Upgrade to pfSense 2.8.0 (Full Walkthrough + New Features!)

We’ve just released a full step-by-step walkthrough on upgrading from pfSense Community Edition 2.7.x to the newly released pfSense 2.8.0.

In this guide, I walk through the entire upgrade process from start to finish, including:

• Preparing your system (backups, config export, package review)

• Running the upgrade via the pfSense web interface

• Post-upgrade sanity checks

• Exploring key new features in 2.8.0
   

What's New in pfSense 2.8.0?

Here are some of the most important features and changes I cover in the video:

• FreeBSD 15 & PHP 8.3: Faster performance, improved hardware support

• New PPPoE implementation (if_pppoe): Enables multi-gigabit speeds (optional)

• Kea DHCP Server: Modern replacement for ISC DHCP with support for HA and Dynamic DNS

• NAT64 / DNS64 support: Ideal for IPv6-only networks accessing IPv4 services

• Interface-bound firewall states: Tighter security defaults, more control

• Gateway failback improvements: More stable recovery after WAN drops

• Dozens of UI, stability, and security updates

Upgrade Tips Covered in the Video

• Make a full config backup before starting

• Avoid upgrading packages manually beforehand – pfSense will handle that during the upgrade

• ZFS users: snapshot your boot environment for easy rollback

• Test features like PPPoE and NAT64 in non-production environments first

Whether you're managing a home lab, business firewall, or multi-site setup, this guide will help you upgrade smoothly and make the most of pfSense 2.8.0.