{"product_id":"protectli-vault-6-port-firewall-mini-pc-compact-silent-security","title":"Protectli Vault 6 Port Firewall Mini PC - Compact Silent Security","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur review of the Protectli Vault 6 Port finds a compact, fanless firewall appliance best suited for small offices, homelabs, and privacy-conscious power users. The single biggest reason to buy is the combination of a quad-core Intel i5 with AES-NI and six Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports, which deliver strong throughput for routing and VPN workloads without noisy fans. The unit ships without an OS so it is ideal for anyone comfortable installing and configuring open-source firewall software, and it comes with US-based support and a 30-day money back guarantee for added confidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFanless Design:\u003c\/strong\u003e The passive cooling keeps the unit silent and reliable in always-on network environments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntel i5 Performance:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Quad Core Kaby Lake R i5-8250U with AES-NI provides hardware-accelerated encryption for VPNs and secure throughput.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSix Intel NICs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Six Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports make it easy to segment networks, run separate WAN and LAN interfaces, or handle multi-WAN setups.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAmple Memory and Storage:\u003c\/strong\u003e 32GB of RAM and a 480GB SSD give headroom for features, logging, and additional packages without swapping performance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOS Flexibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e No OS pre-installed allows installation of pfSense, OPNsense, Untangle, or other open-source firewall distributions tested on the hardware.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConnectivity:\u003c\/strong\u003e USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and an RJ-45 COM port let you attach peripherals or perform local management and troubleshooting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Vault is aimed at IT professionals, small business owners, and advanced home users who need a dedicated, quiet firewall appliance with multiple physical ports and strong encryption performance. It is well suited for multi-WAN setups, site-to-site VPNs, and networks that require VLANs or traffic segmentation handled by dedicated hardware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsers who want a plug-and-play consumer router or who prefer a preloaded commercial operating system should look elsewhere, because the Protectli ships without an OS and requires comfort with installing and maintaining open-source firewall software. If you need simple out-of-the-box consumer features like automatic app-based setup, this unit is likely overpowered and unnecessary.\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\u003eHigh-performance Intel i5 with AES-NI accelerates VPN and encrypted throughput.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSix Intel Gigabit Ethernet NICs provide flexible network segmentation and multi-WAN capability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFanless construction ensures silent operation and reduced mechanical failure points.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e32GB RAM and a 480GB SSD support logging, packages, and higher load without upgrades.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShips without an operating system, so initial setup requires time and networking knowledge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNot targeted at users who need a consumer-style, fully managed router experience.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProtectli\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCPU\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntel Quad Core i5-8250U (1.6GHz, 3.4GHz Turbo, AES-NI)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNetwork Ports\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6x Intel Gigabit Ethernet NIC ports\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMemory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e32GB RAM\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStorage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e480GB SSD\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eI\/O\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4x USB 3.0, 1x RJ-45 COM, 1x HDMI\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOS Compatibility\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo OS pre-installed; tested with pfSense, OPNsense, Untangle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Protectli Vault 6 Port is a strong value for technically minded users who need a quiet, reliable hardware firewall with multiple Intel NICs and AES-NI encryption support. It is especially good for small offices and homelabs that will install pfSense, OPNsense, or similar software; however, buyers should be comfortable with initial software setup since no OS is included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the Vault include an operating system?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe unit ships without an OS pre-installed and is intended for installation of pfSense, OPNsense, Untangle, or other open-source firewall distributions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the unit noisy in operation?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, the Vault uses a fanless design so it runs silently and is suitable for office or home environments where noise is a concern.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it handle VPN throughput?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the Intel i5-8250U with AES-NI and multiple Gigabit ports provides hardware-accelerated encryption and sufficient performance for typical VPN and routing tasks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Protectli","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48260420829403,"sku":"B08ZRTGVCH","price":569.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71jXaBfdWAL._AC_SL1500_86b2ea92-0f70-47d0-a14f-7e4fff228d13.jpg?v=1778301972","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/protectli-vault-6-port-firewall-mini-pc-compact-silent-security","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}