I'm setting up a homelab to replicate an enterprise-like network for practice and certification prep. I'm considering Fortigate firewalls like the FG-60E but am debating whether to get refurbished branded units or opt for an open source solution instead. If I go the open source route, I'm unsure about what hardware specs I need. I want to manage typical home traffic and do some VLAN setup without going too enterprise-level. What do you all recommend? Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
Watch out for SonicWall. I used to love them until I found out their trade-in program totally cripples older units, making them almost useless without updates or subscriptions. Now, I stick with pfSense or OPNsense, and I've settled on Sophos XG running in a Proxmox VM. It’s been solid! You might want to consider those options for your homelab.
Both paths can work, but if you’re looking to save some cash while still getting good results, OPNsense is a great choice. Just remember that the FG-60E will hit its end of life by 2026. If you have an old PC lying around, just grab an extra network card for dual WAN/LAN ports, and you should be all set!
Do you have any specific hardware requirements for running OPNsense besides needing two NICs?