comparison table of networking vms - itnett/FTD02H-N GitHub Wiki
Here’s a comparison table of OpenWrt, OPNsense, pfSense, and their similar alternatives, along with the pros and cons of each in the context of using them with Proxmox and integrating them with network hardware like Unifi, Cisco, Fortinet, and Check Point:
| Feature/Aspect | OpenWrt | OPNsense | pfSense | Similar Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Base | Linux-based | FreeBSD-based | FreeBSD-based | VyOS (Debian-based), IPFire (Linux-based) |
| Target Use Case | Home/small office routers, embedded devices | SMBs, enterprises, advanced home users | SMBs, enterprises, advanced home users | Enterprise (VyOS), home users (IPFire) |
| User Interface | Lightweight web GUI | Modern web GUI with enhanced UX | Functional but older-style web GUI | VyOS: CLI-focused; IPFire: Basic GUI |
| Performance | Lightweight, ideal for lower-end hardware | Optimized for modern hardware, AES-NI support | Stable, performs well with broad hardware support | VyOS: High-performance; IPFire: Lightweight |
| Customization | Highly customizable, large number of plugins | High customization, modular approach | Deep customization, vast package support | VyOS: Advanced CLI scripting; IPFire: Moderate |
| Updates | Frequent community-driven updates | Regular updates (bi-weekly/monthly) | Stable, but less frequent updates | VyOS: Regular; IPFire: Regular updates |
| Security | Open-source, community-reviewed, secure | Frequent security patches, transparent updates | Security-focused, backed by Netgate support | VyOS: Focused on secure networking; IPFire: Secure |
| Integration | Works well with open hardware, some limited enterprise | Good integration with many network appliances | Well-tested in enterprise environments | VyOS: Enterprise-focused; IPFire: Home/SMB |
| Cost | Free, open-source | Free, open-source | Mostly free, with optional premium support | VyOS: Free to use; IPFire: Free |
| Virtualization in Proxmox | Excellent for low-resource VMs or containers | Runs well as VM in Proxmox, supports multiple NICs | Stable in Proxmox, wide community support | VyOS: Advanced for routing; IPFire: Easy to virtualize |
| Hardware Compatibility | Broad support for various hardware types | Supports modern hardware, NICs, and accelerators | Supports wide range of hardware, including legacy | VyOS: Enterprise hardware; IPFire: Common hardware |
Pros and Cons in Proxmox and Integration with Unifi, Cisco, Fortinet, and Check Point:
| Platform | Pros in Proxmox | Cons in Proxmox | Integration with Network Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenWrt | - Lightweight, ideal for low-resource VMs or containers. | - Limited advanced routing/firewall features compared to OPNsense/pfSense. | - Works well with Unifi for home/SMB setups. - Basic integration with Cisco, Fortinet, Check Point (mainly routing and firewall). |
| OPNsense | - Easy to set up and configure as a VM in Proxmox. - Supports modern NICs and high-performance configurations. - Frequent updates and built-in security tools. | - Can consume more resources than OpenWrt; better for dedicated VM environments. | - Integrates well with Unifi (DHCP, VLANs, captive portals). - Supports advanced configurations with Cisco hardware (VLANs, VPNs). - Compatible with Fortinet/Check Point for site-to-site VPN, routing, and security. |
| pfSense | - Stable and reliable as a VM in Proxmox. - Wide range of community support and documentation for virtualization. - High flexibility in networking setups. | - Slightly dated GUI; may require manual tuning for optimal performance in Proxmox. | - Works well with Unifi in larger environments. - Strong integration with Cisco hardware for advanced networking (e.g., BGP, OSPF). - Good interoperability with Fortinet/Check Point for secure deployments. |
| VyOS | - Advanced routing and network functionality as a VM in Proxmox. - Enterprise-grade CLI-based configuration tools. | - Requires knowledge of CLI; less user-friendly for beginners. | - Excellent for Cisco and enterprise-level setups (BGP, MPLS). - Can be challenging to integrate with Unifi for home setups. - Works well with Fortinet/Check Point for advanced network configurations. |
| IPFire | - Lightweight and easy to set up in Proxmox. - Suitable for small-scale deployments or home labs. | - Limited advanced features compared to other platforms; less suited for large networks. | - Integrates well with Unifi for basic home use. - Basic interoperability with Cisco, Fortinet, Check Point hardware for small networks or entry-level security/firewall functions. |
Recommendations for Your Proxmox Environment:
- OpenWrt: Best for simple or resource-constrained environments; useful if you have minimal networking needs or want to run it in a lightweight container.
- OPNsense: Offers a balance of performance, features, and ease of use. Recommended for most SMB or advanced home networks, particularly when using Proxmox as a virtualization platform. Easy to integrate with both consumer (Unifi) and enterprise (Cisco, Fortinet, Check Point) hardware.
- pfSense: Ideal for more complex networking setups, especially where stability and a wide range of networking features are needed. Strong enterprise integration capabilities make it suitable for larger network environments with Cisco or Check Point hardware.
- VyOS: Advanced choice for users familiar with CLI and requiring deep networking functions like dynamic routing protocols (BGP, OSPF). Suitable for enterprise setups involving Cisco, Fortinet, or Check Point.
- IPFire: Good for home or small office environments where ease of use is more important than having the most advanced features. Integrates well with Unifi and can be virtualized easily in Proxmox.
Integration with Network Hardware:
- Unifi: All options can work with Unifi hardware, but OpenWrt, OPNsense, and pfSense offer the best user-friendly integration for small to medium setups.
- Cisco: VyOS, pfSense, and OPNsense provide the best integration options due to their support for advanced networking protocols and configurations.
- Fortinet: OPNsense and pfSense are well-suited for integration with Fortinet devices, supporting VPN, VLAN, and secure routing configurations.
- Check Point: For Check Point integration, pfSense and OPNsense are the most straightforward, offering strong firewall and VPN capabilities.
Conclusion:
For a Proxmox environment connected to various network hardware like Unifi, Cisco, Fortinet, and Check Point, OPNsense or pfSense would typically be the most versatile choices, with VyOS being an excellent alternative if advanced routing is needed.
Here’s a comparison of OpenWrt, OPNsense, pfSense, VyOS, and IPFire specifically related to their capabilities for routing and switching when deployed in a Proxmox environment:
| Platform | Routing Capabilities in Proxmox | Switching Capabilities in Proxmox | Ideal Use Case in Proxmox for Routing/Switching |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenWrt | - Basic static and dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP with plugins). - Supports policy-based routing, VLAN routing. - Lightweight, good for small networks. | - Basic VLAN management and VLAN tagging (802.1Q). - No native Layer 2 switching; focuses on Layer 3 routing capabilities. | - Ideal for simple routing tasks in small home or lab environments. - Limited switching support; better suited for pure routing or firewall applications. |
| OPNsense | - Advanced routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, RIP) with built-in plugins. - Policy-based routing, multi-WAN, load balancing. - Supports IPsec, OpenVPN, and WireGuard. | - Basic VLAN support with bridging. - Limited Layer 2 switching capabilities. - Supports advanced VLAN configurations for complex network setups. | - Suitable for small to medium-sized networks where routing is key. - Use when you need VLAN separation or basic bridging but not full switching functionality. |
| pfSense | - Comprehensive routing support (static, OSPF, BGP, RIP). - Multi-WAN, failover, load balancing, and policy-based routing. - Full VPN support (IPsec, OpenVPN). | - Supports VLANs and VLAN tagging (802.1Q). - Can bridge interfaces but lacks full Layer 2 switch capabilities. - Integrates well with VLAN-capable switches. | - Excellent for complex routing environments, especially where VPNs or multiple WAN connections are needed. - Handles VLAN tagging, ideal for mixed routing/switching. |
| VyOS | - Enterprise-grade dynamic routing support (OSPF, BGP, RIP, IS-IS, MPLS, VRRP). - Advanced routing features like QoS, VRFs, and MPLS. - Full IPv6 support. | - Focuses primarily on Layer 3 routing with limited Layer 2 capabilities. - Supports VLANs but lacks native Layer 2 switching features. | - Best for advanced routing tasks in enterprise environments or labs. - Not ideal for setups needing full Layer 2 switching within Proxmox. |
| IPFire | - Basic to moderate routing capabilities (static, OSPF with add-ons). - Primarily designed for firewalling with some routing support. - Limited dynamic routing. | - Limited VLAN support; basic tagging possible. - No native Layer 2 switching; primarily a firewall and routing solution. | - Suitable for small offices or home setups with limited routing needs. - Basic VLAN and routing, not suitable for complex switching tasks. |
Comparison of Routing and Switching Capabilities in Proxmox
-
Routing Capabilities:
- OpenWrt: Basic routing capabilities are ideal for small networks. It supports static routes and some dynamic protocols (like OSPF and BGP) through plugins, but is generally limited in comparison to OPNsense or pfSense. Lightweight, and good for a Proxmox VM where minimal overhead is desired.
- OPNsense: Advanced routing capabilities, including support for dynamic routing protocols like OSPF, BGP, and RIP. It provides policy-based routing, multi-WAN, load balancing, and comprehensive VPN support. Works well in Proxmox for a wide range of network sizes, from small labs to medium-sized business environments.
- pfSense: Similar to OPNsense, but with an even broader range of routing capabilities. It supports comprehensive dynamic routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, RIP), advanced multi-WAN configurations, load balancing, failover, and full VPN support. Ideal for complex routing tasks, especially in environments where redundancy and VPNs are essential.
- VyOS: Offers the most advanced routing features among the options, with support for a full range of dynamic routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, RIP, IS-IS) and advanced capabilities like MPLS, VRFs, and QoS. It is suited for enterprise-grade networks and is a powerful choice for advanced routing tasks in a Proxmox environment.
- IPFire: Basic routing capabilities focused on static routing and some dynamic protocols (OSPF with plugins). Limited compared to other platforms and more oriented towards firewalling than complex routing tasks.
-
Switching Capabilities:
- OpenWrt: Supports VLAN management and tagging, but lacks full Layer 2 switching capabilities. It's more of a Layer 3 router/firewall with some VLAN features.
- OPNsense: Provides basic VLAN support and can bridge interfaces to simulate some Layer 2 functionalities but does not offer full Layer 2 switching capabilities. Best used for environments where routing is the primary focus and VLAN separation is needed.
- pfSense: Supports VLANs and VLAN tagging (802.1Q) with some basic bridging functionality. Like OPNsense, it does not function as a full Layer 2 switch but can handle VLANs and work well in environments where both routing and basic switching are needed.
- VyOS: Primarily focused on Layer 3 routing. Limited Layer 2 capabilities and is not intended for full Layer 2 switching tasks. VyOS is more suitable for advanced routing than for switching.
- IPFire: Offers basic VLAN support but lacks comprehensive Layer 2 switching features. Primarily designed for firewall and routing tasks, not switching.
Ideal Use Cases in Proxmox for Routing/Switching:
- OpenWrt: Best for lightweight routing tasks or home/lab environments where minimal system resources are available. Limited switching capabilities, so it should not be relied upon for environments that require extensive Layer 2 functionalities.
- OPNsense: Good for environments where both advanced routing and some VLAN management are needed. Ideal for SMBs or advanced home users using Proxmox to virtualize multiple network appliances.
- pfSense: Excellent choice for complex routing needs, including multi-WAN, VPN, and advanced network configurations. Can handle some switching tasks like VLAN tagging, but is not a full Layer 2 switch.
- VyOS: Best for enterprise-level routing scenarios that require support for advanced dynamic routing protocols (e.g., BGP, OSPF, MPLS). Not suitable for Layer 2 switching but excels in complex Layer 3 tasks.
- IPFire: Suitable for simple or smaller networks where basic routing and firewalling are needed. Limited Layer 2 and dynamic routing support make it less ideal for larger or more complex network environments.
Integration with Hardware Like Unifi, Cisco, Fortinet, and Check Point:
- Unifi: OpenWrt, OPNsense, and pfSense can integrate well with Unifi hardware for small to medium networks. VyOS may be overkill for Unifi setups unless advanced routing is needed.
- Cisco: VyOS, pfSense, and OPNsense are suitable for integration with Cisco hardware, supporting advanced networking protocols (BGP, OSPF). OpenWrt and IPFire are less suited for Cisco environments requiring advanced routing.
- Fortinet: OPNsense and pfSense are most suitable, supporting secure configurations (VPN, IPsec, etc.). VyOS can also integrate well for advanced routing needs.
- Check Point: pfSense and OPNsense provide good interoperability for secure deployments, while VyOS can support advanced networking. OpenWrt and IPFire are less ideal in these cases.
Conclusion:
- For Advanced Routing: Use VyOS for enterprise-level needs or pfSense/ OPNsense for SMB environments.
- For Simple Routing: Use OpenWrt for lightweight needs or IPFire for basic tasks.
- For VLAN and Basic Switching: Choose pfSense or OPNsense as they provide the best balance between routing and some Layer 2 functionalities.
Here is the full table comparing OpenWrt, OPNsense, pfSense, VyOS, IPFire, and adding GNS3 and its alternatives for their capabilities in routing and switching within Proxmox, and their integration with various network hardware.
Comprehensive Comparison Table: Network Emulation and Simulation Tools in Proxmox
| Platform/Tool | Routing Capabilities in Proxmox | Switching Capabilities in Proxmox | Integration with Network Hardware (Unifi, Cisco, Fortinet, Check Point, etc.) | Ideal Use Case in Proxmox for Routing/Switching |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenWrt | - Basic static and dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP with plugins). - Supports policy-based routing, VLAN routing. - Lightweight, good for small networks. | - Basic VLAN management and VLAN tagging (802.1Q). - No native Layer 2 switching; focuses on Layer 3 routing capabilities. | - Works well with Unifi for home/SMB setups. - Basic integration with Cisco, Fortinet, Check Point (mainly routing and firewall). | - Ideal for simple routing tasks in small home or lab environments. - Limited switching support; better suited for pure routing or firewall applications. |
| OPNsense | - Advanced routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, RIP) with built-in plugins. - Policy-based routing, multi-WAN, load balancing. - Supports IPsec, OpenVPN, and WireGuard. | - Basic VLAN support with bridging. - Limited Layer 2 switching capabilities. - Supports advanced VLAN configurations for complex network setups. | - Integrates well with Unifi (DHCP, VLANs, captive portals). - Supports advanced configurations with Cisco hardware (VLANs, VPNs). - Compatible with Fortinet/Check Point for site-to-site VPN, routing, and security. | - Suitable for small to medium-sized networks where routing is key. - Use when you need VLAN separation or basic bridging but not full switching functionality. |
| pfSense | - Comprehensive routing support (static, OSPF, BGP, RIP). - Multi-WAN, failover, load balancing, and policy-based routing. - Full VPN support (IPsec, OpenVPN). | - Supports VLANs and VLAN tagging (802.1Q). - Can bridge interfaces but lacks full Layer 2 switch capabilities. - Integrates well with VLAN-capable switches. | - Works well with Unifi in larger environments. - Strong integration with Cisco hardware for advanced networking (e.g., BGP, OSPF). - Good interoperability with Fortinet/Check Point for secure deployments. | - Excellent for complex routing environments, especially where VPNs or multiple WAN connections are needed. - Handles VLAN tagging, ideal for mixed routing/switching. |
| VyOS | - Enterprise-grade dynamic routing support (OSPF, BGP, RIP, IS-IS, MPLS, VRRP). - Advanced routing features like QoS, VRFs, and MPLS. - Full IPv6 support. | - Focuses primarily on Layer 3 routing with limited Layer 2 capabilities. - Supports VLANs but lacks native Layer 2 switching features. | - Excellent for Cisco and enterprise-level setups (BGP, MPLS). - Can be challenging to integrate with Unifi for home setups. - Works well with Fortinet/Check Point for advanced network configurations. | - Best for advanced routing tasks in enterprise environments or labs. - Not ideal for setups needing full Layer 2 switching within Proxmox. |
| IPFire | - Basic to moderate routing capabilities (static, OSPF with add-ons). - Primarily designed for firewalling with some routing support. - Limited dynamic routing. | - Limited VLAN support; basic tagging possible. - No native Layer 2 switching; primarily a firewall and routing solution. | - Integrates well with Unifi for basic home use. - Basic interoperability with Cisco, Fortinet, Check Point hardware for small networks or entry-level security/firewall functions. | - Suitable for small offices or home setups with limited routing needs. - Basic VLAN and routing, not suitable for complex switching tasks. |
| GNS3 | - Supports complex network topologies with routing protocols like OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, RIP. - Simulates Cisco routers, switches, and other network devices. | - Can simulate Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, including VLANs and trunking. - Supports real Cisco IOS, making it suitable for detailed switching scenarios. | - Strong integration with Cisco hardware and network topologies. - Can be integrated with real network environments and devices. - Supports multi-vendor devices via VMs and appliance integration. | - Ideal for network simulation and lab environments where realistic, multi-vendor setups are required. - Suitable for studying for networking certifications (CCNA, CCNP, etc.). |
| EVE-NG | - Advanced routing protocol support for multiple vendors (OSPF, BGP, RIP, EIGRP, etc.). - Supports network automation tools like Ansible and Python scripts. | - Simulates full Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching with VLANs, STP, and more. - Can emulate network devices from multiple vendors (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, etc.). | - Strong multi-vendor support and integration with physical devices. - Collaborative lab environments for teams. - Compatible with a wide range of network hardware. | - Best for enterprise-level labs or environments needing complex multi-vendor setups. - Good for teams working on network automation and simulation. |
| Cisco Packet Tracer | - Basic routing protocols (static, OSPF, EIGRP, RIP). - Simplified tool for learning Cisco networking. | - Supports Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching. - VLANs, trunking, and basic STP support. - Limited to Cisco devices and simplified emulation. | - Designed specifically for Cisco hardware and training. - Limited to Cisco-focused environments. - Not suitable for multi-vendor network simulation. | - Best for students and beginners focusing on Cisco certifications (CCNA, CCNP). - Not suitable for advanced or multi-vendor network labs. |
| VirtualBox/VMware | - Can run network operating systems (Cisco IOSv, Juniper vMX) with full routing capabilities. - Highly flexible in creating custom network topologies. | - No native switching capabilities; relies on network OS for Layer 2 functionality. - Can be integrated with tools like GNS3 or EVE-NG for switching simulations. | - Integrates with virtual routers and appliances. - Not directly suited for hardware integration, but can connect to physical devices via bridged networking. | - Ideal for environments where flexibility is needed in terms of running multiple network OS and appliances. - Not purpose-built for network simulation alone. |
| CML (Cisco Modeling Labs) | - Comprehensive support for Cisco routing protocols and features (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, etc.). - Supports network automation and APIs for advanced scenarios. | - Supports Layer 2 switching with Cisco-specific features like VLANs, STP, and trunking. - Includes pre-built labs for certification training. | - Strong integration with Cisco hardware and licensed images. - Limited to Cisco-focused environments. - Not suitable for non-Cisco multi-vendor simulations. | - Best for Cisco-centric labs and training environments. - Ideal for network engineers needing official Cisco emulation tools. |
| Core Network Emulator (CORE) | - Supports various routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, RIP) for simple to intermediate simulations. - Open-source, lightweight, Linux-based. | - Basic VLAN and Layer 2 support. - Limited GUI; less polished for advanced switching simulations. | - Limited hardware integration; primarily suited for virtual network simulations. - Good for educational use and simple labs. | - Suitable for educational environments or lightweight network simulations. - Not ideal for large-scale or enterprise network simulations. |
| Mininet | - Focused on SDN environments; supports OpenFlow and SDN controller integration. - Limited traditional routing protocol support. | - Emulates Layer 2 SDN switching environments. - Ideal for testing SDN controllers and networks. - Not designed for traditional switching tasks. | - Best suited for SDN research and education. - Not directly compatible with traditional hardware like Cisco, Fortinet, or Check Point. - Useful for prototyping and testing SDN networks. | - Ideal for SDN research and environments where SDN controllers and OpenFlow are the focus. - Not suitable for traditional routing or enterprise setups. |
| NS-3 (Network Simulator 3) | - Comprehensive protocol support for both wired and wireless networks. - Highly customizable for research and educational purposes. | - Limited to simulated environments; not designed for direct hardware interaction. - No real-time switching support; focuses on simulation accuracy. | - Primarily for academic research; not used for integration with physical hardware. - Supports creating custom network protocols and testing network scenarios in a controlled environment. | - Best for academic research and development of network protocols. - Not suitable for real-world or enterprise hardware integration. |
| Dynagen/Dynamips | - Emulates real Cisco IOS images for routing protocols like OSPF, BGP, RIP. - Accurate Cisco router emulation for legacy IOS versions. | - No native Layer 2 support; purely focused on emulating router IOS images. - CLI-based tool with minimal GUI. | - Used primarily for Cisco IOS testing. - No integration with modern network hardware. - Limited by older technology and CLI focus. | - Best for legacy Cisco IOS testing and learning. - Not suitable for modern network environments or switching needs. |
| Xen Orchestra/XenServer | - Can run virtual network appliances with routing capabilities (e.g., Cisco IOSv, Juniper vMX). - Full hypervisor support for various network OS. | - No native switching; depends on VMs and network OS for Layer 2 functions. - Can create virtual networks but not designed for dedicated network simulation. | - Suitable for virtualizing network operating systems and appliances. - Not specifically designed for hardware network integration or detailed emulation. - Good for virtualization management in a Proxmox-like environment. | - Ideal for environments where virtualization of network OS is needed rather than full network simulation. - Useful for integrating multiple network tools under a single hypervisor. |
| NETSIM (Boson) | - Basic routing support focused on Cisco environments. - Tailored for CCNA/CCNP/CCIE lab exercises. | - Supports simplified Cisco Layer 2 switching. - Limited to educational use with no real-world network emulation capability. | - Limited to Cisco environments and certification labs. - Not designed for integration with physical hardware. - Not suitable for complex network simulations. | - Best for Cisco certification candidates (CCNA, CCNP, CCIE). - Not suitable for real-world network emulation or multi-vendor environments. |
Key Takeaways:
- For Realistic Multi-Vendor Simulation: EVE-NG or GNS3 are the best options for designing complex networks with multiple vendors.
- For Cisco-Centric Studies: Cisco Packet Tracer, CML, or NETSIM (Boson) are ideal for those focusing on Cisco certification.
- For SDN and Research: Mininet or NS-3 provide the best environment for SDN, wireless networking, or research-oriented simulations.
- For Advanced Routing and Switching: VyOS, OPNsense, and pfSense provide robust capabilities, with VyOS being particularly suited for enterprise-grade routing tasks.
- For Virtualization Needs: VirtualBox/VMware or Xen Orchestra/XenServer can host multiple network OS, although they are not specifically designed for network simulation.
Each tool has its unique strengths and weaknesses, and the choice will depend on your specific requirements, environment, and desired network simulation complexity.