Firewall distributions
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A firewall distribution is a distro whose primary function is to act as a firewall. They will enable you to transform a PC into a dedicated firewall appliance.
This usually costs a fraction of a similarly capable off-the-shelf firewall worth thousands of dollars, especially if you already have an unused old computer.
List of firewall distributions
This is a list of operating systems which primary function or one of its primary functions is to be a firewall.
Open-Source
The following projects are open-source, but may include non-free blobs in their images.
- PfSense - A very popular firewall and router solution based on FreeBSD.
- OpenWrt - A very popular embedded router operating system based on Linux.
- OPNsense - FreeBSD-based.
- IPFire - Linux-based firewall operating system.
- DD-WRT - Linux-based embedded router operating system. A free and paid version are provided.
- ClearOS Community - The community version of ClearFoundation and Hewlett Packard Enterprise's home and small-office server operating system. It can provide many services, including acting as a firewall, e-mail server, file server, and more.
- Endian Firewall Community - The community version of Endian's Linux-based commercial firewall distro.
- Gargoyle - An OpenWrt-based distro that is attempting to be fully open-source but provide a user-friendly interface.
- SmoothWall - Linux-based.
- Coyote Linux - Shutdown in 2006, the project has been resurrected according to a post by the creator. Linux-based.
- IPCop - Development stagnant, last release in 2019. Linux-based.
- Openwall - Development stagnant, last release in 2015. Linux-based.
- Devil-Linux - Discontinued, last release in 2017. Linux-based.
- ZeroShell - Discontinued, last release in 2021. Linux-based.
- m0n0wall - Discontinued, last release in 2014. Based on FreeBSD.
- Freesco - Discontinued, last release in 2014. Floppy-booted, Linux-based.
- redWall - Discontinued, last release in 2011. CD-booted, Gentoo-based firewall.
Proprietary
- DD-WRT - Provides a subscription-based premium version of firmware.
- ClearOS - Provides Home and Business versions with more features.