OPNsense 25.7 Visionary Viper is the open source firewall upgrade power users have been waiting for

Yellowish snake looking fierce

OPNsense has released version 25.7, known as “Visionary Viper,” and it comes packed with upgrades aimed at serious network admins and open source advocates.

This release focuses on streamlining setup, reducing unnecessary bloat, and improving the security model without taking away the flexibility users expect. Built on FreeBSD 14.3, OPNsense 25.7 brings faster performance and better long-term support for a wide range of hardware.

One of the biggest changes is a reengineered setup wizard, rebuilt with a modern MVC framework and APIs. The goal is to make onboarding smoother and more consistent. A new strict web UI mode now allows the interface to run without root privileges, which adds another layer of operational security.

Bitdefender antivirus banner – protect your Windows PC

Nerds might not need antivirus. But for your family’s PC, Bitdefender is what I trust.

The new SFTP backup plugin replaces the old Google Drive integration, giving users a standards-based way to manage offsite backups. This is especially helpful for privacy-minded admins who want to keep sensitive data out of the cloud.

Alias management has also seen improvements. JSON import and export are now supported, automation is more flexible, and large rule sets process faster. DHCP handling has been expanded too, with the option to use either Dnsmasq or Kea DHCP depending on the deployment needs.

Modular VPN support is another highlight. OpenVPN and IPsec are no longer bundled into the core system. Instead, they’ve been moved to optional plugins. This change reduces overhead and gives users more control over what services are active on their systems.

Other enhancements include Greek language support, dashboard upgrades powered by ChartJS 4, and new access control features in the user manager. CSV import and export is now supported, and admins can set constraints based on source networks for tighter control.

Ad Schellevis, CIO and lead developer at Deciso, had this to say about the new version:

“OPNsense 25.7 brings together strategic innovation and practical design. It reflects our ongoing mission to simplify complex infrastructure without compromising the depth and flexibility our users rely on.”

The sentiment behind that quote is visible throughout the update. Instead of chasing gimmicks, OPNsense continues to focus on meaningful improvements that respect the needs of its user base.

Whether you’re managing a small home lab or a large enterprise deployment, this version of OPNsense gives you tools to scale securely without losing transparency or control.

You can download OPNsense 25.7 “Visionary Viper” now at opnsense.org/download

Are you already using OPNsense? Planning to upgrade soon? Let us know how it’s working out in your environment.

Author

  • Brian Fagioli, journalist at NERDS.xyz

    Brian Fagioli is a technology journalist and founder of NERDS.xyz. Known for covering Linux, open source software, AI, and cybersecurity, he delivers no-nonsense tech news for real nerds.

Leave a Comment