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OFOPNsense Firewall: Complete Guide to Network SecurityInstall OPNsense on hardware or Proxmox and learn interfaces, VLANs, DHCP and rules
#opnsense#firewall#network security#vlans#homelab#udemy course

Courses & Learning · Course review · Updated 17 October 2026

OPNsense Firewall: Complete Guide to Network Security reviewInstall OPNsense on hardware or Proxmox and learn interfaces, VLANs, DHCP and rules

4.0

Very good

Brent score, out of 5

A solid, hands-on foundation in OPNsense: choosing hardware, installing on bare metal or Proxmox, setting up interfaces, VLANs, DHCP, DNS and firewall rules with aliases and schedules. The published curriculum ends at firewall rules, so VPN, IDS/IPS and high availability, which the description mentions, do not appear as sections. Treat it as a strong setup course rather than a complete security course.

  • Level

    All levels · 3h 16m

  • Instructor

    Amjid Ali on Udemy

  • Best for

    Homelab users replacing a consumer router with OPNsense

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Best for

  • Homelab users replacing a consumer router with OPNsense
  • Small business IT staff setting up their first open-source firewall
  • Proxmox users who want to virtualize their firewall
  • pfSense users curious about switching to OPNsense

Skip it if

  • Learners who need in-depth VPN, Suricata IDS/IPS or HA labs
  • Experienced firewall engineers looking for advanced topics
  • Anyone who wants certification-style exam prep

Your ISP router gives you almost no control. You want VLANs for IoT devices, proper firewall rules and a firewall you actually understand, and OPNsense keeps coming up as the open-source answer. The menus, interface assignments and rule order are where most people get stuck.

This Udemy course walks you through choosing hardware, installing OPNsense on a physical box or as a VM on Proxmox, assigning interfaces, building VLANs, running DHCP and DNS, and writing firewall rules with aliases and schedules. It is taught by Amjid Ali, the founder of this site, so keep that interest in mind as you read.

Here is exactly what the published lectures cover, and what you will need to learn elsewhere.

What is OPNsense Firewall: Complete Guide to Network Security?

A self-paced Udemy course marked All Levels, with 9 sections, 47 lectures and 3 hours 16 minutes of video. Sections are: getting started, choosing hardware (bare metal vs virtualized), preparing for installation, installing on bare metal, virtualizing OPNsense on Proxmox and other platforms, initial setup, network interfaces (13 lectures), advanced network configuration (DHCP with ISC and Kea, local DNS) and firewall rules and security policies. The description also mentions VPNs, Suricata IDS/IPS, 2FA and high availability, but these are not listed as sections in the current curriculum.

Pros and cons

What we like

  • Covers both bare-metal and Proxmox-virtualized installs
  • A 13-lecture section on network interfaces explains a common sticking point
  • Shows both ISC and Kea DHCP setup, plus local DNS
  • Firewall rules taught with aliases and schedules, not just basic rules
  • No prior experience required; 3,955 students enrolled

What could be better

  • Published curriculum (9 sections, 47 lectures, 3h 16m) stops at firewall rules
  • VPN, IDS/IPS and HA are listed in the description but not as curriculum sections
  • Rated 4.2/5 by 58 students, a little lower than the instructor's pfSense course
  • Last updated in March 2025
4.0

Overall
Very good

  • Content depth3.7
  • Practicality4.3
  • Value4.1
  • Up to date3.9

What the course covers

What you’ll learn

  • Choose between bare-metal and virtualized OPNsense deployments
  • Install OPNsense on physical hardware
  • Run OPNsense as a VM on Proxmox
  • Assign and configure network interfaces and VLANs
  • Set up ISC and Kea DHCP and local DNS
  • Write firewall rules using aliases and schedules
01

Hardware and install choices

Compare bare-metal and virtualized deployments, then install OPNsense on physical hardware or as a VM on Proxmox and other hypervisors.

02

Interfaces explained

The longest section (13 lectures, 31 minutes) covers assigning and configuring network interfaces, which is where many new users go wrong.

03

DHCP and DNS

Configure the ISC and Kea DHCP servers for LAN and VLANs, and set up local DNS for internal web apps.

04

Firewall rules

Learn how OPNsense processes rules, create your first rule, then simplify with aliases and time-based schedules.

05

Proxmox-friendly

A 27-minute section on virtualizing OPNsense suits homelab and SMB users who already run Proxmox.

Udemy prices change often and courses are frequently on sale, so check today's price on the course page; Udemy says eligible courses can be refunded within 30 days of purchase, subject to its refund policy.

Who gets the most from it

Homelab network segmentation

A homelab owner installs OPNsense as a Proxmox VM, creates separate VLANs for IoT, guests and servers, and writes rules so IoT devices cannot reach the NAS.

Small office firewall

An office IT generalist replaces a consumer router with OPNsense on a small appliance, with DHCP and local DNS for internal apps.

Scheduled access

A parent or school admin uses firewall schedules to block certain networks outside set hours.

How to get the most from it

  1. 1

    Watch the free preview and the course roadmap lecture

  2. 2

    Pick bare-metal hardware or a Proxmox VM for your lab

  3. 3

    Install OPNsense and complete the initial setup with the lectures

  4. 4

    Configure interfaces, VLANs and DHCP before writing rules

  5. 5

    Build rules with aliases, then plan VPN and IDS learning separately

Enroll on Udemy

OPNsense Firewall: Complete Guide to Network Security alternatives

ProductChoose it when
OPNsense Firewall: Complete Guide to Network Security 4.0Homelab users replacing a consumer router with OPNsense
pfSense Firewall Training4.4Choose the pfSense course if you want broader coverage that includes VPNs, packages and IDS/IPS.
Mastering pfSense (book)4.2Choose the book if you prefer a written reference for pf-based firewalls.
Untangle (Arista) Firewall Course4.0Choose it if you want an app-based NGFW with a simpler management interface.

OPNsense Firewall: Complete Guide to Network Security: frequently asked questions

How long is the OPNsense course?+

The current curriculum has 9 sections and 47 lectures, totaling 3 hours 16 minutes of video.

Does the course cover VPNs and IDS/IPS?+

The description mentions OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPsec and Suricata IDS/IPS, but the published curriculum ends with the firewall rules section. Check the course page for the latest content before enrolling if those topics matter to you.

Can I follow along on Proxmox?+

Yes. There is a section on virtualizing OPNsense on Proxmox and other platforms, alongside a bare-metal install.

Do I need networking experience?+

The course says no prior experience is required, though a basic understanding of networking helps.

Who teaches it?+

Amjid Ali, the founder of this site. He has a 4.4 instructor rating on Udemy across his courses.

Can I get a refund?+

Udemy says eligible courses can be refunded within 30 days of purchase, subject to its refund policy.

Final verdict

4.0

Is OPNsense Firewall: Complete Guide to Network Security worth it?

If you want to get OPNsense installed and your network properly segmented with rules you understand, this course gets you there in an afternoon. Watch the preview, check the current curriculum, and enroll at today's Udemy price.

Enroll on Udemy

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AA

Reviewed by

Amjid Ali, Founder and editor

Amjid Ali is a Melbourne-based AI and automation lead, author of five books on infrastructure, automation and digital transformation, and a corporate trainer whose courses on n8n, Proxmox, firewalls and ERP have taught thousands of IT professionals.

Last updated 17 October 2026 · How we review

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