VyOS is a network operating system based on Debian. As VyOS runs on standard amd64, i586 and ARM systems, it is able to be used as a router and firewall platform for cloud deployments.
The distro focuses on enterprise, service provider, and network audiences and includes:
- Multiple dynamic routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, PIM-SM…). VyOS can be used as a border router, as it supports all necessary properties for this task, including dynamic routing protocols with the ability to control external traffic flows.
- Multiple VPNs (L2TP, WireGuard, IPsec (IKEv1 and IKEv2), DMVPN…). Traditional and new tunneling protocols such as IPIP and GRE, as well as L2TPv3 and VXLAN can be used with or without IPsec protection.
- Stateful configuration systems with commit/rollback and versioning functionality. It supports stateful firewall for both IPv4 and IPv6 including zone-based firewall, as well as multiple types of NAT (one to one, one to many, many to many). Support for QoS and policy-based routing allows you to ensure optimal handling of traffic flows.
- A remote HTTP API and scripting APIs for shell and Python.
| Working state: | Active |
| Desktop: | - |
| Init Software: | SysV |
| Package Management: | APT |
| Release Model: | Fixed |
| Platforms: | x86_64, i586, ARM |
| Home Page: | vyos.io |
| Developer: | VyOS Project Community |
| This article is part of our Big List of Active Linux Distributions. |
What's a Linux distribution ("distro")? |
| A distro provides the user with a desktop environment, preloaded applications, and ways to update and maintain the system. Each distro makes different choices, deciding which open source projects to install and provides custom written programs. They can have different philosophies. Some distros are intended for desktop computers, some for servers without a graphical interface, and others for special uses. Because Linux is an open source operating system, combinations of software vary between Linux distros. |
Related Software
| Firewalls | |
|---|---|
| IPFire | Distro with a versatile and state of the art firewall engine |
| OPNsense | FreeBSD-based firewall and routing software |
| pfSense | Powerful firewall and routing platform based on FreeBSD |
| OpenWrt | Linux distribution targeting embedded devices |
| NethSecurity | Linux firewall based on OpenWrt |
| DynFi | Firewall platform based on FreeBSD |
| VyOS | Router and firewall platform |
| Smoothwall Express | Firewall solution with a hardened Linux operating system |
| ClearOS | Dedicated firewall and Internet server/gateway |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Discovered a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |