Yes, it is absolutely possible to install the pfSense Community Edition (CE) in AWS EC2. However, the process isn’t as straightforward as simply selecting an AMI from the AWS Marketplace.
Here’s a breakdown of the approaches and considerations:
1. Building and Importing Your Own pfSense CE AMI:
- The Core Idea: You would download the pfSense CE installation ISO, create a virtual machine (VM) on your local computer using software like VirtualBox or VMware, install pfSense CE within that VM, and then convert the VM image into a format that can be imported into AWS EC2 as an AMI (Amazon Machine Image).
- Steps Involved (General Outline):
- Download pfSense CE ISO: Obtain the latest stable version from the official pfSense website.
- Create a Local VM: Set up a new VM with sufficient resources (CPU, RAM, disk space) using VirtualBox or VMware.
- Install pfSense CE: Boot the VM from the downloaded ISO and follow the pfSense installation instructions.
- Configure pfSense (Basic): Set up basic network interfaces (you’ll likely need at least two, one for WAN and one for LAN).
- Convert VM Image: Use tools provided by your virtualization software to export the VM as a virtual disk image (e.g., a
.vmdkor.vdifile). - Upload to AWS S3: Upload the virtual disk image to an Amazon S3 bucket in the AWS region where you want to run your pfSense instance.
- Import to EC2: Use the AWS CLI or the AWS Management Console (VM Import/Export service) to import the disk image as an EC2 AMI. You’ll need to create an import task and specify details like the S3 bucket URL, instance architecture, and virtualization type.
- Launch EC2 Instance: Once the import is complete, you can launch an EC2 instance using your newly created pfSense CE AMI.
- Configure Networking in AWS: You’ll need to configure your VPC (Virtual Private Cloud), subnets, security groups, and route tables to properly route traffic to and from your pfSense instance. Make sure to disable the “Source/Destination Check” on the pfSense EC2 instance’s network interface.
- Considerations:
- This method requires technical expertise in virtualization, networking, and AWS.
- It can be time-consuming.
- You are responsible for maintaining and updating the pfSense CE installation within your custom AMI.
- AWS has specific requirements for importing VMs, so ensure your VM image meets those criteria.
- You’ll need to manage the underlying EC2 instance resources (instance type, storage, etc.).
- Resources: The GitHub repository “hargut/aws-packer-pfsense” provides scripts to help automate the process of building and importing a pfSense CE image using Packer. While it’s older, it can offer insights into the steps involved.
2. Using Community-Sourced AMIs Pfsense (Use with Caution):
- While there isn’t an “official” pfSense CE AMI directly provided by Netgate on the AWS Marketplace, you might find AMIs created and shared by the community.
- Significant Risks: Using community-sourced AMIs carries security risks as you don’t know who created the image or what might be included in it. It’s generally not recommended for production environments or sensitive data.
- If you choose this route, ensure you thoroughly vet the source and understand the potential risks.
3. Netgate’s pfSense Plus on AWS Marketplace (Commercial Option):
- Official and Supported: Netgate, the company behind pfSense, offers a supported version called “pfSense Plus” on the AWS Marketplace.
- Ease of Deployment: This is the easiest way to get a pre-configured and supported pfSense instance running in AWS. You can simply search for “pfSense” in the AWS Marketplace and launch an instance from Netgate’s official AMI.
- Licensing Costs: pfSense Plus on AWS involves hourly or yearly software licensing fees in addition to the standard AWS infrastructure costs.
- Features and Support: This version often includes additional features and comes with official support from Netgate.
Why Choose pfSense CE in AWS?
- Familiarity: If you are already familiar with pfSense CE, you might prefer to use it in the cloud.
- Cost (Potentially): If you are comfortable with the effort of building and managing your own AMI, you would avoid the software licensing fees associated with pfSense Plus. However, you still pay for the underlying EC2 instance.
- Customization: Building your own AMI allows for a high degree of customization.
In summary, while installing pfSense CE in AWS EC2 is technically possible by building and importing your own AMI, it requires significant technical effort and carries the responsibility of ongoing maintenance and security. The official pfSense Plus offering on the AWS Marketplace provides a much simpler and supported solution, albeit with associated licensing costs.
For most users, especially those needing a production-ready and supported firewall in AWS, using Netgate’s pfSense Plus from the AWS Marketplace is the recommended approach.