AAEON FWS-2290 Intel N97 network appliance targets UTM and VPN applications

AAEON has recently released the FWS-2290, an Intel N97 network appliance. This is not quite the first network appliance launched by the Taiwanese company. Back in 2018, they launched the AAEON FWS-2360 designed for wireless gateway, SD-WAN, IPS, WAN Optimization, NFV, and vCPE applications. In 2020, they followed up with the FWS-2275 rugged network appliance for Secure industrial IoT networks, and then, in 2021, they introduced the FWS-2280 Elkhart Lake network appliance designed for UTM (Unified Threat Management), firewall, SD-WAN (Software-defined Wide Area Network), VPN, and other applications.

Compared to all the previous network appliances the new FWS-2290 features a newer generation and more powerful Intel Alder Lake-N processor, faster DDR5 memory, 2.5GbE Ethernet compared to GbE Ethernet on the previous models, an M.2 slot for storage, and to top it all off the device is now more compact than the previous ones.

AAEON FWS-2290 network appliance specification

• SoC
  • Intel Processor N97 quad-core CPU with up to 3.6 GHz, 6MB cache, 24EU Intel UHD Graphics; TDP: 12W
  • Other Alder Lake N-series CPUs are also supported
• System Memory – Up to 16GB LPDDR5
• Storage
  • 32GB eMMC flash
  • SATA 6Gb/s port
  • 2.5-inch SATA drive bay
• Video Output – 1x HDMI (optional)
• Networking
  • 4x 2.5GbE RJ45 ports via Intel I226-V controllers
  • LAN Bypass – 1 Pair
  • Optional wireless connectivity (4G, 5G, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc…) via M.2 B-Key and E-Key sockets with push-pin SIM
• USB
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port
  • 1x USB 2.0 port
•  Expansion
  • M.2 3052 B-Key (5G with co-lay Mini-Card Socket for 4G LTE/Wi-Fi)
  • M.2 2230 E-Key (Wi-Fi co-lay Mini-Card Socket)
  • GPIO – 4-bit Input, 4-bit Output (optional)
• Config – RJ45 serial console port
• Security – Optional TPM 2.0 (SLB9670)
• Misc
  • Power and Reset buttons
  • GPIO Programmable push button
  • Internal RTC
  • Watchdog Timer
  • Fan header
  • Power, Status, Bypass, and Storage Active LEDs
  • 8x Ethernet LEDs
  • 2x antenna holes (Right panel)
  • 2x antenna holes (Left panel)
• Power Supply – 12V DC power lockable input connectors (40W power adapter)
• Dimensions – 165 x 92 x 40mm
• Temperature Range – Operating: 0°C ~ 40°C; storage: -20°C ~ 60°C
• Humidity – Operating: 10%~80% relative humidity, non-condensing; storage: 10%~80% @ 40°C; non-condensing
• Vibration
  • 0.5 Grms/ 5 ~ 500Hz / operation (mSATA)
  • 1.5 Grms/ 5 ~ 500Hz / non-operation
• Shock
  • 10 G peak acceleration (11 ms duration), operation
  • 20 G peak acceleration (11 ms duration), non-operation
• MTBF – 952,764 hours

At the time of writing the company does not mention any information about the supported operating system but taking a look at the previous generation of devices we can safely assume that it will likely run a Linux distribution on the network appliance.

The Intel N97 variant of the “FWS-2290-E4-A10-000” network appliance is priced at $427.00 on AAEON’s online store. More information may be found on the company’s product page and press release.

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