Lorene Melone
How To Set Up pfSense on Proxmox: Quick Portal Configuration Guide – Part 5
This tutorial walks through the last bits of setting up pfSense in Proxmox. Basically, how to log in, tweak DNS, and change that crappy default admin password. Get this done right, and your network’s a bit more secure — or at least less easy to hack.
Prerequisites
Before jumping in, double-check you’ve got:
- Access to Proxmox running the pfSense VM (obvious, but hey).
- Admin credentials — you probably set these during install, but if you’re using defaults, it’s
admin/pfsense. - Basic networking smarts — nothing fancy, just enough to navigate GUI and change a couple settings.
Method 1: Log into the pfSense Web Interface
This part’s straightforward but can be tricky if you’re not familiar. On some setups, it fails the first time, then magically works after a reboot — probably because pfSense or the VMs aren’t always perfect on initial boot.
- Open your favorite web browser, like Microsoft Edge or Chrome.
- Type in the pfSense’s IP address. You can usually find this in your Proxmox console or DHCP lease info. It’s something like 192.168.1.1.
- Hit Enter. The login page pops up — finally.
- Use
adminandpfsenseif you haven’t changed it yet. - Click Sign In. If it doesn’t work immediately, check your network setup or reboot the VM. Because of course, pfSense has to make it harder than necessary.
Method 2: Configure DNS Settings
DNS is one of those things that could break your entire internet connection if it’s wrong. Normally, pfSense comes with some defaults, but it’s better to switch to reliable DNS servers — Google’s 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 — especially if you’re troubleshooting or want faster browsing.
- Once logged in, head to System in the top menu.
- Select General Setup from the dropdown.
- In the DNS Server fields, type
8.8.8.8and8.8.4.4. On some setups, you might want to add Quad9 (9.9.9.9) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) for extra privacy or speed. - Pick your primary gateway — usually, this will be LAN GW, or whatever your gateway’s called if you have custom setups.
- Scroll down and hit Save. Sometimes, you need to apply the settings, and other times, it just takes effect.
Method 3: Change the Default Admin Password
This is critical because everyone knows the default. Not sure why pfSense doesn’t force a password change during setup, but hey.
- From the dashboard, go to System > User Manager.
- Find your admin user and click on Edit or use the Change Password link — depending on pfSense version.
- Set up a new, strong password. Avoid “password123” or anything obvious. Use a password generator if needed.
- Scroll down and hit Save. Done.
Some Additional Tips & Common Pitfalls
On some setups, pfSense can be a pain about SSH or WebGUI access after changes, so be prepared to clear your browser cache or reboot the VM. Also, if you’re managing multiple VMs, make sure your network rules aren’t blocking your IP or browser from reaching pfSense’s interface. Best practice is to set a static IP within the same subnet — that way, you know exactly where to find it.
FAQs (Because yes, these come up)
What’s pfSense again?
It’s a free, open-source firewall/router based on FreeBSD. Basically, it’s a super customizable security device, perfect for homes or small businesses that wanna actually understand their network.
Can I use pfSense in a home setup?
Absolutely. It’s overkill for just browsing, but if you wanna learn, or set up things like VPNs, you’ll love it.
What if I lose my password?
You’ll need to reboot the pfSense VM into single-user mode — which is a pain, but doable. Then, reset the password via console prompts. Not fun, but that’s how it’s done.
Summary
- Log into pfSense with IP, username, and password.
- Set DNS to reliable servers like Google’s.
- Change that default admin password ASAP.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Getting it all right the first time is rare — but once done, it’s smooth sailing from there.