Installing pfSense

Using a VMware vSphere 5 Virtual Machine

This document provides a roadmap for using pfSense to create a routed/firewalled Network Bubble

Contents
Contents ................................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Create Network Bubble........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Create a Virtual Machine to use as a pfSense Router............................................................................................................. 4
Install pfSense from ISO ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
Place pfSense on Network Bubble ........................................................................................................................................ 22
Now install the Open-VM-Tools VMware Tools package ..................................................................................................... 24

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Contents | VMsources Group Inc.

Create Network Bubble

a. Choose Add Networking

b. Next

c. Next

VMsources Group Inc. | Create Network Bubble

d. Next

e. Finish

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f.

The resulting configuration should have a virtual switch with no physical adapters. This is often referred
to as an isolated network or a network bubble.

Create a Virtual Machine to use as a pfSense Router

a.

VMsources Group Inc. | Create a Virtual Machine to use as a pfSense Router

b.

c.

d.

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e.

f.

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g.

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h.

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i.

j.

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k.

l.

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m.

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n.

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o. The resulting configuration should show that the new Virtual Machine is in two Virtual Machine Port

Groups.

Install pfSense from ISO

a.

b.
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c.

d.

e.

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f.

g.

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h.

i.

j.

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k.

l.

m.

n.

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o.
p. It is now possible to compare the MAC Address of the interfaces: em0 and em1 (seen above) to the
Virtual Machine settings and determine which is WAN and which is LAN (and additional). In this example
we will be routing from the network VM Network as WAN to the network Routed as the
routhed/firewalled Netork Bubble.

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q.
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r.

s.

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t.

u.

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Place pfSense on Network Bubble

a. pfSense must be managed from a routed/firewalled network for security reasons, so start as VM and place it
on the Routed Network Bubble

b.

c.

d.

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e. You will have to open a command window inside the VM and release/renew the IP

f.

VM23

Now browse to the IP address of the pfSense Router

Place pfSense on Network Bubble | VMsources Group Inc.

g. The default username is: admin and the password is: pfsnse

Now install the Open-VM-Tools VMware Tools package

a.
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b. Click on the plus to the right of the package you want to install.

c.

d.

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