Aaeon’s rugged “FWS-2260” network appliance runs Linux on a 14nm Intel “Braswell” SoC and has six GbE ports, SATA and CFast, and dual mini-PCIe slots.

The FWS-2260 desktop networking appliance was briefly announced last month in conjunction with Aaeon’s 3.5-inch GENE-BSW5 SBC, which similarly runs Linux on Intel’s new 14nm Pentium and Celeron 63000 (“Braswell”) processors. The FWS-2260 will begin sampling in early September.

FWS-2260 rear panel
(click image to enlarge)

As with the GENE-BSW5, Aaeon appears to give you a choice of any of the Braswell processors up to the quad-core, 1.6GHz Pentium N3700. The system similarly supports up to 8GB of RAM. (See our previous GENE-BSW5 coverage for more on Braswell.)

The FWS-2260 updates the Atom E3800 based FWS-2250 appliance, which at 6.3 x 4.1 x 1.37-inch was touted as “the world’s smallest network appliance.” No such claims are made for the faster, more feature-rich FWS-2260, which measures a more typical 10.23 x 7.01 x 1.7 inches.

FWS-2260 front panel
(click image to enlarge)

Whereas the FWS-2250 provided a SATA port only as an option, it’s standard here, along with a 2.5-inch bay. There’s also a CFast socket, or optionally CompactFlash or mSATA. On the FWS-2260, the gigabit Ethernet port count goes from four to six, and there’s now an option for two pair LAN bypass instead of one.

The FWS-2260 integrates a pair of USB 3.0 ports, as well as a serial console port, and offers an optional HDMI port in place of the previous VGA header. There are now two mini-PCIe slots. Like the FWS-2250, there’s a limited 0 to 40°C temperature range but the same extended shock and vibration resistance. This would suggest the appliance is intended for an industrial setting.

Specifications listed for the FWS-2260 include:

• Processor — Intel Pentium or Celeron N3000 (up to 4x Braswell cores @ up to 1.6GHz)
• RAM — up to 8GB DDR3L 1066/1600MHz via 2x SODIMMs
• Storage — 2.5-inch SATA 6Gbps HDD slot; CFast socket (or option CompactFlash or mSATA)
• Networking — 6x gigabit Ethernet ports (optional 2-pair bypass)
• Other I/O:
  • 2x USB 3.0 ports
  • RJ-45 serial console port
  • Optional HDMI port
  • KB/mouse internal header
• Expansion — 2x mini-PCI slots with SIM socket via USB signal
• Other features — RTC; watchdog; 17x LEDs; power and reset buttons
• Power — 12V DC power-in connector; 60W adapter
• Operating temperature — 0 to 40°C
• Vibration — 0.5 g rms/5~500Hz with 2.5-inch HDD (operating); 1.5 g rms/5~500Hz (non-operating)
• Shock — 10G peak accel., 11m sec. duration (operating); 20G peak accel., 11m sec. duration (non-operating)
• Dimensions — 10.23 x 7.01 x 1.7 in. (260 x 178 x 44mm)
• Operating system — Yocto Project-based Linux; Windows 7/8.1/10

 
Further information

The FWS-2260 will begin sampling in early September at an unstated price. More information may be found at Aaeon’s FWS-2260 product page.