The latest update of IPFire, identified as Core Update 195 for version 2.29, It is now available and brings with it, a little more than a month after the earlier version, a highly anticipated addition to the user community seeking robust firewall solutions in Linux environments. The main focus of this release is on increasing both security and usability, incorporating modern technologies and improvements in system management.
One of the most notable changes is the integration of the WireGuard VPN protocol. natively. This is a highly requested feature that now allows users to benefit from a lightweight, high-performance VPN system as an alternative to IPsec and OpenVPN. WireGuard is integrated into the firewall's graphical interface, making it easy to configure and manage for both connections. net-to-net as if to Road WarriorMultiple pairs can be defined with individual configuration options, and the integration includes QR code generation for mobile configuration and the ability to easily export configuration files.
Major security improvements and new features in IPFire 2.29 Core Update 195
In terms of protection, Password storage for proxy users now adopts the bcrypt algorithm, a significant advance over previous methods that strengthens credential security. Likewise, SMART database updates are automated, improving hard drive health monitoring and diagnostics.
Among other new features, a cleanup has been performed by removing the 3CoreSec blocklists following the service's discontinuation, while the internal system for downloading IPS lists and rules has been rewritten to improve reusability across different parts of the system. In addition, the following are included: Aesthetic improvements to the Pakfire interface to optimize the user experience and facilitate package management.
Component Updates and Compatibility
The update does not fall short when it comes to modernizing core packages. Critical components system, such as coreutils (9.7), OpenSSH (10.0.p1), OpenSSL (3.5.0), and Unbound (1.23.0), have been updated to ensure stability and compatibilityIn addition, file system utilities have been improved, including new versions of btrfs-progs and xfsprogs, while commonly used tools such as gawk, grep, and gzip also receive enhancements.
The add-on ecosystem is also impressive, incorporating updates to ALSA, Monit, nano, NFS, Htop, and Tshark, expanding support for new architectures, and ensuring the proper functioning of the various add-on modules.
IPFire 2.29 Core Update 195 can be downloaded from the official website in both ISO and USB image formats, and is compatible with 64-bit (x86_64) and ARM64 (AArch64) architectures. Users who already have a previous version installed will only need to update to benefit from all the improvements and security updates.
This launch strengthens IPFire's commitment to offering advanced firewall solutions without neglecting the stability and security demanded by business environments and advanced users. Its new integration with WireGuard and multiple improvements in packages and internal management consolidate IPFire as one of the most comprehensive options in the Linux firewall universe.
