When it comes to optimizing home network infrastructure, the choice of hardware and software plays a pivotal role. I recently embarked on a project to elevate my home network using a fanless mini PC and the robust capabilities of OPNsense. Here’s a detailed journey of how I turned a compact, silent mini PC into a fully-fledged bare-metal router & firewall, creating a secure and efficient network environment for my digital life.
The Decision: OPNsense over pfSense
My journey began with the choice between two popular open-source firewall and routing solutions: pfSense and OPNsense. Initially, I leaned towards pfSense due to its widespread popularity and extensive support community. However, after delving deeper and reading about some concerns regarding its development and privacy policies, I decided to opt for OPNsense. The decisive factors were its transparent development process, regular security updates, and a user-friendly interface that promised an easier management experience.
Selecting the Hardware: Fanless Mini PC
The heart of my network transformation was a fanless mini PC. The absence of fans meant a quiet operation and less dust accumulation, essential for the longevity and reliability of a device that would run 24/7. The compact size also meant it could be tucked away neatly without taking up much space. I ensured that the mini PC had adequate processing power, memory, and network interfaces to handle all routing tasks without hiccups.
The Mini PC specs –
【Processor & OS】Firewall Micro Appliance Mini PC with Intel N3700, 4Cores4threads (2MB L2 Cache, up to 2.40GHz), supports AES-NI, it supports Windows 10, Linux Ubuntu and other open source systems. The device with i225 chip is not compatible with IPCop/sophis/untangle/coreboat.
【Interfaces & Network】The firewall micro appliance has 4 * individual Intel 2.5GbE I225 ports, 2 * USB3.0 ports, 1 * VGA port, 1 * HDMI port, 1 * DC port. 4 Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports provide a stable and high-speed network. It is also compatible with pfsense, software routing and other network applications.
【RAM & Storage】The firewall micro appliance pc equipped with 8G DDR3 RAM, max support 16GB; 128GB mSATA SSD, can be up to 512GB. The large storage can meet the hardware requirements of various network
Price – £199 on amazon.
Configuring OPNsense for Home Networking
Installation of OPNsense was straightforward. I downloaded the latest version from the official site, created a bootable USB drive, and installed it on the mini PC. The initial setup included configuring interfaces and setting up basic connectivity. From there, I moved on to more advanced configurations:
- Virtual LANs (VLANs): I set up multiple VLANs to segment the network better and enhance security. Each VLAN was configured for different purposes— one for my personal devices, one for guests, and another for IoT devices.
- Firewall Rules and Security: With OPNsense, I tailored firewall rules to control the traffic between VLANs, increasing security by restricting access to sensitive devices and data. I also enabled features like intrusion detection and prevention to safeguard against potential threats.
- Port Forwarding: Essential for applications that require external access, port forwarding was configured for specific devices and services, ensuring they were reachable from outside the network while keeping the rest of the network shielded.
Expanding with Smart Switches
To further enhance my network, I incorporated a TP-Link Smart Switch and a QNAP 10Gb switch. The TP-Link Smart Switch allowed me to manage additional physical VLANs effectively, providing more granular control over each network segment. Meanwhile, the QNAP 10Gb switch was a game-changer, enabling blazing-fast 10Gb LAN connections. This was particularly beneficial for high-speed data transfers and streaming ultra-high-definition content within the network.
Benefits and Outcomes
The results of this network overhaul were immediately noticeable:
- Enhanced Security: The robust firewall and network segmentation significantly improved security across all devices.
- High-Speed Connectivity: The 10Gb network infrastructure ensured that my data-heavy tasks were handled seamlessly without any lag.
- Efficiency and Reliability: The fanless mini PC, running OPNsense, has proven to be a reliable and efficient solution for round-the-clock network management.
The transformation of a fanless mini PC into a powerful bare-metal router running OPNsense has been a rewarding project. It not only enhanced my network’s security and efficiency but also provided a scalable platform to accommodate future expansions and technologies. For anyone looking to upgrade their home network, this setup demonstrates that with the right combination of hardware and software, you can achieve a professional-level network infrastructure right in your own home.
Now, granted… I am still working on setting up the physical aspect of my LAN so please, do not judge! HA!
One last note before I close this… configuring this behemoth of software was no easy task and it does require a bit of networking knowledge to say the least…
If you encounter any issues during configuration and setting up, don’t hesitate to contact me or use the Reddit for OPNsense where a lot of experts can help you understand more.
OPNsense documentation – https://docs.opnsense.org/index.html
OPNsense forum – https://forum.opnsense.org/
OPNsense reddit – https://www.reddit.com/r/opnsense/
Youtube content that helped me throughout the setup… Home Network Guy has an entire youtube series dedicated to this, so feel free to delve in!
Totally agree with switching from PFSense!