[How To] Set up AdGuard Home on OPNsense

How to Set up AdGuard Home on OPNsense

Introduction:

This tutorial will guide you through setting up AdGuard Home on OPNsense to enhance your network security and filtering capabilities. AdGuard Home is a powerful DNS server with ad-blocking and privacy features.

Prerequisites:

• Access to an OPNsense firewall with administrative privileges
• Basic knowledge of networking concepts

Steps:

1. Access OPNsense Web Interface:

   • Open a web browser and navigate to the IP address of your OPNsense firewall.
   • Log in with administrative credentials.

2. Enable Secure Shell (SSH):

   • Go to System > Settings > Administration.
   • Scroll down to Secure Shell and check the box to enable SSH.
   • Configure SSH settings as needed.

3. Install AdGuard Home Plugin:

   • Connect to the OPNsense console via SSH.
   • Add the AdGuard Home plugin repository to the package list.
   • Validate the repository installation and update the package list.

4. Install AdGuard Home Plugin:

   • Go to System > Firmware > Plugins.
   • Search for AdGuard Home and click on the plus icon to install.
   • Enable the AdGuard Home plugin.

5. Configure AdGuard Home:

   • Access the AdGuard Home web interface on Port 3000.
   • Configure DNS settings to listen on the LAN-side interface.
   • Set up block lists and allow lists based on your preferences.

6. Integrate with DHCP Server:

   • Go to Services > DHCPv4 and edit the LAN-side configuration.
   • Ensure clients are assigned the AdGuard Home DNS server IP.
   • Refresh DHCP settings on client devices if needed.

7. Test AdGuard Home Setup:

   • Use nslookup command on a client device to verify DNS queries.
   • Test accessing blocked and permitted websites to confirm filtering.

8. Advanced Configuration with Unbound DNS:

   • Configure AdGuard Home to work alongside Unbound DNS for advanced DNS options.
   • Adjust configuration settings through the OPNsense command line if needed.

9. Final Testing and Verification:

   • Test DNS queries on client devices to ensure AdGuard Home filtering is active.
   • Verify that blocked websites are inaccessible as expected.

10. Additional Information:

    • Check the blog post linked in the video description for more details.
    • Share feedback and suggestions for future video topics in the comments section.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up AdGuard Home on OPNsense to enhance your network security and content filtering capabilities.