Broadband switch from the local GFL to BT. Firewall?

[EmperorPeng]

Hi all,

 

Currently using our local GFL for broadband but we're switching to BT soon. I was under the impression that our BT-supplied router was firewalled, but it is not - even though it has the capability built-in.

 

Am now looking at solutions, and notice that people are recommending pfSense a lot. Am I right in thinking that this is a free, open-source firewall that I can just install on my own hardware? I have a reasonably decent server going spare with a couple of Xeons in it, would that be suitable enough?

 

1000 users (approx. 250 concurrent at any one time), approximately 500 PCs, 80 laptops, 50 iPads and some Galaxy Tab 3s.

 

Thanks for any and all suggestions!