{"product_id":"firewall-mini-pc-n355-upgraded-n305-compact-6-port-2-5gbe","title":"Firewall Mini PC N355 (Upgraded N305) - Compact 6-Port 2.5GbE","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of the Firewall Mini PC N355, the bottom line is straightforward: it is a compact, fanless micro appliance built for small offices, home labs, and anyone who needs a powerful dedicated firewall with multiple 2.5GbE ports. The review finds the main reason to buy is its combination of a 12th Gen N355 Twin Lake processor with AES-NI, six i226V 2.5GbE LAN ports and DDR5 memory, which together deliver strong packet handling, low power draw and quiet operation for continuous network security tasks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e12th Gen N355 Processor:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Twin Lake N355 with 8 cores and up to 3.9 GHz provides responsive throughput for firewall, VPN and routing workloads while keeping power consumption low.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSix 2.5GbE Ports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Six i226V LAN ports let the appliance handle multiple WAN\/LAN or DMZ segments at 2.5G speeds for faster internal traffic than gigabit hardware.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDDR5 Memory and NVMe Storage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Support for a single DDR5 SO-DIMM and two M.2 NVMe slots plus a SATA 3.0 bay gives flexibility for fast caching, logs and storage-heavy packages.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFanless Design with Optional Fan:\u003c\/strong\u003e The passive cooling keeps runtime quiet for always-on deployment, while an included 4-pin fan cable and small fan support provide extra thermal headroom if needed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTriple Display and I\/O:\u003c\/strong\u003e Built-in UHD graphics with 2 HD outputs plus Type-C supporting 4K@60Hz and multiple USB ports make it useful as a compact desktop or console machine as well as a firewall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Firewall Mini PC N355 is best for small businesses, branch offices and advanced home users who want a dedicated hardware firewall running OPNsense, OpenWrt, Linux or ESXi and need multi-gig connectivity across several network segments. Reviewers will note the appliance excels where sustained throughput, AES-NI acceleration and low-noise operation matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is less appropriate for casual users who only need a basic home router or who cannot configure third-party firewall software; those users should look for simpler consumer routers with guided setup. Also, large data center environments that require chassis-scale features and redundant power should consider rack appliances instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSix 2.5GbE i226V ports provide substantially faster LAN throughput than gigabit alternatives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDDR5 memory and dual NVMe support enable responsive packet processing and fast logging or caching.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFanless micro form factor keeps operation quiet for continuous desktop or closet deployment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVersatile software support including OPNsense, Linux and ESXi for advanced firewall use cases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePreinstalled Windows 11 Pro may need reinstallation for users who prefer a pure OPNsense or Linux image, which adds setup time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo built-in redundant power or rack mounting for larger enterprise deployments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProcessor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTwin Lake 12th Gen N355, 8 cores \/ 8 threads, up to 3.9 GHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNetwork\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 x i226V 2.5GbE LAN ports\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMemory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 x DDR5 SO-DIMM support (4800MHz)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStorage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 x M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slots and 1 x SATA 3.0 for 2.5\" SSD\/HDD\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGraphics \u0026amp; Display\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntegrated UHD Graphics, 2 x HD + Type-C triple display, 4K@60Hz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCooling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFanless design; optional 12V 4-pin small fan supported (cable included)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Firewall Mini PC N355 is a compelling value for small networks that need multi-gig connectivity, efficient AES-NI crypto and flexible storage for logs and caching. It balances solid processing power, quiet fanless operation and broad OS support, making it a practical choice for tech-savvy administrators and home lab enthusiasts who want a dedicated, compact appliance rather than a consumer router.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it run OPNsense out of the box?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the unit supports OPNsense and other network OS options, though users may need to reinstall the preferred image over the preinstalled Windows 11 Pro.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it support NVMe and SATA at the same time?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it has two M.2 NVMe slots plus one SATA 3.0 port for a 2.5\" SSD or HDD, allowing mixed storage configurations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the unit noisy in normal operation?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe appliance is fanless and operates quietly; an optional small 12V fan can be added using the included 4-pin cable if extra cooling is required.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Glovary","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48185664372955,"sku":"B0DX6NCGBP","price":529.96,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71_V1UIaNjL._AC_SL1500_7204be6f-931c-4c4f-9234-04869d2d1849.jpg?v=1769659748","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/firewall-mini-pc-n355-upgraded-n305-compact-6-port-2-5gbe","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}