# OPNsense Feature Capability Overview (Industry Use)

This document lists the capabilities of the OPNsense firewall system, categorized by their **real-world stability and trustworthiness** in professional or industrial environments.

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## ✅ Stable / Industry-Proven Core Features

These features are well-supported, reliable, and commonly used in production deployments.

### 🔧 Core Networking & Routing
- VLANs (tagged, untagged)
- Static and dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP via FRR plugin)
- Multi-WAN with load balancing / failover
- NAT (1:1, port forward, outbound NAT)
- DHCP/DHCPv6 Server & Relay
- DNS Resolver (Unbound) with DoT, conditional forwarding
- NTP Server

### 🔐 Firewall & Security
- Stateful firewall with alias system
- Schedule-based rules
- GeoIP blocking
- Packet logging and rule hit counters

### 👥 Authentication
- Local user DB
- LDAP / Active Directory (GPO support)
- Two-Factor Authentication (TOTP)
- Captive Portal with LDAP/RADIUS integration

### 🌍 VPN Services
- OpenVPN (with client export)
- IPsec (strongSwan)
- WireGuard (kernel module; fast & stable)

### 🔐 SSL Certificates
- ACME/Let's Encrypt support
- DNS-01, HTTP-01
- Auto-renewal + deploy to services

### 💾 Backup & Management
- Local and remote encrypted backup
- OPNcentral for multi-firewall config, update, backup
- High Availability (CARP-based)

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## ⚠️ Moderately Reliable / Needs Case-by-Case Testing

These features are usable but require testing or tuning to ensure stability.

### 🛡️ Intrusion Detection / Prevention
- Suricata (IDS/IPS)
  - Can impact performance on low-RAM systems (≥8GB recommended)
  - Inline mode works but may be unstable with certain NICs
  - Regular ruleset updates supported

### 🌐 Web Filtering / Proxy
- Squid Proxy + ICAP/ClamAV
  - SSL inspection fragile; requires CA deployment to clients
  - Transparent mode unstable on some NICs
  - Basic caching stable; filtering can be unreliable
  - ICAP antivirus adds CPU load

### 🔄 Dynamic DNS
- DDNS client with broad provider support
- Stable and scriptable

### ☁️ Remote Backups
- Supported to Google Drive, Git, Nextcloud (via plugin/scripting)
- Manual testing of restore process recommended

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## ❌ Experimental / Immature Features

Avoid these for now in production or industrial deployments.

### 📬 Mail Gateway / Relay
- Basic Postfix relay plugin
- No spam filtering or advanced mail security
- Not recommended for secure mail handling

### 🌐 Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Nginx WAF plugin exists
- No full ModSecurity/OWASP integration
- Better to isolate on a dedicated reverse proxy

### 📦 OPNProxy Plugin
- Adds fine-grained Squid-based user/group URL access control
- Inherits Squid’s instability
- Use with caution or for testing only

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## Summary Table

| **Feature**                    | **Production Readiness** | **Notes**                                                   |
|-------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| Core firewall, routing        | ✅ Yes                    | Fully stable                                                |
| VPN (OpenVPN, WireGuard)      | ✅ Yes                    | Strong support and maturity                                 |
| Suricata                      | ⚠️ With caution           | Test on hardware; monitor CPU/RAM                           |
| Web Proxy / Filtering         | ❌ Avoid or isolate        | Only basic use; SSL filtering often unstable                |
| Antivirus (clamav)            | ⚠️ Optional               | High CPU use; best supplemented by endpoint AV              |
| DNS & DHCP                    | ✅ Yes                    | Mature and reliable                                         |
| Mail Relay                    | ❌ No                      | Lacks required filtering and logging for industrial use     |
| WAF (nginx)                   | ❌ No                      | Too limited for meaningful protection                       |
| DDNS, Backups, Certs          | ✅ Yes                    | Useful and stable                                           |

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_This document is based on live testing, plugin maturity, and real-world experience with OPNsense in office and industrial settings._
