# OPNsense

> open-source firewall

**Wikidata**: [Q19348696](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19348696)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPNsense)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/opnsense

## Summary
OPNsense is an open-source firewall and network operating system designed to monitor and control network traffic based on security rules. It is a fork of pfSense, offering a free, customizable alternative for network security and management.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: Launched on January 2, 2015, by Deciso.
- **License**: Released under the 2-clause BSD License.
- **Based on**: Forked from pfSense and built on FreeBSD.
- **Programming Language**: Primarily written in PHP.
- **Versions**: Initial version 15.1 released on January 2, 2015; notable versions include 19.7 (July 17, 2019) and subsequent updates.
- **Platform**: Available on multiple platforms, including x86 and ARM.
- **Social Media**: Active on Twitter as @opnsense with over 14,707 followers as of July 17, 2024.
- **Source Code**: Hosted on GitHub under the organization name "opnsense".

## FAQs
### Q: What is OPNsense?
A: OPNsense is an open-source firewall and network operating system that provides network security and management features. It is a fork of pfSense and is designed to be a free, customizable alternative for controlling network traffic.

### Q: When was OPNsense first released?
A: OPNsense was first released on January 2, 2015, with version 15.1.

### Q: What license does OPNsense use?
A: OPNsense is released under the 2-clause BSD License, which allows for free use, modification, and distribution.

### Q: What is the relationship between OPNsense and pfSense?
A: OPNsense is a fork of pfSense, meaning it was derived from pfSense's codebase but has since evolved independently with its own features and updates.

### Q: Where can I find the source code for OPNsense?
A: The source code for OPNsense is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/opnsense/.

## Why It Matters
OPNsense plays a crucial role in network security by providing a robust, open-source firewall solution. It offers an alternative to proprietary firewalls, allowing users to customize and control their network security without the high costs associated with commercial products. OPNsense's active development community and regular updates ensure that it stays current with the latest security threats and technologies. By being based on FreeBSD and written in PHP, it leverages stable and widely-used technologies, making it a reliable choice for both personal and enterprise use. Its open-source nature also fosters transparency and trust, as users can inspect the code for security and functionality.

## Notable For
- **Open-Source Nature**: OPNsense is freely available and customizable, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
- **Fork of pfSense**: It builds upon the foundation of pfSense but has evolved with its own unique features and improvements.
- **Regular Updates**: OPNsense receives frequent updates, ensuring that it remains secure and up-to-date with the latest technologies.
- **Community Support**: It has an active community and official forums for support and discussion.
- **BSD License**: The use of the 2-clause BSD License allows for broad usage and modification rights.

## Body
### Overview
OPNsense is an open-source firewall and network operating system designed to provide network security and management. It is a fork of pfSense and is built on FreeBSD, leveraging its stability and security features.

### History
OPNsense was launched on January 2, 2015, by Deciso. The initial version, 15.1, was released on the same day. Since then, OPNsense has seen numerous updates, with version 19.7 being a notable release on July 17, 2019. Subsequent versions, such as 19.7.2 through 19.7.9, were released throughout 2019 and early 2020, each bringing improvements and bug fixes.

### Features
OPNsense offers a range of features typical of a network operating system and firewall, including:
- **Traffic Monitoring**: Monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
- **Customization**: Being open-source, it allows for extensive customization to meet specific network security needs.
- **Regular Updates**: Frequent updates ensure that the system remains secure and up-to-date with the latest technologies.

### Community and Support
OPNsense has an active community and official forums for support and discussion. The source code is hosted on GitHub, encouraging community contributions and transparency. OPNsense is also active on social media, with a Twitter account (@opnsense) that has over 14,707 followers as of July 17, 2024.

### Licensing and Distribution
OPNsense is released under the 2-clause BSD License, which allows for free use, modification, and distribution. This licensing model fosters a collaborative environment and ensures that the software remains accessible to a wide range of users.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "OPNsense",
  "description": "An open-source firewall and network operating system designed to monitor and control network traffic based on security rules.",
  "url": "https://opnsense.org/",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPNsense"],
  "additionalType": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186055"
}

## References

1. [opnsense/core: OPNsense GUI, API and systems backend. GitHub](https://github.com/opnsense/core)
2. [Source](https://github.com/opnsense)
3. [Jazzy Jaguar](https://opnsense.org/about/road-map/)
4. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-version-15-1-released/)
5. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-2-released/)
6. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-3-released/)
7. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-4-released/)
8. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-5-released/)
9. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-6-released/)
10. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-7-released/)
11. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-8-released/)
12. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-9-released/)
13. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-rc1-released/)
14. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-19-7-10-released/)
15. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-keen-kingfisher-released/)
16. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-1-released/)
17. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-2-released/)
18. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-3-released/)
19. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-4-released/)
20. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-5-released/)
21. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-6-released/)
22. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-7-released/)
23. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-1-8-released/)
24. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-7/)
25. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-7-1-released/)
26. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-7-2-released/)
27. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-7-3-released/)
28. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-7-4-released/)
29. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-7-5-released/)
30. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-7-6-released/)
31. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-20-7-7-released/)
32. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-marvelous-meerkat-released/)
33. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-1-released/)
34. [Source](https://forum.opnsense.org/index.php?topic=20984.0)
35. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-2-released/)
36. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-3-released/)
37. [21.1 “Marvelous Meerkat” Series](https://docs.opnsense.org/releases/CE_21.1.html#march-30-2021)
38. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-5-released/)
39. [Source](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-6-released/)
40. [OPNsense 21.1.7 released. 2021](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-7-released/)
41. [OPNsense 21.1.8 released. 2021](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-8-released/)
42. [OPNsense 21.1.9 released. 2021](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-1-9-released/)
43. [OPNsense 21.7 released. 2021](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-7-released/)
44. [opnsense/changelog/community/21.7/21.7.1. 2021](https://github.com/opnsense/changelog/blob/master/community/21.7/21.7.1)
45. [opnsense/changelog/community/21.7/21.7.2. 2021](https://github.com/opnsense/changelog/blob/master/community/21.7/21.7.2)
46. [OPNsense 21.7.3 released. 2021](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-7-3-released/)
47. [OPNsense 21.7.4 released. 2021](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-7-4-released/)
48. [opnsense/changelog/community/21.7/21.7.4. 2021](https://github.com/opnsense/changelog/blob/master/community/21.7/21.7.4)
49. [OPNsense 21.7.5 released. 2021](https://opnsense.org/opnsense-21-7-5-released/)
50. [opnsense/changelog/community/21.7/21.7.5. 2021](https://github.com/opnsense/changelog/blob/master/community/21.7/21.7.5)