TNSR
TNSR is Linux software acting as a terabit router and VPN concentrator for high-speed routing and VPN workloads.
What TNSR is
TNSR is Linux software acting as a terabit router and VPN concentrator for high-speed routing and VPN workloads. Netgate describes Vector Packet Processing that can scale from 1 to 1000 Gbps and beyond on commercial off-the-shelf hardware. Routing options include BGP, OSPF, static and dynamic routing, policy-based routing, carrier-grade NAT, and equal-cost multipath. It supports routed site-to-site IPsec and WireGuard VPNs with IKEv1 and IKEv2. Management is available through a CLI, RESTCONF API, and NETCONF. SNMP monitoring and a Prometheus exporter provide dataplane statistics. Security features include access control lists, packet filtering, password or key authentication, RADIUS, and role-based access control. TNSR is offered through AWS and Azure marketplaces and listed appliance systems. Subscriptions include 24x7 TAC support. Netgate notes that it has firewall capabilities but is not positioned as a firewall.
Good
- Routing protocols include BGP and OSPF
- Supports IPsec and WireGuard site-to-site VPNs
- CLI, RESTCONF, and NETCONF management
- SNMP and Prometheus monitoring
- 24x7 TAC support included with subscriptions
Watch out
- Pricing is available on request
- Linux is the listed platform
- Not positioned as a firewall
- May lack features expected from pfSense Plus
Who it suits
TNSR is intended for businesses, ISPs, internet telephone providers, hosting providers, managed service providers, and SaaS providers. It fits Linux-based network environments needing routing, VPN, and control interfaces.
Verdict
TNSR focuses on high-speed routing, VPN concentration, and programmable management on Linux. Buyers needing a conventional firewall should account for Netgate’s stated positioning and feature limitation.
Plans and prices
From TNSR's own pricing page, checked 10 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| TNSR AWS/Azure proof of concept | Free | Software costs covered for up to 30 days; cloud provider charges are not specified · Free proof of concept covers software costs for up to 30 days. |
| TNSR Software Subscription - Renewal | $999 a year | per instance · ISO downloads · software updates · TAC Pro 24x7 support · 24-hour response SLA · documentation and forum access · annual subscription renewal |
| TNSR software | — | No bandwidth, feature, traffic type, or connection limits stated · Per instance, annually; includes 24x7 TAC Pro Support. |
The facts
Each one read from TNSR's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access control
- TNSR supports Layer 2 MACIP, Layer 3 IPv4/IPv6, Layer 4 and host ACLs.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API documentation
- The RESTCONF reference is automatically generated for release 26.02 and includes authentication and HTTP error details.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API security
- RESTCONF supports HTTPS/TLS, client certificates or password authentication, and NACM authorization; Netgate warns against exposing it to insecure networks.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Carrier NAT
- TNSR supports NAT44, MAP-T, MAP-E and NAT traversal for carrier-scale address translation.checked 15 Oct 2026
- CLI
- A comprehensive router-style CLI exposes configuration, status and diagnostic operations.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Cloud integrations
- TNSR is offered through AWS and Azure marketplaces, with cloud instances using enhanced or accelerated networking.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Netgate publishes installation, platform, command, API, recipe, troubleshooting, security and release documentation for TNSR.checked 15 Oct 2026
- High availability
- VRRP provides redundant default-gateway operation, and VPF can synchronize connection state between clustered routers.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- TNSR 26.02 installs from a hybrid ISO written to USB/DVD or supplied to a virtual-machine hypervisor.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Netgate identifies businesses, ISPs, internet telephone providers, hosting providers, managed service providers, and SaaS providers as potential users.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Licence model
- TNSR combines proprietary software with open-source components rather than being wholly open source.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: firewall scope
- Netgate says TNSR is not positioned as a full firewall and lacks common pfSense features such as IDS/IPS and content filtering.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: hardware compatibility
- Netgate provides no assurance that untested hardware will be compatible or achieve acceptable performance.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: missing protocol
- The PeerSpot reviewer requested future support for AMT (RFC7450).checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: no GUI
- TNSR is managed through CLI and API rather than a graphical user interface.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: recurring licence
- The PeerSpot reviewer noted that yearly licences must be maintained and tracked for expiration.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Appliance availability
- Tested Netgate platforms include the 6100 MAX, 8200, 8300, 1537-1U and 1541-1U.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Appliance platforms
- Netgate lists TNSR on its 6100, 8200, and 8300 appliance systems.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Cloud platforms
- Netgate offers TNSR through AWS and Azure marketplaces, including Intel and ARM64 cloud deployments.checked 10 Oct 2026
The company
- Company
- Netgate says it was formed in 2004 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Company facts
- LinkedIn lists Netgate as a privately held computer-networking company founded in 2002, headquartered in Austin, Texas, with 51–200 employees.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2004checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Austin, Texas, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Nochecked 22 Sep 2026
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