// scout · parts list · prices checked november 9, 2026
The hardware for an always-on Scout sensor
You buy the hardware yourself, from any seller. We don’t sell it and earn nothing on it. Scout’s installer turns the box into a sensor that watches a copy of your traffic and can’t send anything onto the network it watches.
Only needed for always-on monitoring. Scout Capture works from a recording, and the virtual machine runs on a computer you already have. Prices change, memory prices especially; check the seller’s page before you buy.
What any box needs
- A 64-bit Intel or AMD processor with 4 or more cores.
- 16 GB of memory and a 500 GB solid-state disk.
- At least two wired network ports, ideally Intel (i210, i225 or i226): one to watch, one for you to reach Scout’s screens.
- Secure Boot that can stay on, and a way to turn network boot off.
Budget build: about $1,100
| Part | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Protectli Vault Pro VP2430e | Fanless box, four 2.5 Gb Intel ports, 0–50 °C | $419 |
| 16 GB memory | Added to the box (Protectli’s price; often less elsewhere) | $315 |
| 500 GB solid-state disk | Holds Scout’s traffic records (older ones are removed automatically when space runs low) | $140 |
| Dualcomm ETAP-2003 tap | Copies one network cable’s traffic to Scout; can’t send back. Skip it if your switch has a mirror port. | $210 |
| Total | About $875 with a mirror port instead of the tap | ≈ $1,085 |
Rugged build: about $4,500
| Part | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| OnLogic Karbon 521 | Industrial fanless computer for wide temperatures, DIN rail or wall mount, Intel industrial network ports | from $3,298 |
| Dualcomm ETAP-5203 fail-safe tap | Traffic keeps flowing if the tap loses power; for critical links | $1,099 |
| Total | $4,400–$5,000 with memory and disk upgrades | ≈ $4,500 |
Rail (EN 50155) and marine (IEC 60945) certified computers are sold by quote, typically $1,500–$4,000 or more. Ask the seller for the certificate itself.
Office build: about $250–$300
| Part | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mini PC, Intel N150, two Intel i226 ports, 16 GB / 512 GB | Small, quiet office sensor. Check the network chip is Intel i226 before you buy. | $170–$250 |
| Netgear GS308E or TP-Link TL-SG108E | 8-port switch with a mirror port, for offices whose switch can’t copy traffic | $25–$50 |
Office prices are typical retail prices and vary by seller.
Mirror port or tap?
If your switch is managed, use its mirror port (also called SPAN): it costs nothing. Use a tap when the switch can’t mirror (common on vessels and at depots), would drop copied traffic when busy, or when you’d rather not change the switch. On links that must never go down, use a fail-safe tap.
Scout’s installer has been tested in our lab; first tests on these physical boxes are under way.