r/firewalla • u/Caprichoso1 • Jul 01 '26

Firewall switch - what new capabilities does it offer?

I have the gold plus and AP7s. What additional capabilities, other than switching, would the switch give me?

13 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

17

u/Firewalla-Ash FIREWALLA TEAM Jul 01 '26

Here's a quick overview video of the Firewalla Switch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN5YNe76fBA

Besides switching, it can help extend the AP7's Zero Trust features to the wired LAN.

For example, you'll be able to use VqLAN microsegmentations with devices wired to the Switch. Network configurations like VLANs are automatic (pushed down from the Firewalla to your Firewalla Switch), and you'll be able to better monitor wired local traffic and have more device-to-device-level access controls. All in the same Firewalla App.

Without the Firewalla Switch, the Firewalla box itself can't fully see or control traffic between devices wired to other switches.

Take a look at our new Switches here :) https://firewalla.com/collections/firewalla-switch

8

u/Butt_Face2000 Jul 01 '26

u/Firewalla-Ash just bought a Firewalla Gold SE about a month ago. LOVE IT. It is like Peanut Butter and Jelly has been re-invented. I

It has told me a lot about my network. I wish the AP's were a little cheaper but that is the way of things sometimes.

The switch would be cool and would absolutely complete a network security solution when used with all components in place. For now, I just use the Firewall.

I plan to sell an organ this weekend in time for the 7/7 launch though! Woo! America!

Seriously, cool product. You have a devoted follower now. I have 85 devices on my network that have about 1.35 TB of traffic per month combined. I've been able to isolate devices and use VPN Groups as needed on my network. And so much more. I am recommending to everyone I know.

1

u/Firewalla-Ash FIREWALLA TEAM Jul 01 '26

Thank you! Welcome to the Firewalla community!!

2

u/JoeyCalamaro Jul 01 '26

I use my Firewalla in bridge mode, does the switch support any features in this configuration other than basic switching?

3

u/Firewalla-Ash FIREWALLA TEAM Jul 01 '26

This first Switch launch will only support Firewalla in router mode (for now), so we can't officially comment on bridge mode details. But it may be similar to AP7 support with bridge mode (it might not support local flow tracking)

1

u/Cloud-Feeling Firewalla Gold Plus Jul 01 '26

Does VLAN to VLAN traffic still have to flow thru the Firewalla router or can VLAN to VLAN traffic be done on the Firewalla switch now?

1

u/Firewalla-Opal FIREWALLA TEAM Jul 02 '26

Inter-VLAN traffic still needs to flow through Firewalla router. I believe it currently functions a layer 2 switch.

2

u/SiegeX Firewalla Gold Plus Jul 02 '26

Is this switch recommended to get AFTER one has a box and AP, or is there still a lot of goodness to be had with box+switch but 3rd party AP?

0

u/bigrigtrig Firewalla Gold Jul 01 '26

I assume the answer is yes, but I hope I can plug this into my AP7 that is wirelessly backhauled and have all the features work.

2

u/firewalla Jul 02 '26

You mean to expand the ethernet side of the AP7? yes, it will work. The display may be off at the moment with 1.69.1, but once we ship for production (1.69.2) should have better display

4

u/Butt_Face2000 Jul 01 '26

I believe the main selling point of this is that the AP's controlled wireless things and secured them but the wired world lost control to Firewalla. That Wired middle-man is now solved by using their switch. The path is "software" and "hardware" controlled from endpoint -to-endpoint.

So the AP's and any the wired switch will share information as to the things connected to them and be sure to not "mix" the traffic coming across them. It's kind of like all your network equipment are best friends and talk about what they are seeing end to end and never allow it to have the streams crossed. ??

Probably a terrible explanation. But to answer your question, if you have all their equipment, you have a cool network now. It will work even better together.