Using PFsense 2.4.0 in a commercial environment

dcol

I noticed now with 2.4.0-RELEASE installed it pops up a message saying it is for non-commercial use only.
So how does one go about using it for commercial use without buying an appliance from Netgate. I just want to license the software for commercial use on my hardware.

Anyone know how to do that? I would be more than willing to purchase licenses.

I read from a PFsense WiKi that as long as you don't mention the name PFsense or display it anywhere, you can use it anywhere you like. Not sure that is true anymore, but who know? It is not really explained anywhere.

dcol

I did read this
https://www.reddit.com/r/PFSENSE/comments/7398pa/absolutely_no_commercial_distribution_is_allowed
and it leads me to believe what I read in that WiKi. That as long as I am selling to my clients a "firewall" without selling it as a "PFsense firewall" that is perfectly fine. My intention is not to sell firewalls on eBay or any other retail venue. Just to my client base. Some of them already have one. So if there is no license to purchase, maybe I should just donate whenever I install one.

I would actually prefer there was a "commercial" version in addition to the "community" one. Just avoid letting Proofpoint do it or it will not be affordable.

ivor

I noticed now with 2.4.0-RELEASE installed it pops up a message saying it is for non-commercial use only.

Actually it doesn't say that, it says "Absolutely No Commercial Distribution Is Allowed". That doesn't mean you can't use it in a commercial, business environment. It means that you just can't sell pfSense. In your case, you don't have any problems to continue to provide your services.

Here are official guidelines, I hope it helps https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Can_I_sell_pfSense

dcol

Thanks. Read that WiKi first and I thought I was ok, but wanted to be sure. Some of my clients work closely with govt agencies and I need to maintain proper licenses.

nikoula

Hi,
Thanks for your answer ivor but I would like to have some benefit of clarification regarding the use of pfsense for commercial use.
If I understand correctly, I can sell the software under a different name than pfsense but I can not sell an appliance to my customers with pfsense installed on it?
We want to sell to our customers appliances with pfsense installed on them but which will use another name (ex: totowall). Is this use allowed?

kpa

You can do that if you build it yourself and don't use the name "pfSense" anywhere because it's a registered trademark. You're also not allowed to send your customers to here or to Netgate for support.

johnpoz

"We want to sell to our customers appliances with pfsense installed on them"

Why would you not just partner with pfsense/netgate than? https://www.netgate.com/partners/

While it might be legal since its open source to grab the code and compile it and use a different name, etc. Got to be one of the most dick like moves I can think of.. If you do not like something pfsense is doing and you want to fork to work in a different direction ok then.

But to just state that hey we like your product, but we want to sell it and not give you any of the money is just screaming hey we suck so bad, but like money - buy our shit its cheaper… talk about asshattery at the highest level..

Why not just work with netgate/pfsense and everyone is a winner!!