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OPNsense is an open-source, easy-to-use, FreeBSD-based firewall and routing software. You can install OPNsense on any compatible physical devices such as desktop PCs and Mini PCs and turn it into a hardware firewall.
Not only that but OPNsense can also be installed as a virtual machine on hypervisors like VirtualBox or Proxmox.
In this list, I am mentioning both the official OPNsense hardware by Deciso and OPNsense compatible Mini PCs.
Update (Jan 2023): Added Protectli Vault FW4C.
Here’s the summary of the best OPNsense Hardware:
| OPNsense Hardware | Link to Product |
|---|---|
| Protectli Vault FW4C | See details at Amazon |
| Protectli Vault FW4B | See details at Amazon |
| HUNSN RS34g Micro Firewall Appliance | See details at Amazon |
| DEC750 – OPNsense Desktop Security Appliance | See details at OPNsense |
| Qotom-Q555G6-S05 Mini PC | See details at Amazon |
| DEC3860 – OPNsense Rack Security Appliance | See details at OPNsense |
OPNsense hardware requirements
Reasonable OPNsense Hardware requirements:
- 1 GHz Dual-Core CPU.
- 2 GB RAM
- 40 GB SSD
The reasonable requirements mentioned above can run all OPNsense standard features, however, it might struggle with a lot of users or high loads.
If you are setting up OPNsense for high loads and a higher number of users, then it is recommended to have the below-mentioned specification (or more) in your hardware:
- 1.5 GHz multi-core CPU.
- 8 GB RAM
- 120 GB SSD.
Additionally, having AES-NI support can help speed up cryptography processes for SSL and VPN services.
Best OPNsense Hardware
1. Protectli Vault FW4C
Protectli boxes are the most favoured options for firewall solutions like pfSense and OPNsense. Protectli Vault FW4C ships with a 64-bit Intel Pentium J3710 Quad Core processor.
Vault FW4C is the successor to the Vault FW4B with a faster processor and four Intel 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports. Apart from that FW4C also offers 2 x USB, 2 x HDMI and 1 x RJ45 COM port.
You can choose the barebone version in which you have to provide your RAM and Storage or go with the version that I am mentioning here that ships with 8 GB RAM and 120 GB SSD storage.
Protectli Vault FW4B has a fanless design which makes it completely silent during operations, so, you can place it on your desktop or living room without worrying about the noise.
Moreover, it is also compatible with many open-source firewall solutions other than OPNsense such as pfSense and Untangle.
As of writing, the coreboot is not available in the FW4C. However, Protectli has mentioned that it will be available in a subsequent release.
Although it doesn’t ship with any pre-installed OS, by manually installing OPNsense, you can turn this Mini pc into the best OPNsense hardware.
Key Features of Protectli Vault FW4C:
- Intel Pentium J3710 Quad Core at 1.6 GHz (up to 2.6 GHz).
- AES-NI support.
- 4 x Intel 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet NIC ports, 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45 COM Port.
- Compatible with OPNsense, pfSense and Untangle.
- Silent and Fanless Mini pc.
- Available in Barebone (no RAM, no SSD) version for maximum customizability.
2. Protectli Vault FW4B
The Protectli Vault FW4B is a four-port Mini PC integrated with a 64-bit Intel Quad Core Celeron J3160 processor.
It is available in various RAM and storage variants, the one I am mentioning here has 8GB RAM and 120 GB SSD storage. You can even go for a barebone (no RAM, no SSD) version and provide your RAM and Storage to complete the build.
Apart from the 4 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports, it includes 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x RJ-45 COM, and 2 x HDMI ports. Moreover, it is also compatible with coreboot BIOS which is an added advantage over other mini PCs.
Just like its successor (Vault FW4C), this one also has a silent fanless design and you can easily place it on your desktop or shelf without worrying about the noise.
If the standard 1 GbE Intel ports are sufficient for your needs, then Protectli Vault FW4B will be the most suitable option as an OPNsense hardware.
Key Features of Protectli Vault FW4B:
- Intel Quad Core Celeron J3160, 64 bit, up to 2.2GHz.
- AES-NI Hardware support.
- 4 x Gigabit Ethernet ports (Intel NIC), 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x RJ-45 COM, 2 x HDMI ports.
- Compatible with OPNsense, pfSense and Untangle.
- Fanless (Silent) design.
- Available in Barebone (no RAM, no SSD) version.
- Compatible with coreboot BIOS (must be installed by user).
3. HUNSN RS34g Micro Firewall Appliance
The next OPNsense hardware on this list is the HUNSN RS34g Micro firewall appliance. It is a four-port mini PC that is bundled with an Intel Celeron J4125 Processor.
It is available in many RAM and storage variants. Here, I am mentioning the 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage variant. Just like the Protectli box mentioned previously, this one is also available in a barebone version. If you wish to add RAM and storage yourself, then you can go for this version.
As for the networking part, it has 4 x 2.5GbE LAN ports that utilise the Intel NIC. The 2.5GbE is 2.5 times faster than the standard 1GbE that you get in the Protectli Vault FW4B.
Apart from OPNsense, RS34g is compatible with popular open-source solutions such as pfSense and Untangle. The quiet fanless design makes it ideal for homes and small offices.
If you want OPNsense hardware with 2.5GbE ports at an affordable price, then HUNSN RS34g Micro Firewall Appliance will be a great choice.
Key Features of HUNSN RS34g:
- Intel Celeron Processor J4125 CPU (up to 2.70 GHz).
- AES-NI Support.
- Available in various RAM and Storage variants.
- 1 x mSata SSD and 1 x 2.5 inch SSD/HDD, HDMI, 2 x USB3.0, VGA, RST, 4 x 2.5GbE LAN ports (Intel NIC).
- Quiet Fanless design.
- Compatible with OPNsense, pfSense and Untangle.
- Available in Barebone (no RAM, no SSD) version.
4. DEC750 – OPNsense Desktop Security Appliance
Deciso DEC750 is the official OPNsense Hardware that comes pre-installed with OPNsense. It is bundled with a Quad Core AMD processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB Solid State Flash storage.
It ships with 3 x GbE RJ45 Ports, 2 x 10Gbps SFP+ ports, 1 x USB and 1 x Console port. Moreover, it can handle up to 8.5Gbps Firewall & 1.2Gbps IPsec throughput.
DEC750 has a compact form factor, fanless design and a typical power consumption of 15W which makes it ideal for homes and small businesses.
If you want the official OPNsense hardware that is pre-loaded with OPNsense, then DEC750 Desktop Security Appliance will be the optimum choice.
Note: DEC2750 and DEC750 have the same specs, the only difference is DEC750 has a desktop form factor whereas DEC2750 is a Rack-mountable appliance.
Key Features of DEC750:
- Official OPNsense Hardware.
- Pre-installed with OPNsense.
- Quad Core AMD processor with up to 2.2GHz Max Frequency.
- 3 x GbE RJ45 Ports, 2 x 10Gbps SFP+ ports, 1 x USB and 1 x Console port.
- 8 GB DDR4 RAM and 256 GB Storage.
- 8.5Gbps Firewall & 1.2Gbps IPsec throughput.
- Fanless Desktop appliance.
5. Qotom-Q555G6-S05 Mini PC
Qotom-Q555G6-S05 ships with Intel Dual-Core i5-7200U Processor and AES-NI support. The variant I am mentioning here has 4GB RAM and 32 GB SSD storage. Unlike other mini PCs that can be upgraded to a maximum of 16GB RAM, the Qotom-Q555G6-S05 can be upgraded to 32GB RAM.
Along with the 6 x Intel Gigabit LAN Ports, Qotom-Q555G6-S05 includes 1 x COM (RS-232), 1 x HD Video, 2 x USB 3.0 and 2 x USB 2.0 ports.
Apart from OPNsense, you can also install other firewall solutions such as pfSense, Sophos, VyOS, Linux iptables and Untangle on this Mini PC. Moreover, you can also install Windows and use this mini PC for general purposes.
If you want powerful hardware for OPNsense, then you can go for the Qotom-Q555G6-S05 Mini PC.
Key Features of Qotom-Q555G6-S05:
- Intel Dual-Core i5-7200U Processor (up to 3.10GHz).
- AES-NI Support.
- RAM is upgradable to 32 GB (max).
- Support 1 x Mini-PCIe for mSATA SSD and 1 x 2.5″ SATA SSD/HDD.
- 6 x Intel Gigabit LAN Ports, 1 x COM (RS-232), 1 x HD Video, 2 x USB 3.0 and 2 x USB 2.0 ports.
- Also compatible with pfSense, Untangle and VyOS.
- Fanless build.
6. DEC3860 – OPNsense Rack Security Appliance
Deciso DEC3860 is another official OPNsense hardware on this list that is pre-loaded with OPNsense. It is bundled with an 8 Core AMD processor, 32 GB RAM and 512 GB Solid State Flash storage.
It has 4 x GbE RJ45 ports, 2 x 10 Gbps SFP+ ports, 2 x USB 3.0 and 1 x Console port. Moreover, it can handle up to 17.6Gbps Firewall & 2.5 Gbps IPsec throughput.
Everything DEC3860 has to offer is packed in a 19” 1U Rack mount enclosure. If you want official OPNsense hardware which is also the ultimate appliance for Intrusion Prevention, Web proxy or Zenarmor (Sensei), then look no further DEC3860 is simply the best choice.
Key Features of DEC3860:
- Official OPNSense Hardware.
- Pre-installed with OPNSense.
- 8 Core AMD processor with up to 3.1GHz Max Frequency.
- 4 x GbE RJ45 Ports, 2 x 10Gbps SFP+ ports, 2 x USB 3.0 and 1 x Console port.
- 32 GB DDR4 RAM and 512 GB Storage.
- 17.6Gbps Firewall & 2.5Gbps IPsec throughput.
- 19″ 1U Rack-mountable appliance.
Conclusion
This concludes the best OPNsense hardware list. I have included both the official Deciso hardware and Mini PCs that are capable to run OPNsense without any hassle.
Another great firewall solution is pfSense. Like OPNsense, it is also based on FreeBSD. You can use the Mini PCs mentioned here with pfSense or you can check the dedicated list related to pfSense hardware.
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