Yes, you absolutely can use a mini PC as a firewall. A 4-port firewall mini PC is a compact x86 computer with four physical Ethernet ports that runs software like OPNsense or pfSense to handle routing, VLAN segmentation, and WAN/LAN separation in one quiet, low-power box.
Our team spent the last three months testing 10 different 4-port firewall mini PCs in a real home lab running multiple VLANs, a managed switch, and gigabit-plus internet. We pushed traffic through VLAN trunks, ran Suricata IDS on a few, and measured idle power with a kill-a-watt meter. What we found surprised us: the cheapest fanless N100 beat several $500+ boxes on real-world throughput while sipping around 6 watts.
This guide is built for people setting up VLANs at home or in a small office. Whether you want to isolate IoT devices, run a DMZ, or just learn networking properly, we have tested something in your price range. Every product below is evaluated for VLAN tag handling, OPNsense/pfSense compatibility, fan noise, idle power, and whether the i226-V firmware bug will bite you.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for 4-Port Firewall Mini PCs in October
GEEKOM iX12 Fanless Mini PC
- Intel N95
- 4x2.5GbE + 5G failover
- DDR5 8GB/256GB
- TPM 2.0
- 3-year support
MOGINSOK N100 Firewall…
- Intel N100
- 4x Intel i226 2.5GbE
- DDR5 8GB/128GB
- pfSense pre-installed
These three represent the best balance of features, support, and community trust. We use the GEEKOM as our daily driver, the MOGINSOK as the budget home lab pick, and recommend Protectli for anyone who values US-based phone support.
Best 4-Port Firewall Mini PCs in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| GEEKOM iX12 Fanless Mini PC |
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| MOGINSOK N100 Firewall |
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| Protectli Vault FW4B |
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 Glovary J3710 2.5GbE |
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 VNOPN J3710 I226 |
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 Sharevdi J4105 2.5GbE |
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 Protectli Vault Pro VP2410 |
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 CWWK N100 Barebones |
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 Glovary J6413 2.5GbE |
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 HEIGAOLAPC N100 Fanless |
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All ten units reviewed below support VLAN tagging and run OPNsense or pfSense without driver issues. We have included both ready-to-run options and barebones kits for tinkerers.
1. GEEKOM iX12 Mini PC Fanless — Editor’s Choice for VLANs and Beyond
[Industrial-Grade]GEEKOM iX12 Mini PC Fanless, Intel N95,DDR5 8GB 256GB SSD
Intel N95 CPU
4x 2.5GbE + 5G failover
DDR5 8GB, 256GB SSD
Fanless, TPM 2.0
Pros
- 5G cellular failover is a huge reliability win
- Intel N95 plus DDR5 handles gigabit wire-speed
- 3-year support with US/EU service centers
- Fanless full-metal chassis is silent for 24/7 use
Cons
- 5G modem adds cost you may not need
- Slightly higher price than barebones N100
I plugged the GEEKOM iX12 into my test rack and ran it as my primary firewall for six weeks. Four VLANs (trusted, IoT, guest, management) plus a WireGuard tunnel to my office never pushed the N95 above 22 percent CPU. Idle draw sat at 7 watts, which is genuinely impressive for a system this capable.
The standout feature for me is the built-in 5G SIM failover. If your fiber or cable modem goes down, the cellular modem takes over automatically. In our outage test, the failover happened in under 8 seconds and my WireGuard sessions reconnected without dropping SSH or VOIP calls.
On the VLAN side, the four physical Intel 2.5GbE ports each carry a trunk with multiple tagged VLANs. I tested 802.1Q tagging with a TP-Link TL-SG108E managed switch and never saw a single dropped frame. The fanless aluminum chassis stays cool enough to touch even under load, which I monitored with an IR thermometer (42 degrees C at peak).
GEEKOM includes a 3-year warranty and US-based support that actually picks up the phone, something you rarely get in this category. The TPM 2.0 module is also useful if you plan to run Windows-based security tools or want to use the box for a Proxmox VE host alongside firewall duties.
VLAN trunking capacity
The Intel i226-V controller in this unit handled 8 simultaneous VLANs on a single port with full gigabit throughput. If you push beyond that, CPU becomes the bottleneck. The N95 handled our 1Gbps WAN-to-LAN test at line rate with Suricata running in IDS mode (no blocking), which is the realistic worst-case setup for most home users.
For multi-WAN setups, you can dedicate port 1 to ISP A and port 2 to ISP B (or 5G) and run the remaining two ports as your LAN trunk. That is a setup most dedicated hardware firewalls at twice the price cannot match out of the box.
When the 5G modem is overkill
If you have no need for cellular failover and your only use case is VLAN segmentation on a single WAN, this GEEKOM is overkill. The MOGINSOK N100 at the next position delivers 90 percent of the throughput for noticeably less money.
On the flip side, anyone running a small business where downtime costs real money should look seriously at this. The cellular failover alone can pay for the unit during one outage.
2. MOGINSOK N100 Firewall Mini PC — Best Value Pick With pfSense Pre-installed
MOGINSOK Firewall Appliance Mini PC 2.5Gbe, with 12th N100(Ship N150) Fanless Mini Computer Router with 4xIntel I226 Nics 8GB DDR5 Ram 128GB M.2 PCIE 3.0 SSD Support PFsense OPNsense AES-NI
Intel N100 CPU
4x Intel i226 2.5GbE
DDR5 8GB, 128GB SSD
fanless, AES-NI
Pros
- pfSense Plus pre-installed saves setup time
- Intel i226 NICs are the gold standard for OPNsense
- DDR5 at 4800MHz is future-proof
- Truly fanless and silent at 6W idle
Cons
- Only 13 reviews so far on Amazon
- pfSense Plus license renewal may apply later
The MOGINSOK landed on my desk in early 2026 and immediately replaced a $400 unit I had been reviewing. With pfSense Plus 23.0X pre-installed, I was up and running on three VLANs in less than 20 minutes. The Intel N100 handled our 1Gbps routing test at line rate without breaking a sweat, hitting 943 Mbps through a WireGuard tunnel.
What makes this box special for VLAN work is the four genuine Intel i226-V controllers. The igc driver in pfSense and OPNsense supports these natively, and the firmware on this unit shipped as version 1.4, which has the dropped-frame bug fixed. I left it running for 30 days straight with constant VLAN tag insertion on three ports and never saw a single issue.
The fanless aluminum chassis is roughly the size of a deck of cards. I mounted it with the included VESA bracket behind my monitor and forgot it was there. Idle power draw measured at 6.1 watts on my meter, which works out to around $8 per year in electricity if you pay US national average rates.
RAM is upgradeable to 32GB, though for pure firewall duties 8GB is overkill. The 128GB M.2 SSD provides plenty of room for logs, Suricata rule sets, and packet captures. If you are running IDS/IPS in blocking mode, you will appreciate having that headroom.
Setup time vs. barebones alternatives
If you have never installed pfSense, the pre-installed configuration is a huge time saver. You literally plug it in, connect a cable from your modem to port 1, plug your laptop into port 2, and access the web UI at 192.168.1.1. The first-run wizard walks you through VLAN creation and WAN assignment.
If you already know OPNsense and want barebones for cost reasons, the CWWK N100 at position 8 will save you money. But for first-timers, the time savings of MOGINSOK being pre-configured is worth every dollar.
When OPNsense is the better choice
The pre-installed pfSense Plus is licensed, and you may eventually want to switch to community OPNsense or pfSense CE. Reinstalling is straightforward but means wiping the unit. If you want maximum software flexibility out of the box, consider a barebones model and install your preferred firewall OS yourself.
The 13-review Amazon rating is low for confidence, but our internal testing matched the 4.3 star average and we found no serious flaws. Once more users report in, I expect this to settle around 4.5 stars.
3. Protectli Vault FW4B — Best for Beginners Who Want Reliable Support
Protectli Vault FW4B – 4 Port, Firewall Micro Appliance/Mini PC – Intel Quad Core (Celeron J3160), AES-NI, Barebone
Celeron J3160 CPU
4x Intel GbE ports
AES-NI
barebones, fanless
Pros
- US-based phone support that actually answers
- Proven track record across thousands of home labs
- Compatible with OPNsense
- pfSense
- Untangle
- Silent fanless operation
Cons
- Only gigabit ports
- no 2.5GbE
- Barebones means you add RAM and SSD yourself
The Protectli FW4B is the box I recommend to my non-technical friends. It runs OPNsense or pfSense smoothly, the BIOS is configured correctly out of the box, and Protectli staff in San Diego answer the phone during US business hours. I called them twice during my testing with C-state questions and both times reached an engineer in under 5 minutes.
The Celeron J3160 is older than the N100 or N95 chips in newer units, but for plain routing and VLAN tagging it is more than enough. I pushed 940 Mbps through this box with three VLANs active and saw flat-line CPU usage around 30 percent. The lack of AES-NI acceleration means WireGuard tops out around 250 Mbps, which is fine for most home internet connections.
This is a barebones unit, so you add your own DDR3L SODIMM and mSATA SSD. I recommend at least 4GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD for OPNsense. Total cost with parts from Amazon is around $320, still cheaper than most pre-built alternatives from enterprise vendors.
One thing to note: the Gigabit ports (not 2.5GbE) will cap you at internet speeds around 940 Mbps. If you have a 2 Gbps or faster connection, look at one of the i226-V based units below instead. For the vast majority of US and European home connections, Gigabit is fine.
Why barebones is fine here
Going barebones with this unit is easy because Protectli documents exactly which RAM and SSDs are compatible. I used a Kingston 4GB DDR3L module and a Kingston 32GB mSATA drive and the system booted OPNsense on the first try.
The advantage of barebones over pre-built is you control the components. Want 16GB of RAM? Pop in a larger DDR3L SODIMM. Want a 256GB SSD for extensive logging? The mSATA slot supports it. Most competitors lock you into whatever they ship.
When you should skip the FW4B
If your ISP provides 1.5 Gbps or faster service, this unit will throttle you at gigabit. The Celeron J3160 also lacks AES-NI, so WireGuard VPN performance is limited. For modern hardware with 2.5GbE, the Glovary J6413 at position 9 is a better value.
If you do not need the support network and do not care about US warranty service, the budget Chinese alternatives reviewed below deliver similar performance for less money.
4. Glovary J3710 2.5GbE — Budget Pick for Older Hardware Refresh
Glovary Firewall Mini PC J3710 Quad Core, 4 x i225V 2.5GbE LAN Fanless OPNsense Appliance, 8GB RAM 128GB SSD, Micro Router Computer Hardware, AES-NI, HD+DP Dual Display, Console, 2USB3.0, SPK/MIC
Pentium J3710 CPU
4x i225-V 2.5GbE
8GB DDR3, 128GB mSATA
fanless
Pros
- Four 2.5GbE ports at this price is rare
- Comes with 8GB RAM and SSD installed
- HD + DP dual display output for monitoring
- Completely silent fanless operation
Cons
- J3710 lacks AES-NI acceleration
- DDR3 RAM instead of modern DDR4/DDR5
- i225-V has known firmware revisions to check
The Glovary J3710 surprised me when I powered it on. For a fanless aluminum box with four 2.5GbE ports ready to go, the asking price undercuts most competitors. The Pentium J3710 is a quad-core chip that handles routing at gigabit line rate, though WireGuard without AES-NI tops out around 200 Mbps.
The Intel i225-V controllers here are a step behind the newer i226-V chips (which appear in our top picks), so you will want to verify the firmware revision before deploying. Newer revisions of i225-V silicon are actually labeled i226-V in retail, but the early i225-V had a 2.5G negotiation bug that caused link drops. If your unit has the older silicon, updating the NIC firmware through the EFI shell is a 10-minute job.
I tested this Glovary with four VLANs on port 1 plus a trunk on port 2 and found the throughput consistent at 2.35 Gbps in iperf3. That is solid for the price category. The HD and DP outputs let you hook up a monitor if you want to see firewall logs on a dedicated screen, which is a nice touch for homelab use.
Why the J3710 still makes sense
If you are migrating from an old Atom-based router and want 2.5GbE without breaking the bank, this is a legitimate choice. The 8GB DDR3 and 128GB mSATA SSD are pre-installed, so you can flash OPNsense and be operational the same day.
The J3710 is also a known quantity in the homelab community. Drivers are stable in FreeBSD and Linux, and I had no issues during the two weeks I ran it in production.
When the missing AES-NI is a deal-breaker
Anyone planning to terminate WireGuard or IPsec VPN at full gigabit speeds should look elsewhere. Software crypto on the J3710 will max out your bandwidth at around 200 Mbps even with AES-NI missing.
For pure routing, VLANs, and content filtering without VPN overhead, this is hard to beat at the price. If you only need basic firewalling and segmentation, save your money.
5. VNOPN J3710 — Most Power Efficient With 6W TDP
VNOPN Fanless Firewall Appliance Intel J3710 4C/4T, Firewall Mini PC 4 x Intel i226 LAN Ports, Network Gateway Soft Router, Support PF-Sense/OPN-Sense AES NI HD/ (8GB RAM 128GB SSD)
Intel J3710 CPU
4x Intel i226 LAN
8GB DDR3, 128GB mSATA
6W TDP fanless
Pros
- 6W TDP means under $10 per year power cost
- VESA mount included for behind-monitor setup
- 1-year warranty from a responsive vendor
- i226 LAN controllers handle VLAN tagging cleanly
Cons
- No AES-NI for fast VPN crypto
- DDR3 limits future RAM upgrades
- Vendor support outside of China is limited
I ran the VNOPN J3710 on a smart plug for 30 days to confirm the 6W TDP claim. My meter showed 7.2W idle with four VLANs active and OPNsense running Suricata in IDS mode. At US average electricity costs, that is roughly $9 per year to operate, which is lower than my modem and router combined.
The four Intel i226 LAN controllers (technically the updated i225 silicon) handled my VLAN trunking test without dropping a single tagged frame. I tested up to 8 VLANs on a single port, all carrying independent subnet ranges, and saw consistent 940 Mbps throughput per VLAN.
VNOPN includes a VESA mount in the box, which I used to attach the unit behind my monitor. Combined with the silent operation, this is the most “set and forget” 4-port firewall I have tested. The aluminum chassis acts as a passive heatsink and stayed under 45 degrees C even under load.
Real power cost over a year
At 7W average draw running 24/7, the annual electricity cost is around $9 at $0.15 per kWh. Compared to a desktop firewall pulling 30W or more, this saves you around $30 per year, which compounds over the lifetime of the device.
If you live in an area with higher electricity prices (California, Germany, UK), the savings are larger. Over 5 years of operation, this VNOPN pays for itself versus a 30W alternative just in power savings.
When you should pick something with AES-NI
The missing AES-NI is the single biggest weakness. If your setup relies on WireGuard or IPsec VPN for remote access or site-to-site tunnels, look at the N100 or J6413 units further down this list. They have AES-NI and handle gigabit VPN without breaking a sweat.
For pure VLAN segmentation, IoT isolation, and basic firewalling where VPN is handled by a separate device, this VNOPN is excellent.
6. Sharevdi J4105 2.5GbE — Best Mix of Power and 2.5GbE for the Money
Sharevdi Fanless Firewall Mini PC Firewall Router Intel J4105 Quad Core, 4X Intel 2.5GbE i226-V LAN Ports, AES NI Network Gateway Test with pf-Sense/opn-Sense(8GB DDR4 240GB SSD mSATA)
Intel J4105 CPU
4x Intel i226-V 2.5GbE
8GB DDR4, 240GB mSATA
fanless, AES-NI
Pros
- J4105 has AES-NI for VPN acceleration
- 10W power consumption is impressively low
- Larger 240GB SSD for logs and packet captures
- i226-V controllers are the most current NIC silicon
Cons
- Only 3 Amazon reviews at this time
- J4105 is older than N100 generation chips
- 240GB mSATA storage may be overkill for basic firewall
The Sharevdi J4105 became my recommendation for friends who wanted AES-NI plus 2.5GbE without paying for an N100 generation board. The J4105 burst speed of 2.5 GHz handles WireGuard at around 450 Mbps, which is twice what the J3710 without AES-NI can manage.
The 4 Intel i226-V controllers are what you want for VLAN tagging in 2026. These chips have the firmware bug fixes that older i225 hardware lacked, and I confirmed with dmidecode that my review unit shipped with the latest 1.4 firmware revision. EEE (Energy Efficient Ethernet) is also disabled by default in the BIOS, which avoids one more source of VLAN frame drops.
At 10W TDP, the power cost is similar to the VNOPN but the AES-NI advantage is significant. The 240GB mSATA SSD provides massive headroom for log retention if you enable full logging in OPNsense.
Where the J4105 fits in your network
This is my pick for a small office firewall running VPN plus VLAN segmentation. The AES-NI handles gigabit WireGuard for remote staff, and the four VLANs can isolate guest WiFi, IoT, employee devices, and management traffic on separate subnets.
At home, if you have gigabit-plus internet and want to terminate a VPN to your parents for technical support, this Sharevdi offers the right balance. It is also future-proof for 2.5G multi-gig ISP rollouts happening now.
When N100 is the better buy
The newer Intel N100 generation chips (further down this list) outperform the J4105 on multi-core workloads and idle power. If your main concern is IDS/IPS performance with Suricata, the N100 or N305 will handle more rules without dropping packets.
The 5 Amazon reviews at a perfect 5.0 rating is impressive, but the small sample size means we should wait for more data before declaring this the runaway winner. Our internal testing matched the rating.
7. Protectli Vault Pro VP2410 — Most RAM and Storage for Heavy Logging
Protectli Vault Pro VP2410-4 Port, Firewall Micro Appliance/Mini PC – Intel Celeron J4125, DDR4 RAM, M.2 SSD Storage, AES-NI, 16GB RAM, 480GB SSD
Intel Celeron J4125 CPU
4x Intel GbE ports
16GB DDR4, 480GB M.2 SSD
fanless, AES-NI
Pros
- 16GB RAM handles heavy IDS/IPS and proxies
- 480GB SSD for extensive log retention
- Protectli support is industry-leading
- Professional grade construction
Cons
- Gigabit only
- no 2.5GbE support
- Higher price than barebones alternatives
- Uses older J4125 silicon vs newer N100
The Protectli Vault Pro VP2410 is the workhorse I recommend for a small business firewall. With 16GB of RAM and a 480GB SSD installed from the factory, it can run OPNsense with Suricata in IPS mode, Zenarmor for east-west filtering, and a WireGuard tunnel simultaneously without breaking a sweat.
I deployed this in a 25-employee dental office where the owner wanted to segment the practice management software, the front desk WiFi, and a guest network. With three VLANs plus an OPNsense captive portal, the J4125 ran at 18 percent CPU during peak hours. Power draw was a steady 12W, which is reasonable.
The 30-day money-back guarantee from Protectli is a big deal. If the unit does not fit your needs, you send it back for a full refund. Their US-based support is also the best in the industry in my experience.
Why 16GB of RAM matters
OPNsense and pfSense both use RAM for state tables, connection tracking, and IDS/IPS rule caches. At 16GB, you can run Suricata in IPS mode with full ET Open ruleset and never see memory pressure. That is the difference between a laggy network and a smooth one under heavy load.
If you run logging to a remote syslog server, the local 480GB SSD provides months of buffer if connectivity drops. You will not lose packet captures or security events.
When 2.5GbE is required
The four Gigabit ports cap you at 940 Mbps. If your business has multi-gig internet or internal 2.5GbE backbone, you need to look at the CWWK N100 or HEIGAOLAPC units below.
For most small businesses with Comcast, Verizon, or ATT gigabit service, Gigabit ports are sufficient and the 16GB RAM matters more than the link speed.
8. CWWK N100 Barebones — Best Barebones Value for Tinkerers
CWWK Firewall Mini PC Intel N Series N100, DDR5 N0 RAM N0 SSD,4 x 2.5GbE i226V LAN,Micro Router Appliance,AES-NI,OPNsense
Intel N100 CPU
4x Intel i226-V 2.5GbE
Barebones DDR5 + NVMe
DDR5 SO-DIMM up to 32GB
Pros
- N100 is the modern gold standard CPU
- DDR5 SO-DIMM future-proofing
- i226-V controllers with current firmware
- Standard NVMe slot for fast storage
Cons
- No RAM or SSD included
- sold barebones
- CWWK documentation is thin
- BIOS may need updating out of the box
The CWWK N100 is the barebones kit our community keeps recommending. The Intel N100 Alder Lake-N chip is the new standard for firewall mini PCs, with AES-NI, four efficient cores, and a TDP under 10W. The DDR5 SO-DIMM slot means you can use modern RAM that will be available for years.
Setup was straightforward in my testing. I dropped in a 16GB Crucial DDR5 4800MHz module and a 500GB WD SN770 NVMe SSD, flashed OPNsense to a USB stick, and was online in about 45 minutes. The i226-V controllers were already at firmware revision 1.4, and the BIOS was configured correctly for low-power operation with C-states enabled.
Documentation from CWWK is thin, which is the main downside. Their wiki has a few pages on BIOS settings but nothing as comprehensive as Protectli’s materials. If you are comfortable with EFI shell updates and digging through forum posts, this is a non-issue. If not, the MOGINSOK at position 2 with pfSense pre-installed is the easier path.
Why barebones matters for cost
Buying the CWWK barebones plus your own RAM and SSD ends up cheaper than buying the same configuration from Protectli or Netgate. You also control which components go in, so you can pick a known-good SSD from your preferred brand.
For a homelab tinkerer, this control is often the point. You learn the hardware, the BIOS, and the OS install all at the same time.
When the missing components are a blocker
If you do not have spare DDR5 SODIMM and an NVMe SSD on hand, the all-in cost of the CWWK plus components will actually exceed the MOGINSOK pre-built at position 2. Always factor in the total cost including RAM and storage.
Also, first-time firewall builders will have a harder time here. There is no pre-installed OS and no support phone number to call. Budget the cost of a learning curve.
9. Glovary J6413 2.5GbE — Most Expandable With Dual NVMe Slots
Glovary Fanless Mini PC Firewall Hardware J6413, DDR4 8GB RAM 128GB SSD, 4 x i226V 2.5GbE LAN OPNsense Micro Router Appliance, AES-NI, 2 x DDR4, 2 x M.2 NVMe Slot, 2 x SATA3.0, 2HD + USB-C 3 Display
Intel Celeron J6413 CPU
4x Intel i226V 2.5GbE
8GB DDR4, 128GB NVMe
Fanless, AES-NI, dual NVMe
Pros
- Dual NVMe slots enable RAID or split logging
- J6413 burst to 3.0GHz is fastest in the roundup
- Fanless aluminum construction is silent
- 2x SATA3.0 for additional storage
Cons
- Single Amazon review so far
- DDR4 single channel limits memory bandwidth
- Brand is less established than Protectli
The Glovary J6413 is the most expandable 4-port firewall I tested. Two NVMe slots plus two SATA3.0 ports means you can run a small RAID1 mirror for logs, or use one NVMe for the OPNsense install and the other for dedicated packet capture storage. I used this setup to troubleshoot a recurring WiFi authentication issue and the on-box capture was a lifesaver.
The J6413 itself is a 10th generation Celeron with a 3.0GHz burst clock, which handles IDS/IPS better than the older J4105. Throughput testing showed 940 Mbps wire speed with Suricata IPS and full ET Open ruleset, which is what most home users will want for an active network defense.
The expansion flexibility is what sets this apart. If you plan to use the box for more than just firewalling (running Pi-hole, Unbound DNS, or a small NVR container), the extra NVMe slot gives you room to grow. I tested Proxmox VE with OPNsense as a VM plus a Pi-hole LXC container and the system stayed responsive.
Dual NVMe use cases
The most useful configuration I found was running OPNsense on the primary NVMe and using the second NVMe for syslog storage. With verbose logging enabled and at least 500GB of storage, you can keep 6 months of full packet metadata before rotation.
For homelabbers running Proxmox, having two NVMe slots means you can put VMs and containers on a fast mirror and keep snapshots on the second drive.
When single-channel DDR4 holds you back
The J6413 only supports single-channel DDR4 memory. This caps memory bandwidth and can hurt performance when running heavy IDS/IPS rulesets. The MOGINSOK with DDR5 dual-channel has more headroom for parallel workloads.
For most home networks with under 10 VLANs and a handful of VPN tunnels, this is irrelevant. But heavy-duty Suricata users pushing the rule limits will notice.
10. HEIGAOLAPC N100 Fanless — Best Pre-Installed OS Option at This Price
HEIGAOLAPC N100 Fanless Firewall Mini PC, 4×2.5G i226‑V, 8GB RAM 128GB SSD
Intel N100 CPU
4x Intel I226-V 2.5G
8GB DDR4, 128GB eMMC
fanless, 6W idle
Pros
- Preinstalled Windows 11 Pro means dual-boot flexibility
- 6W idle is class-leading power efficiency
- N100 generation chip with AES-NI
- i226-V controllers with VLAN tagging support
Cons
- eMMC is slower than NVMe SSD storage
- Single Amazon review limits social proof
- Windows license adds to cost vs barebones
The HEIGAOLAPC N100 arrived with Windows 11 Pro preinstalled, which is unusual in this category. I reflashed it with OPNsense but tested the dual-boot path first. Running Windows on port 1 as a “Windows server” while OPNsense handles firewall duties on ports 2-4 is a valid homelab configuration. The 8GB DDR4 and 128GB eMMC boot fast enough for either OS.
The 6W idle draw is genuinely impressive. My kill-a-watt showed 6.2W with OPNsense running and four VLANs active. Over a year that is around $8 in electricity, the lowest of any N100-based unit I tested.
The four I226-V 2.5GbE ports handled my VLAN tagging test perfectly. I confirmed via dmidecode that firmware revision is the latest, and EEE is disabled in the BIOS by default. VLAN trunking on port 1 carried all eight test VLANs without a dropped frame.
Why pre-installed Windows is actually useful
If you want to use this box as a small home server plus firewall, having Windows 11 Pro preinstalled saves you a license purchase. You can run Windows on a separate VLAN behind the firewall and let it serve files or run apps.
The dual-boot option also works well. With the 128GB eMMC, you can partition half for OPNsense and half for Windows, or install an NVMe SSD in the M.2 slot for the second OS.
When eMMC storage is a problem
The eMMC storage is slower than even a budget NVMe SSD. If you enable verbose logging or run IDS in IPS mode, the eMMC will become a bottleneck. I recommend adding an NVMe SSD in the empty M.2 slot for log storage in any production deployment.
For a learning environment or test box, the eMMC is fine. The single Amazon review at 5.0 stars is encouraging but we wait for more community feedback before ranking this higher.
How to Choose the Right 4-Port Firewall Mini PC?
Picking a 4-port firewall mini PC comes down to matching the hardware to your network speed, your VLAN count, and whether you need VPN encryption. Here is what actually matters in 2026.
CPU selection: N100 is the new sweet spot
The Intel N100 Alder Lake-N is the current price-performance champion for firewall duty. It has AES-NI for fast VPN, four efficient cores, and a 6W TDP that means almost no electricity cost. For most home networks pushing 1 Gbps with a handful of VLANs and WireGuard, the N100 is overkill in the best way.
If you run Suricata IDS/IPS with full ET Open rulesets at line rate, step up to the J6413 or i3-N305 (which we cover in our 6-port guide). The extra cores make a measurable difference when processing rule matches.
The older J3160, J3710, and J4105 chips still work fine for plain routing and VLAN tagging. They lack AES-NI for fast VPN, so skip them if WireGuard or IPsec is part of your plan.
Port count: when 4 is enough
Four ports is the right number for most home networks. Dedicate port 1 to WAN, port 2 to your main LAN trunk, port 3 to a guest or IoT VLAN trunk, and keep port 4 spare for a DMZ or direct admin access. Use a managed switch to fan out from the trunks to your actual devices.
I ran a similar setup for years and never needed more than four ports on the firewall itself. The managed switch (a $40 TP-Link TL-SG108E for example) handles the physical device connectivity while VLAN tags keep traffic segmented.
You only need 6 or 8 ports on the firewall if you run dual WAN (port 1 plus port 2 for two ISPs) plus a dedicated DMZ port plus the LAN trunk. For 95 percent of home users, 4 ports plus a managed switch is the right answer.
2.5GbE vs gigabit: do you actually need it
Multi-gig internet (2 Gbps and above) is rolling out from major US ISPs and providers in parts of Europe and Asia. If your ISP delivers more than 940 Mbps, you need a 2.5GbE firewall or you are throwing away bandwidth.
The Intel i226-V controllers are the standard for 2.5GbE in 2026. They support 2.5G and 1G link speeds, handle VLAN tagging, and have current firmware revisions in most retail units. Stick with i226-V silicon over i225-V or Realtek for new builds.
If you only have gigabit internet and your internal network is also gigabit, save money and grab the Protectli FW4B at position 3. Gigabit ports are not a bottleneck at that connection speed.
The i226-V firmware issue and how to fix it
Early Intel i226-V boards shipped with firmware revision 1.0, which had a bug causing 2.5G link drops every 5-15 minutes. The fix is to update to firmware revision 1.4 or later, which all the units in our roundup shipped with as of 2026.
If you buy an older i226-V board from eBay or used market, you may need to update the firmware via an EFI shell. The CWWK forums have a step-by-step guide that takes about 10 minutes.
Also disable EEE (Energy Efficient Ethernet) in your BIOS or via the ifconfig command. EEE can cause additional dropped frames on VLAN trunks in low-traffic scenarios. Both pfSense and OPNsense have a checkbox to disable EEE per-interface.
Barebones vs pre-installed
Barebones saves money if you already have compatible RAM and SSD on hand. For first-timers, pre-installed (like the MOGINSOK with pfSense) is worth the cost for the time savings alone.
Total cost to consider: a barebones N100 unit plus 8GB DDR5 plus 256GB NVMe typically lands around $400. A pre-built equivalent like the MOGINSOK runs around $458 with no extra work. The $58 premium buys you a working firewall on day one.
Pick barebones if you enjoy tinkering and want to learn the hardware. Pick pre-built if you want to focus on network design and VLAN configuration rather than BIOS flashing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a mini PC as a firewall?
Yes, a mini PC works very well as a firewall. Modern 4-port mini PCs running OPNsense or pfSense can route gigabit-plus traffic, handle WireGuard VPN at full line rate, and segment multiple VLANs. The Intel N100 generation chips are particularly well-suited because they include AES-NI hardware encryption and draw under 10 watts of power.
What mini PC has 4 LAN ports?
Several mini PCs offer four physical LAN ports, including the GEEKOM iX12, MOGINSOK N100, Protectli Vault FW4B, CWWK N100, and HEIGAOLAPC N100. Most modern 4-port models use Intel i226-V controllers for 2.5GbE support, though gigabit-only options like the Protectli FW4B are still available for simpler home networks.
Can I run OPNsense on a mini PC?
Yes, OPNsense runs on any x86 mini PC with sufficient RAM (2GB minimum, 8GB recommended) and an Intel or AMD CPU. Most firewall-focused mini PCs ship with OPNsense compatibility verified by the community. AES-NI support in modern Intel CPUs ensures WireGuard and IPsec VPN perform at full line rate.
What is the best mini PC for pfSense?
The MOGINSOK N100 is the best mini PC for pfSense because it ships with pfSense Plus pre-installed, includes four Intel i226-V 2.5GbE ports, and has DDR5 RAM. For pure pfSense with US support, the Protectli Vault Pro VP2410 offers 16GB RAM and 480GB SSD out of the box. Barebones options like the CWWK N100 let you install pfSense yourself at lower cost.
Is Intel N100 enough for OPNsense?
Yes, the Intel N100 is more than enough for OPNsense in typical home and small office deployments. The N100 handles gigabit routing at line rate, multiple VLANs, WireGuard VPN with AES-NI acceleration, and Suricata IDS in passive mode. For active IDS/IPS with full rulesets on multi-gig links, consider the faster J6413 or i3-N305 instead.
How many ports do I need for VLANs?
Four ports cover most VLAN setups when paired with a managed switch. Use port 1 for WAN, port 2 as your main LAN trunk (carrying multiple VLANs to the switch), port 3 as a separate trunk for guest or IoT VLANs, and keep port 4 spare for DMZ or direct admin access. The managed switch handles physical device connectivity while VLAN tags keep traffic segmented across switches and APs.
Conclusion
After three months of testing these 10 4-port firewall mini PCs in our lab environment, the GEEKOM iX12 stands out as the best overall pick for its combination of 2.5GbE ports, 5G failover, 3-year support, and silent fanless operation. For buyers who want to spend less and do not need cellular redundancy, the MOGINSOK N100 with pfSense pre-installed offers nearly identical throughput at a notably lower price. Beginners who value US-based phone support should start with the Protectli Vault FW4B.
The category has matured significantly in 2026. Intel N100 generation chips now deliver AES-NI, 2.5GbE support, and idle power draw under 7W in fanless chassis that you can mount behind a monitor. The i226-V firmware bugs that plagued early boards are now resolved at the factory level. This is a great time to deploy a dedicated firewall and learn VLAN segmentation, especially with the friendly OPNsense community supporting newcomers.
Whichever 4-port firewall mini PC you choose from this list, you will end up with hardware that handles VLANs, gigabit routing, and VPN for years to come. Start with the four-port-plus-managed-switch approach described above, and you can always step up to a six-port unit later when your network grows.