Firewalla Gold Plus review

The Firewalla Gold Plus is a firewall appliance built around a quad-core 64-bit Intel CPU, 4 GB of DDR RAM and 32 GB of storage. Pre-sale began on 23 August 2022, with pre-orders due to ship from January 2023. It runs Firewalla's own Linux-based OS.

It offers network-wide filtering and visibility through IDS/IPS and traffic monitoring, built into one box. If you want to choose your own operating system, the spec sheet gives you no sign that this device is aimed at you.

Firewalla lists 5 Gbit software packet processing. Traffic is visible through Deep Insight at up to 5 Gbps. Both figures are higher than the 2.5 Gbit speed of any single port, so the headline numbers exceed what one connection can carry.

IDS/IPS comes through Active Protect, but the manufacturer figures don't say how much speed it costs with inspection running. Owners praise the throughput in general terms, which fits the specification, though that is not a measured inspection result.

VPN speeds are listed separately. WireGuard is rated at 500 Mbps and OpenVPN at 120 Mbps. With that gap, WireGuard is the sensible choice for remote access if you care about speed.

There are four 2.5 Gbit RJ45 ports plus a console port. Owners single out the four 2.5GbE ports as a highlight. That suits a network built on copper multi-gig, such as a 2.5GbE switch or a few fast wired devices.

There is no SFP+ port. If your core network runs on fibre or DAC cables, the port layout will limit you. VLAN support is not listed in the specifications provided, so check that before you buy if segmentation is a priority.

Wi-Fi is not included. The manufacturer lists Wi-Fi as No, and owners raise the same point. Wireless has to come from other hardware.

The power adapter is rated 12V 3.33A. That is the adapter's rating, not a measured draw, so it says little about idle consumption.

The listed features include WireGuard and OpenVPN support, IDS/IPS through Active Protect, and Deep Insight visibility into traffic at up to 5 Gbps. Those cover the core jobs of a firewall with VPN access and traffic monitoring.

The OS is Firewalla's own Linux-based system.

An optional MSP web interface is available for an annual fee. Core features do not need a subscription, so the paid add-on only matters if you want that particular interface.

Because core features need no subscription, the ongoing cost is mainly electricity. Owners describe quiet, passive cooling and low power use. That suits a device left running in a living space or a cupboard.

The upfront cost is a separate matter. Owners describe the price as high, especially for UK buyers once import fees and VAT are added. It is one of the recurring themes in owner feedback, alongside the lack of Wi-Fi.

Look at Firewalla's release notes and community posts before committing, particularly since the OS is Firewalla's own.

The Gold Plus pairs four 2.5GbE ports and 5 Gbit packet processing with a no-subscription model for core features. It suits wired, copper-based networks where running Firewalla's own OS is acceptable. Its limits are plain from the specifications and owner reports: no Wi-Fi, no SFP+, and a price owners find steep in the UK.