Can a Thin Client Run pfSense?
pfSense software runs on any 64-bit amd64 (x86-64) compatible CPU with at least 1 GB of RAM and an 8 GB or larger disk. It also runs as a virtual machine on VMware vSphere and ESXi. The pfSense documentation lists these as the minimum hardware requirements for hardware not sold by Netgate. A thin client that meets these specifications can host pfSense as a firewall or router.
Key Specifications to Check
Before you choose a thin client for pfSense, compare these specifications against the minimum requirements:
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Processor: pfSense requires an amd64 (x86-64) CPU. The Intel Celeron J1900 in the Thinvent Neo S series uses this architecture, with 4 cores running up to 2.4 GHz and 2 MB of cache.
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Memory: pfSense requires at least 1 GB of RAM. Neo S models ship with 4 GB or 8 GB of DDR3 RAM.
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Storage: pfSense requires an 8 GB or larger disk. Neo S models offer 32 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB SSD configurations.
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Network interfaces: pfSense needs one or more compatible network interface cards. Verify the network ports on the model you select.
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Processor architecture: The Thinvent Micro 5R uses an ARM Cortex A53 processor. pfSense is built for amd64, so the Micro 5R does not meet the x86-64 CPU requirement and is not suited to running pfSense.
Deploying pfSense on VMware vSphere / ESXi
Virtualizing pfSense on VMware vSphere or ESXi lets you run several isolated firewall instances on one physical host. The pfSense documentation covers the port group setup, virtual machine creation, pfSense installation, and Open-VM-Tools installation for this type of deployment. A Neo S model with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD gives more room for a hypervisor and multiple virtual machines than the 4 GB configurations.
Thin Clients from Thinvent for pfSense Use
The Thinvent Neo S range is built on the Intel Celeron J1900 and is fanless in the sense that it has no fan listed in its features. The range has these configurations:
| Model | RAM | Storage | Operating System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neo S (Ubuntu Linux) | 4 GB DDR3 | 32 GB MLC SSD + 32 GB MLC SSD | Ubuntu Linux |
| Neo S (Windows 11 Pro) | 8 GB DDR3 | 256 GB SSD | Windows 11 Pro |
| Neo S (Without OS) | 8 GB DDR3 | 32 GB MLC SSD | Without OS |
| Neo S (Without OS) | 4 GB DDR3 | 128 GB SSD | Without OS |
| Neo S (Ubuntu Linux) | 4 GB DDR3 | 32 GB MLC SSD | Ubuntu Linux |
| Neo S (Windows 11 Professional) | 8 GB DDR3 | 128 GB SSD + 32 GB MLC SSD | Windows 11 Professional |
| Neo S (DOS) | 8 GB DDR3 | 256 GB SSD | DOS |
| Neo S (Without OS) | 4 GB DDR3 | 256 GB SSD | Without OS |
| Neo S (Windows 11 Professional) | 8 GB DDR3 | 32 GB MLC SSD + 32 GB MLC SSD | Windows 11 Professional |
All Neo S models have no WiFi. They run an Intel J1900 processor with 4 cores and a 19V power adapter. The Neo S models with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD are the closest match to the storage and memory the pfSense documentation recommends for a virtualized deployment.
Thinvent Products for pfSense Firewalls
The Thinvent Neo S thin client range has Intel J1900 processors, 4 GB or 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, and 32 GB to 256 GB of SSD storage. These specifications match the amd64 CPU and memory requirements for pfSense. The Thinvent range does not include a dedicated firewall appliance. The Thinvent Micro 5R uses an ARM Cortex A53 processor and does not run pfSense.