The ultimate guide to download pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 Release for AMD64 systems
How to Download and Install pfSense CE 2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64
If you are looking for a free, open-source, and powerful firewall and router software, you might want to consider pfSense Community Edition (CE). In this article, we will show you how to download and install pfSense CE 2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64, which is the latest stable version as of June 2020.
What is pfSense CE and why use it?
pfSense CE is a firewall and router software that is based on FreeBSD operating system with a custom kernel and third-party free software packages. It offers stateful packet inspection, concurrent IPv4 and IPv6 support, intrusion prevention, VPN, load balancing, proxying, content filtering, and more. It can run on a variety of hardware platforms, from dedicated appliances to old PCs.
download pfsense-ce-2.4.5-release-p1-amd64.iso
pfSense CE features and benefits
Some of the features and benefits of pfSense CE are:
It is feature-rich, robust, and flexible. It has many features that are not available in commercial firewalls or require expensive licenses.
It is user-friendly and customizable. It has a web interface for configuration and management, as well as a command-line interface for advanced users. It also supports adding additional features through packages or custom code.
It is open-source and community-driven. It is developed and maintained by a team of volunteers and supported by a large community of users and developers. It also respects your privacy and does not collect or sell your data.
pfSense CE system requirements
The minimum hardware requirements for pfSense CE are:
A 64-bit compatible CPU
At least 512 MB of RAM
At least 1 GB of disk space
One or more compatible network interface cards
A bootable USB drive or optical drive for installation
The recommended hardware requirements depend on the desired throughput and features, but generally speaking, more CPU speed, RAM, disk space, and network interfaces will improve the performance and functionality of pfSense CE.
How to download pfSense CE 2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64
To download pfSense CE 2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64, you need to visit the official website of pfSense at and follow these steps:
Download options and mirrors
Select an Architecture: AMD64 (64-bit) for most modern hardware.
Select an Installer type: USB Memstick Installer for writing to a USB flash drive or DVD Image (ISO) Installer for burning to an optical disc.
Select a Console for USB Memstick Installer images: VGA for using a monitor and keyboard or Serial for using a serial console.
Select a Mirror that is close to your location geographically.
Click Download to start the download process.
Verifying the integrity of the download
To ensure that the downloaded file is not corrupted or tampered with, you need to verify its integrity by comparing its SHA-256 hash value with the one provided by the website or in the .sha256 file on the mirror. You can use various tools to calculate the SHA-256 hash value of a file, such as for Mac. The hash value should match exactly with the one provided by the website or in the .sha256 file. If not, you need to download the file again from another mirror or contact the pfSense team for assistance.
How to install pfSense CE 2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64
Once you have downloaded and verified the pfSense CE 2.4.5-RELEASE-p1-amd64 file, you need to prepare the installation media and boot the installer on your target device. Here are the steps to follow:
Preparing the installation media
If you downloaded the USB Memstick Installer image, you need to write it to a USB flash drive using a tool such as for Mac or Linux. Make sure to select the correct drive letter and image file before writing. The process will erase all data on the USB flash drive, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.
If you downloaded the DVD Image (ISO) Installer image, you need to burn it to a blank DVD using a tool such as for Mac. Make sure to select the correct drive letter and image file before burning. The process will make the DVD bootable and ready for installation.
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pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 ISO image checksum and verification
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How to backup and restore pfSense CE configuration before and after upgrading
How to troubleshoot common issues with pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 installation and upgrade
How to configure basic settings and features of pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to use the web interface and the command line interface of pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to secure and harden pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 firewall
How to monitor and optimize pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 performance and resource usage
How to set up network interfaces and routing on pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to create and manage firewall rules and NAT on pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to enable and configure VPN services on pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to use traffic shaping and quality of service on pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to implement network security features on pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 such as IDS/IPS, firewall logs, and block lists
How to install and use packages and plugins on pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to access daily snapshots and beta versions of pfSense CE software
How to get commercial support and training for pfSense CE software from Netgate
How to join the pfSense community forum and mailing list
How to contribute to the development and documentation of pfSense CE software
What are the differences between pfSense CE and pfSense Plus software editions
What are the hardware requirements and recommendations for running pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using pfSense CE as a firewall solution
What are the best practices and tips for using pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 effectively and efficiently
What are the common use cases and scenarios for deploying pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 in various environments
How to migrate from other firewall solutions to pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to integrate pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 with other network devices and services such as switches, routers, DNS, DHCP, etc.
How to customize and extend the functionality of pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 using scripts, hooks, APIs, etc.
How to update the firmware of Netgate appliances running pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to recover from a failed or corrupted installation of pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1
How to test and benchmark the performance and reliability of pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 firewall
How to troubleshoot advanced issues with pfSense CE 2.4.5 p1 such as kernel panics, crashes, hangs, etc.
How to report bugs and request features for pfSense CE software development team
How to compare pfSense CE with other open source firewall solutions such as OPNsense, IPFire, etc.
How to download archived versions of pfSense documentation for offline reference
Booting the installer and selecting options
After preparing the installation media, you need to insert it into your target device and boot from it. You may need to change the boot order in your BIOS or UEFI settings to make the device boot from the USB flash drive or DVD. Once you boot from the installation media, you will see a menu with several options. You can choose one of the following:
Quick/Easy Install: This option will install pfSense CE with default settings and minimal user input. It is recommended for most users who want a simple and fast installation.
Custom Install: This option will allow you to customize various settings during the installation, such as disk partitioning, keyboard layout, time zone, etc. It is recommended for advanced users who want more control over the installation.
Recover config.xml: This option will allow you to restore a previously saved configuration file from a USB flash drive or an FTP server. It is useful if you want to migrate your settings from another pfSense CE device or backup your configuration.
Rescue Shell: This option will drop you into a shell prompt where you can perform various commands and troubleshooting tasks. It is useful if you encounter any problems during the installation or need to access the file system.
Reboot: This option will reboot your device.
Halt: This option will power off your device.
In this article, we will assume that you choose the Quick/Easy Install option for simplicity. If you choose this option, you will see a warning message that says "This will erase ALL data on disk ada0!". You need to type "y" and press Enter to confirm that you want to proceed with the installation. The installer will then format your disk and copy the files needed for pfSense CE.
Configuring the firewall and network interfaces
After copying the files, the installer will ask you if you want to set up VLANs now. VLANs are virtual LANs that allow you to segment your network into different subnets using a single physical interface. If you want to use VLANs, type "y" and press Enter. Otherwise, type "n" and press Enter.
The installer will then ask you to assign interfaces. Interfaces are physical or virtual netwo