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IPFire

A dedicated, independently built Linux firewall and router distribution, managed entirely through a web interface, with a modular add-on system for extending its networking and security capabilities.

Specialty & Nichefirewallrouternetworkingindependentself-hostedDownload ↗Official site ↗Docs / Wiki ↗

Based on

Independent (Linux From Scratch-inspired)

First released

2005

Package manager

Pakfire (IPFire's own)

Desktop environments

None (web-based management UI; dedicated firewall/router appliance)

IPFire is purpose-built to turn a small appliance or spare PC into a dedicated firewall/router, with a strong emphasis on network segmentation (color-coded network zones -- green for trusted LAN, red for the internet-facing WAN, and optional orange/blue zones for DMZ or wireless) configured entirely through its own web interface rather than manual firewall-rule editing. Its Pakfire add-on system extends the base firewall with additional capabilities -- intrusion detection/prevention (Suricata), a VPN endpoint, web proxy and content filtering, and more -- installed as modular packages rather than bloating the base firewall image for users who don't need them. It's built independently rather than derived from a mainstream desktop/server distribution, keeping its attack surface and package set tightly scoped to its firewall/router mission.
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