Running pfSense on Proxmox

In this training video, I show how to install pfSense on Proxmox VE. We look at configuring the virtual firewall with dedicated WAN and LAN interfaces. We also walk through the complete process from preparing the Proxmox networking and uploading the pfSense ISO to creating the virtual machine. Then we install pfSense, assign interfaces, and finalize the initial web-based configuration. We begin by looking at the Proxmox network configuration that pfSense needs. I explain how a virtual firewall requires separate WAN and LAN connectivity and show how I use the default Proxmox bridge for the WAN side while creating an additional bridge for the LAN side. This gives the pfSense virtual machine two distinct network paths that can be used for routing and firewalling traffic.

From there, we upload the pfSense Community Edition installation ISO to Proxmox storage and create a new virtual machine. I walk through the VM configuration, including CPU, memory, storage, and network settings. Instead of adding networking during the initial VM creation wizard, we add two virtual network adapters afterward so we can explicitly map one adapter to the WAN bridge and the other to the LAN bridge. We then boot the pfSense virtual machine and step through the installation process, including the ZFS installation options, disk selection, and initial reboot. Once pfSense starts, we verify the WAN and LAN interfaces from the console and configure a custom LAN IP address that matches the home lab network.

Next, we move to the pfSense web interface from a system connected to the LAN side of the firewall. I show how to log in, complete the initial setup wizard, configure the hostname, domain, DNS, NTP, WAN and LAN settings, and set a new administrator password. Finally, we make sure that pfSense is fully functional inside Proxmox and we review the main dashboard where firewall rules, routing, VPNs, services, interfaces, and system settings can be managed.

By the end of the video, you will understand how to install pfSense as a virtual machine on Proxmox VE, configure WAN and LAN networking, assign the correct virtual adapters, and complete the initial pfSense firewall setup for a home lab or virtualized network environment.