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ARROW Device

The ARROW device is a rugged, portable mini PC built for security testing and remote network operations in the field. You drop it on a target network, it dials home over an always-on VPN, and you work it remotely as if you were sitting in front of it.

ARROW Device Front View

Front view with ARROW branding and cooling vent

ARROW Device Back View

Back view with chevron pattern design

The ARROW is the flagship hardware device in the ARROW platform. It is a custom Linux computer that ships with everything a remote engagement needs already in place:

  • A full Kali Linux environment with your penetration testing tools pre-installed
  • An always-on VPN that fails over to cellular, so the device stays reachable even without wired internet
  • A rugged aluminum enclosure that holds up in the kinds of places you actually deploy
  • Hardware-encrypted storage and Secure Boot, so a lost or seized device does not leak your data

The ARROW device is built on the LattePanda 3 Delta platform with custom modifications by VTEM Labs.

ComponentSpecification
ProcessorIntel Celeron N5105 Quad-Core (2.0GHz base, 2.9GHz burst)
Architecture11th Gen Intel (Jasper Lake)
RAM8GB LPDDR4 2933MHz
Base Storage64GB eMMC 5.1
Added Storage1TB NVMe SSD (LUKS encrypted)
GraphicsIntel UHD Graphics (up to 800MHz)
TPMTPM 2.0 (built-in)
InterfaceDetails
Ethernet1x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
USB2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1x USB-C (PD/DP/USB 2.0)
CellularSierra Wireless EM7455 / EM7565 LTE-Advanced or Quectel EM060K-GL (built-in antenna)
LTE BandsB1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B14, B17, B18, B19, B20, B25, B26, B28, B29, B30, B32, B38, B39, B40, B41, B42, B43, B46, B48, B66, B71 (varies by modem)
3G FallbackUMTS/HSPA+ B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B8
Wi-FiIntel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz 160MHz)
BluetoothBluetooth 5.2
GNSSGPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo (via LTE modem)
InterfaceDetails
HDMIHDMI 2.0b (up to 4096×2160 @ 60Hz HDR)
DisplayPortDP 1.4 via USB-C (up to 4096×2160 @ 60Hz HDR)
eDPInternal connector (up to 1920×1080)
Multi-DisplaySupports triple display output
AttributeValue
Dimensions5.1” × 4.5” × 1.6” (130 × 115 × 40 mm)
Weight0.9 lbs (420g) without enclosure
EnclosureCustom ARROW aluminum case with heatsink
CoolingActive (redesigned cooling fan)
Operating Temp32°F to 113°F (0°C to 45°C)
Power Input12V DC via barrel jack or USB-C PD
TDP10W typical
InterfaceDetails
M.2 M KeyPCIe 3.0 x2 (NVMe SSD - 1TB installed)
M.2 B KeyPCIe 3.0 x1 + USB (LTE modem installed)
ArduinoIntegrated ATmega32U4 coprocessor
GPIO12 analog inputs, up to 23 digital I/O (7 PWM)
SerialRS232 header (COM port)
Audio2-channel output with 2W amplifier
FeatureDetails
Operating SystemKali Linux (custom ARROW image)
VPNNetBird client (always-on)
ManagementARROW Control agent
EncryptionLUKS2 full-disk encryption (1TB NVMe)
Secure BootUEFI Secure Boot enabled

Every ARROW device ships with:

  • 1x ARROW device unit (with built-in LTE antenna)
  • 1x 36W power adapter with regional plug
  • 1x Ethernet cable (1m Cat6)
  • 1x Quick start guide
  • 1x Carrying case (foam-padded)

If you asked for them when you requested the device, you may also receive:

There is very little to do here. VTEM Labs provisions the device for your engagement before it ships, so first boot is mostly a matter of giving it power and a way to reach the internet.

  1. Connect the power adapter to the DC input jack, or use USB-C PD.
  2. Optionally connect an Ethernet cable if you want wired internet during setup.
  3. Press the power button. The LED turns blue while the device boots.

The LTE antenna is built in, so if you skip the Ethernet cable the device connects over cellular on its own.

Because the device is pre-configured, first boot runs itself. Without any input from you, it will:

  1. Boot with LUKS encryption already enabled, using your organization’s recovery key
  2. Bring up the NetBird VPN and join your organization’s network
  3. Register itself, so it shows up in your ARROW portal within a few minutes

There is nothing to configure. Power it on and it is ready. If it does not appear in the portal after a few minutes, see Device Not Appearing in Portal below.

The fastest way to confirm the device is online is from the ARROW Portal: open Devices, find your device, and look for an Online status with a green indicator.

If you want to check from the device itself, click Open Control on the device in the portal to launch ARROW Control, which confirms connectivity and gives you a terminal for diagnostics.

Most of the time you will work through ARROW Control in the browser. SSH and a direct console are there for when you need them.

ARROW Control is a web interface for managing the device, with a terminal, file manager, and system monitoring built in:

  1. Log in to the ARROW Portal
  2. Open Devices and select your ARROW device
  3. Click Open Control

When you want a raw shell, SSH in over the VPN:

Terminal window
# Connect using the device's VPN IP
ssh arrowuser@<device-vpn-ip>
# Or use the device hostname
ssh arrowuser@arrow-<device-id>.netbird.cloud

SSH only works while your own NetBird VPN is connected, since that is the network path to the device.

If you are physically next to the device, connect a monitor over HDMI and a USB keyboard, then log in with your configured credentials.

The device keeps itself online without you watching it. It falls over to cellular when primary Ethernet drops, when Wi-Fi signal falls below threshold, or when you trigger a failover by hand. The switch typically completes in under 10 seconds.

By default the device uses DHCP. To pin a static IP instead, open ARROW Control, go to Network Settings, select the interface (eth0, eth1), choose Manual configuration, and enter the IP address, subnet, gateway, and DNS.

The device runs ufw and ships locked down: inbound traffic is denied by default, and only the ports you actually need are open.

RuleDescription
Allow SSH (22)Inbound SSH access
Allow ARROW Control (8080)Web management interface
Allow VPNNetBird WireGuard tunnel
Deny all other inboundDefault deny policy

Device won’t power on. Confirm the adapter is connected and the outlet has power, then try a different outlet or power source and check the cable and connector for damage. If you are powering over USB-C PD, make sure the charger supports 20V output; not all do.

Device is frozen or unresponsive. Try a soft restart first by holding the power button for 4 seconds and releasing. If that does nothing, force it off by holding the button for 10 or more seconds, wait 10 seconds, then power it back on. If it is still unresponsive, pull power for 30 seconds and reconnect.

LED Indicators. The front LED tells you the device’s state at a glance:

LED StateMeaning
OffNo power - check power connection
Solid blueNormal operation
Blinking blueBooting / activity
Solid amberStandby / sleep mode
Blinking amberError - contact support

Overheating. Give the device room to breathe and do not cover the vents. Confirm the fan is spinning, which you should hear during heavy use, and move it away from heat sources or direct sunlight. If it keeps overheating, power it off and contact support.

If the device does not show up in the portal, work from power outward: confirm the LED is solid blue, check that the cellular antenna is seated and has signal, verify the SIM is activated and has a data plan, and check the VPN with netbird status.

Check the Ethernet cable and cellular signal first. If the link is up but nothing resolves, test DNS with nslookup google.com, and if that fails, restart networking with sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.

The device ships with LUKS encryption already set up, and VTEM Labs holds recovery keys for every device. If you are locked out, contact support at [email protected]; recovery can usually be done remotely through ARROW Control.

Updates are managed through ARROW Manager. Open Devices, select your device, click Software Updates, review the changelogs for what is available, and click Install to apply.

To wipe the device back to factory defaults, open ARROW Control, go to System, then Factory Reset, and confirm. The device reboots and has to be re-provisioned afterward.

A factory reset erases everything on the device, including its encryption keys, so back up anything you need before you run it.

The ALFA AWUS036AXM is an optional WiFi 6/6E USB adapter you can request with your device. It exists for the wireless side of an engagement, where the built-in Wi-Fi is not enough: it gives you tri-band coverage and external, replaceable antennas.

Ask for the AWUS036AXM when your engagement involves wireless work such as:

  • WiFi 6/6E penetration testing, with full 802.11ax support including the 6 GHz band
  • Extended-range testing, using the high-gain replaceable antennas for more coverage
  • Monitor mode and packet injection, with a Linux-friendly chipset your tools already support
  • Bluetooth 5.2 assessments, using the adapter’s integrated Bluetooth
ComponentDetails
ChipsetMediaTek MT7921AUN
StandardsIEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
Frequency Bands2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz (tri-band)
Max Data Rate3000 Mbps (600 + 1200 + 1200 Mbps)
Bluetoothv5.2 with integrated antenna
USB InterfaceUSB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
WiFi Antenna2x RP-SMA connectors with dual-band dipole antennas
Power2.7W max
Dimensions87.4 × 28.5 × 12 mm
OS SupportWindows 10/11, Linux

Product Link: ALFA AWUS036AXM

Setup is plug and play. Connect the adapter to any USB 3.0 port, attach both high-gain antennas to the RP-SMA connectors, and Linux detects it with no driver installation. Confirm it came up with ip link show or iwconfig.

Wireless Network Discovery:

Terminal window
# Put adapter in monitor mode
sudo airmon-ng start wlan1
# Scan for networks across all bands
sudo airodump-ng wlan1mon

WiFi 6E Testing:

Terminal window
# Scan 6 GHz band specifically
sudo iw dev wlan1 scan freq 5955-7115