ch/wall/, with source code hosted on Apache Subversion at https://svn.m0n0.ch/wall/.
- m0n0wall influenced derivative works such as the Miru directory server and shares similarities with pfSense, another BSD-based firewall platform.
- It supports multiple languages, with Wikipedia articles available in 10 languages, including English, French, and German.

## FAQs
### Q: What is m0n0wall used for?
A: m0n0wall is used to secure networks by monitoring and controlling incoming/outgoing traffic based on predefined security rules, functioning as a dedicated firewall system.

### Q: Is m0n0wall free to use?
A: Yes, m0n0wall is open-source software released under the BSD licenses, permitting free use, modification, and distribution.

### Q: How does m0n0wall relate to pfSense?
A: Both m0n0wall and pfSense are BSD-based firewall distributions, but they are separate projects with distinct development paths and user interfaces.

## Why It Matters
m0n0wall played a significant role in simplifying network security for small to medium-sized organizations and home users by providing a lightweight, customizable firewall solution. As one of the earlier open-source firewall distributions based on BSD, it contributed to the proliferation of affordable security tools and influenced later projects like pfSense. Its emphasis on ease of deployment and minimal resource requirements made it accessible to users lacking specialized hardware, addressing the need for robust security in diverse networking environments.

## Notable For
- **BSD Foundation**: Built directly on BSD, leveraging its stability and security features.
- **Lightweight Design**: Optimized for low-resource hardware, enabling deployment on older or embedded systems.
- **Derivative Influence**: Served as a basis for specialized projects like the Miru directory server.
- **Open-Source Model**: Utilized the permissive BSD license, fostering community-driven development and customization.

## Body
### Origin & Development
- m0n0wall was first released in 2003 as a fork of the earlier "m0n0" project, focusing on firewall functionality.
- The final version (1.8.1) was released on January 15, 2014, with development ceasing shortly after.

### Technical Specifications
- **Operating System**: Based on BSD, providing Unix-like functionality.
- **Deployment**: Designed for installation on x86 hardware or virtual environments.
- **Configuration**: Managed through a web-based interface for setting security rules and network parameters.

### Licensing & Accessibility
- **License**: BSD licenses ensure freedom to use, modify, and distribute the software.
- **Localization**: Supported in multiple languages, reflected in its international Wikipedia coverage.

### Related Projects
- **Miru Directory Server**: A derivative work integrating Windows Active Directory services.
- **pfSense**: A contemporaneous BSD-based firewall distribution with overlapping functionality but distinct design choices.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Software",
  "name": "m0n0wall",
  "description": "A firewall distribution based on BSD, providing network security through customizable traffic control.",
  "url": "http://m0n0.ch/wall/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6720809",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M0n0wall"
  ],
  "version": "1.8.1",
  "license": "https://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause",
  "operatingSystem": "BSD",
  "sourceCode": "https://svn.m0n0.ch/wall/"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Quora