Network OS / RouterFree (Support from $500/yr)

VyOS Review 2026

Open-source network operating system for routers and firewalls

VyOS is the only open-source network OS that combines advanced routing protocols, firewall, and VPN in a unified CLI with configuration versioning and atomic commits.

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About VyOS - Network OS / Router

VyOS is a fully open-source network operating system based on Debian Linux and forked from Vyatta. It provides a unified solution for routing, firewall, VPN, NAT, DHCP, and more through a single configuration interface.

Unlike GUI-focused firewalls, VyOS is configured through a powerful CLI with a hierarchical configuration system similar to Juniper's JUNOS. This makes it particularly attractive to network engineers who prefer command-line configuration and need advanced routing protocols like BGP, OSPF, and VRRP.

About Sentrium (VyOS)

VyOS is maintained by Sentrium, a company founded by VyOS core developers. They provide commercial support, LTS releases, and professional services for VyOS deployments.

Founded: 2013HQ: Remote / Sentrium

What Makes VyOS Different?

Advanced routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, VRRP)
Unified CLI with atomic commits
Configuration versioning and rollback
Runs on any x86, ARM, or cloud VM
Fully open-source

Why Choose VyOS?

🎯

Routing

Enterprise routing capabilities that rival dedicated routers at a fraction of the cost

⚡

Automation

CLI and API enable full configuration automation and infrastructure-as-code

🛡️

Flexibility

Deploy on bare metal, VMs, containers, or cloud instances with identical configurations

Who is VyOS Best For?

Network engineers

Service providers

Data centers

Cloud networking

VyOS Key Features

Static and dynamic routing (BGP, OSPF, RIP)
Stateful firewall
NAT and NPTv6
IPsec and WireGuard VPN
VRRP high availability
QoS and traffic policy
DHCP and DNS forwarding
REST API and Terraform provider

Use Cases for VyOS

Software Router

Replace expensive hardware routers with a flexible software-based alternative.

Cloud Networking

Provide advanced routing and security in AWS, Azure, and GCP environments.

ISP Edge Router

Deploy BGP-enabled edge routers for service provider networks.

Implementation Timeline

⏱️ 1-2 hours

VyOS installs from ISO or can be deployed as a cloud image. Configuration is done entirely through CLI or API. A rolling release model provides continuous updates. Support subscriptions are available from VyOS.io.

VyOS Pros & Cons

Pros

✓ Excellent routing features
✓ Powerful CLI
✓ Fully open-source
✓ Cloud-native support

Cons

✗ No GUI
✗ Steeper learning curve
✗ Smaller community than pfSense

Pricing Details

💰Free (Support from $500/yr)

VyOS is completely free and open-source. LTS releases and commercial support are available via subscription from VyOS.io starting around $500/year per instance.

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