The Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 is a fanless network appliance designed for firewall, router, and network security applications. To choose it effectively, evaluate your use case (e.g., home lab, enterprise), required hardware specs (CPU/RAM/storage), compatibility with OS options like pfSense or OPNSense, security features, and scalability. Prioritize energy efficiency and silent operation for deployment flexibility.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Mini PCs in 2025
| Rank | Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GEEKOM Mini IT12 (Best Performance) | Intel i5-12450H (8C/12T) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD | $379.00 | Check Price |
| 2 | GMKtec N150 (1TB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD | $191.99 | Check Price |
| 3 | KAMRUI GK3Plus (Budget Pick) | Intel N95 (3.4GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB M.2 SSD | $169.99 | Check Price |
| 4 | ACEMAGICIAN N150 (Cheapest 16GB) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | $139.99 | Check Price |
| 5 | GMKtec N150 (512GB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe SSD | $168.99 | Check Price |
What Makes the Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 Ideal for Network Security?
The VP2420 features an Intel Quad-Core processor, AES-NI encryption support, and six Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports. Its fanless design ensures silent, dust-resistant operation, while multiple storage options (mSATA/M.2) allow customization. Pre-loaded with coreboot firmware, it eliminates proprietary BIOS risks, making it ideal for firewalls, VPN gateways, and intrusion detection systems.
In enterprise environments, the VP2420’s hardware-accelerated AES encryption enables seamless VPN throughput for up to 200 concurrent users. The six Ethernet ports support advanced network segmentation through VLAN tagging and port-based firewall rules. Security teams appreciate the tamper-resistant chassis design, which includes Kensington lock slots and hardware write-protect switches for BIOS security. For threat detection workflows, the device’s 32GB RAM capacity allows simultaneous operation of Suricata IDS, CrowdSec, and Zeek network monitoring tools without performance degradation.
| Feature | Security Benefit |
|---|---|
| Intel i225-V Ethernet Controllers | Prevents packet flooding attacks |
| Coreboot Firmware | Eliminates BIOS-level vulnerabilities |
| TPM 2.0 Header | Enables secure boot configurations |
Which Operating Systems Are Compatible with the VP2420?
The VP2420 supports pfSense, OPNSense, Ubuntu Server, and Proxmox. It’s certified for Untangle NG Firewall and aligns with FreeBSD-based distributions. For virtualization, use ESXi or Hyper-V via its 64GB DDR4 RAM capacity. Ensure your OS choice matches security requirements—pfSense offers stateful filtering, while Proxmox enables containerized services.
When deploying Windows Server 2022, users should enable NIC teaming to aggregate multiple ports for Hyper-V virtual switches. The appliance’s UEFI Secure Boot capability works natively with Debian-based distributions, while BSD systems require manual firmware configuration. For enterprise monitoring stacks, consider Rocky Linux with Cockpit for web-based management. Below is a compatibility matrix for common network OS configurations:
| Operating System | Recommended Use Case | Storage Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| pfSense Plus | Enterprise Firewall | 32GB SSD |
| Proxmox VE 7.4 | Virtualization Host | 128GB NVMe |
| OPNSense | IDS/IPS Deployment | 64GB mSATA |
Expert Views
“The VP2420 strikes a rare balance between enterprise-grade security and plug-and-play simplicity,” says network architect Liam Chen. “Its coreboot firmware is a game-changer—eliminating supply-chain vulnerabilities common in Chinese-made appliances. For SMEs, it’s a cost-effective alternative to SonicWall or FortiGate, especially when paired with open-source firewalls.”
Conclusion
The Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 is a versatile, secure, and energy-efficient solution for advanced networking needs. By matching its hardware capabilities to your performance requirements and ensuring OS compatibility, you can deploy a future-proof network backbone tailored to home labs, MSPs, or corporate environments.
FAQs
- Does the VP2420 Support VLAN Tagging?
- Yes. All six ports support IEEE 802.1Q VLAN standards. Configure via your firewall OS for network segmentation.
- Is the RAM User-Upgradeable?
- Yes. The VP2420 uses DDR4 SODIMM slots—upgrade to 32GB using Crucial or Kingston modules.
- Can It Run as a Proxmox Host?
- Absolutely. Install Proxmox VE 7.4+ on the internal M.2 SSD and allocate resources to VMs/LXC containers via the web UI.