Personal Computer category appliance designed to deliver dedicated firewall and routing capabilities. For home-lab and small office administrators who want a compact, hands-on security solution, Protectli Vault FW2B makes it straightforward to run pfSense or OPNsense. With a newer model available, is the FW2B still the right choice for new installs?
⚡ At a Glance
- • Security Features: AES-NI hardware acceleration for faster encryption and secure throughput
- • Best for: Home labs and small offices that need a dedicated hardware firewall
- • Not ideal for: Networks requiring more than two Ethernet ports or integrated Wi-Fi
A two-port firewall micro appliance with Intel Dual Core processing, AES-NI, 4GB RAM and a 32GB mSATA SSD. Compatible with pfSense and OPNsense for straightforward deployment of popular open-source firewall software.
Faster encrypted connections – with AES-NI hardware acceleration
AES-NI implements processor-level instructions that speed up common cryptographic routines, lowering CPU cycles needed for VPN and HTTPS tasks. Hardware acceleration reduces encryption-related bottlenecks during heavy encrypted traffic.
Improved VPN throughput and reduced latency during encrypted transfers, useful for remote workers and secure site-to-site links.
Stable routing performance – with Intel Dual Core and 4GB RAM
Dual-core Intel processing handles packet forwarding and NAT while 4GB RAM supports the firewall OS, its filter tables and active sessions. The combination keeps basic routing, firewall and VPN services responsive under typical small-network loads.
Smooth handling of typical home and small office traffic, including multiple simultaneous connections and basic VPN use.
Ready for popular firewall OSes – with 32GB mSATA SSD and OS compatibility
The 32GB mSATA SSD stores the firewall distribution, configuration files and system logs locally; compatibility with pfSense and OPNsense means installers can use familiar images and setup routines. Local solid-state storage accelerates boot and update operations.
Quick installation of pfSense or OPNsense and reliable local storage for system files and modest logging needs.
✨ The 4 Key Reasons for Protectli Vault FW2B
- Intel Dual Core, Handles basic routing tasks without frequent CPU bottlenecks
- 4GB RAM, Supports compact firewall OS and modest concurrent connection counts
- 32GB mSATA SSD, Stores OS and configuration for reliable reboot and logging
- 2x Ethernet ports, Suitable for simple router and firewall setups with separate WAN
📋 Technical Details at a Glance
- Category: Firewall micro appliance, Mini PC
- Processor: Intel Dual Core
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 32GB mSATA SSD
- Ethernet Ports: 2x Ethernet ports
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the appliance compatible with pfSense and OPNsense?
A: Yes, compatibility with pfSense and OPNsense is stated, making installation of those distributions straightforward.
Q: How much memory and storage does it include?
A: The unit includes 4GB of RAM and a 32GB mSATA SSD for the operating system and configuration storage.
Q: How many network ports are available?
A: Two Ethernet ports are provided, suitable for a basic WAN and LAN separation.
🏆 Our Verdict
Suitable for home-lab users and small offices that need a compact, dedicated firewall appliance. Hardware AES-NI acceleration combined with an Intel Dual Core processor, 4GB RAM and a 32GB mSATA SSD makes a practical platform for pfSense or OPNsense. With a newer model available, the straightforward feature set still represents sensible long-term value for hands-on administrators who prefer dedicated hardware over general-purpose routers.
