R2 Max: 10 GbE Firewall & Virtualization Host for Pro Users

Spec
Reviews
Params
Manual
Accessories
BIOS
Resource

⚙️Processor Options

Intel N100, N150 – energy-efficient performance
Intel i3-N305,N350,N355 – optional upgrade for enhanced multitasking and responsiveness

💾Memory

1 x DDR5 SO-DIMM 4800MHz slot
Supports 8GB or 16GB single-slot laptop DDR5 modules (Intel's official documentation states this series supports up to 16GB max)
Based on our testing, single 32GB & 48GB DDR5 modules are possible. Samsung modules are recommend for maximum stability

🌐Ethernet Ports

2 x Marvell AQC113C-B1-C (10Gbps, PCIe 3.0 x2)
2 x Intel i226-V (2.5Gbps, PCIe 3.0 x1)

💾Storage

Dual M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots
Both upgraded to PCIe 3.0 x1 for balanced speed and performance

🎛️USB Connectivity

2 x USB-A 3.0 ports (5Gbps)
1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port (10Gbps)

🖥️Display Output

HDMI 2.1 / 2.0 (varies by processor model)
USB-C video output
Supports up to 4K resolution at 60fps

💧Cooling System

All-aluminum passive cooling
Comes standard with built-in dual 4010 fans and fin-style heatsinks for enhanced airflow
For fanless version, please leava a note when checkout

💿Operating System Compatibility

Compatible with Windows, Linux, pfSense, OPNsense, OpenWrt, Proxmox VE, VMware ESXi, Unraid, and more

💻BIOS Features

AMI EFI BIOS
Supports Auto Power-On, Wake-on-LAN (WOL), and PXE Boot

🔌Power Supply

Input: DC 12–19V
12V 4A, 48W power adapter.
Plug type adapts based on your country to ensure local compatibility

🔍Dimensions & Weight

Size: 157 x 118 x 40 mm
Weight: 1050g (1110g for fanless version)
Shipping weight: ~1600g

📚 For documentation & FAQs: Visit wiki.ikoolcore.com

v1.1 BIOS

R2 Max Active Cooling Kit

Router works well, but beware if using with OPNSense

I didn't realize this, but there isn't drivers for the 10GB ports on this router for OPNSense. It's because OPNSense runs on FreeBSD.

However, I was able to get OPNSense to work by running it under Proxmox as a VM. The throughput through various testing was only ~5gb over the 10gb ports and I think this is a limitation of the virtualized bridge.

I would give this 5 stars if OPNSense worked natively. But for now, it serves my needs as my WAN connection is only 2gb. I bought this (instead of a 2.5gb router) for future proofing.

Thank you for your feedback! You’re correct that OPNSense and pfSense are based on FreeBSD, which currently lacks native driver support for the AQC113C-B1-C chipset, and unfortunately, this is something beyond our control. We hope that pfSense and OPNSense will soon release driver updates for the AQC113C-B1-C NIC.

If you’re open to using OpenWRT, we have compiled a custom firmware with the necessary drivers, which can be downloaded from dl.ikoolcore.com. With this setup, the router will be able to fully utilize the 10Gbps bandwidth without any issues.

Perfect for my implementations

Very fast response, fast delivery, price acceptable, but quite pricey, although parameters are top. I've bought n305 without fans (this small ones), case is ascetic, very high quality machined, heavy and looks and feels very good. Parameters are not questionable, bios is very advanced. I'm a bit advanced, but there are some settings that I don't understand. The thermal management is great. With a placement of 120mm fan out side with very slow speed I'm having below 30-35degC temperatures all the time (low cpu usage). There is even a thermal pad on the back of the lid for hole for m2 disks to cool them better :o. Very very happy with that new gear. Hope that it will work for many years like my old home lab. Thank you guys. You are doing great hardware.

possible hardware upgrade

Hi iKOOLCORE Team,

is that possible in the future to release this product with intel 10Gb Nics, for proper support in freebsd/pfsense/ OPNSense ?

Thank you

Could not boot Linux due to BIOS date being set to year 2052. Fixed.

For some reason this device had its system time set to 2052 instead of 2025. This prevented Linux from booting because UEFI and Linux firmware care about the date. I tried reinstalling several times (wasted several hours) before posting my complaint here but ikoolcore knew exactly what the problem was and let me know. I just wish this had been posted on the wiki!
If you install Linux but can't boot past the grub prompt, this is the problem. Fix the date in the BIOS/UEFI and reinstall Linux. My R2 Max is working fine now.

Excellent OpenWrt router/firewall

Got the N150 version of the R2 Max. Fast shipping to the US (under 7 days). Running OpenWrt, this device is a perfect low power managed switch/router/firewall/NAS/lxc host. The device uses around 12 W idle (total measured at the wall). Mine has 16 GB DDR5-5600 and a 2TB SSD booting off TF with all four ports connected. Runs cool (CPU idles 40-42C with room temp being around 18C) and is silent. Well built and designed. Love the 2.5GbE (I do not have 10 GbE hardware).

The N150 has more than enough processing power to run QoS at my ISP's symmetrical 1G/1G line. Beyond routing/firewall, the system is running as a NAS serving up NFS and samba4 as well as running several lxc containers (pihole, cups, mariadb).

As stated in the specs, the NVMe is only running at PCIe2.0 1x so don't expect blazing speeds from it. In my tests on a Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2 TB using iozone, getting around 370-380 MB/s write and read. Theoretical max for PCIe2.0 1x is 500 MB/s but the measured values are faster much faster than the 2.5 GbE line speed so I am pleased with them. Also good for power consumption/heat production.

With OpenWrt snapshot (15-March-2025 as I type this) and with BIOS v1.1, I am finding that the machine hangs on a reboot. To work-around, simply add reboot=pci to your grub.cfg kernel line. A future BIOS update may fix this.

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and those electricity consumption details!

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FAQs

How long is the warranty period?

Our products come with a one-year warranty, starting from the date of delivery. Beyond this period, we also offer affordable repair services. We rigorously quality-check every product before shipment to ensure 100% satisfaction. Should you encounter any quality-related issues, please feel free to contact us at service@ikoolcore.com.

How do I request a warranty replacement or repair?

During the one-year warranty period, please contact our customer service at service@ikoolcore.com, including your order number and specific inquiries or issues. Please provide a detailed description of the issues you have encountered. We will assist you in resolving any hardware quality related problems you may have experienced during the use of our product.

What’s the process for canceling, returning, or requesting a refund?

If you need to cancel your order before the package is shipped, please contact us as soon as possible via service@ikoolcore.com, and we will process a full refund for you directly before your order was shipped out.

If your package has already been shipped and is in transit, we won't be able to process a refund directly. In this case, you'll need to receive the package, keep it unopened, and return it to us in its original condition. Once we receive the package, we will proceed with the refund.

When you receive the package and decide you don't need it, it must be in the same condition as when received. Ensure the following items are included and in the same condition:

All original packaging, including boxes, bags, and tags
Accessories such as cords and remotes
Certificates, manuals, and warranty cards
Any 'Free gifts' or bonus items
All components included in a bundle

My package is lost, what should I do?

Consider adding Worry-free Purchase at checkout! It's a great way to protect yourself from any shipping hiccups. With it, your order is covered by Seel's shipment security. If your package gets lost or goes missing, Seel will jump in to find the best solution, so you're not left hanging. Just a heads-up, Seel might not be available in every country.

R2 Max: 10 GbE Firewall & Virtualization Host for Pro Users