OPNsense Installation Guide

 

OPNsense Installation Guide (ISO)

If you're looking to take control of your network with enterprise-grade tools, installing OPNsense is a powerful first step. Whether you're setting up a home lab, securing a small business network, or just want better visibility and filtering, this guide walks you through the full installation process; from hardware prep to post-install configuration. With just a few components and a bit of time, you’ll be ready to deploy a firewall and DNS solution that rivals commercial offerings.

OPNsense DNS Server Setup via ProxMox

 

Private DNS Server & Traffic Monitoring:
OPNsense VM on ProxMox

Setting up a secure and intelligent home network doesn’t have to be complicated. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to deploy OPNsense on Proxmox as a private DNS server and traffic monitor, giving you enterprise-grade filtering, visibility, and control; right from your living room. Whether you're looking to block ads, monitor bandwidth, or enhance your network’s security posture, this setup offers a powerful and flexible solution without replacing your existing router.

RAID Controller HBA Mode PLUS Proxmox ZFS Setup Tutorial

RAID HBA Mode & Proxmox ZFS Setup

Overview

This tutorial covers converting a RAID controller to HBA (Host Bus Adapter) mode and setting up ZFS storage in Proxmox. HBA mode allows ZFS to directly manage individual drives, providing better performance and ZFS's advanced features.

ProxMox VE: Installation & Free Edition Configuration

Setting Up ProxMox VE:

Installation and Free Edition Configuration

ProxMox Virtual Environment (VE) is a powerful open-source virtualization platform that combines KVM virtualization and LXC containers on a single platform. Whether you're building a homelab or deploying enterprise infrastructure, ProxMox offers enterprise-grade features without the enterprise price tag.

In this guide, we'll walk through the essential steps for installing ProxMox and configuring it for the free edition, including the crucial repository fixes that every non-subscription user needs to know.

Network Rack Upgrade

After 2 months of careful planning, part sourcing, and even some 3D printing magic, my freshly upgraded network rack is finally live! From a robust Tecmojo 12U frame to a lineup of SBCs and mini-PCs, every component has been placed with purpose. In this post, I’ll walk you through the hardware, share product links, and highlight the key modules that bring my homelab, and the Pacific Northwest Computers’ infrastructure, to life!!

*None of the links are affiliate links or anything! I am simply sharing what I used in this project!