OBSIDIAN Device
The OBSIDIAN is a high-performance security workstation designed for demanding deployments and compute-intensive operations. Built on the powerful LattePanda Sigma platform, it delivers workstation-class performance in a compact form factor.
🚧 Coming Soon The OBSIDIAN device is currently in development. Specifications shown below are preliminary and subject to change. Contact arrow@vtemlabs.com for availability updates.
Overview
Section titled “Overview”The OBSIDIAN is designed for scenarios where maximum performance is critical. It provides:
- Workstation Performance - Intel Core i5-1340P with 12 cores and 32GB RAM
- Massive Storage - 2TB NVMe SSD with LUKS encryption
- Always-On Connectivity - VPN with cellular backup (Sierra Wireless EM7455)
- Dual 2.5GbE Networking - Intel i226-V for high-speed network operations
- Thunderbolt 4 Expansion - Connect external GPUs, displays, or high-speed storage
Technical Specifications
Section titled “Technical Specifications”The OBSIDIAN device is built on the LattePanda Sigma platform with custom modifications by VTEM Labs.
Processing & Memory
Section titled “Processing & Memory”| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1340P (12-Core, 16-Thread, up to 4.6GHz) |
| Architecture | 13th Gen Intel (Raptor Lake) |
| RAM | 32GB LPDDR5-6400MHz (Dual-Channel) |
| Storage | 2TB NVMe SSD (LUKS encrypted) |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU, up to 1.45GHz) |
| TPM | TPM 2.0 (built-in) |
Connectivity
Section titled “Connectivity”| Interface | Details |
|---|---|
| Ethernet | 2x 2.5GbE Intel i226-V |
| USB | 2x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (10Gbps) |
| Thunderbolt | 2x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (40Gbps, DP Alt Mode, PD) |
| Cellular | Sierra Wireless EM7455 LTE-Advanced Cat 6 (300/50 Mbps) |
| LTE Bands | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B20, B25, B26, B29, B30, B41 |
| 3G Fallback | UMTS/HSPA+ B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B8 |
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo (via LTE modem) |
Expansion & I/O
Section titled “Expansion & I/O”| Interface | Details |
|---|---|
| M.2 M Key (1) | PCIe 4.0 x4 (NVMe SSD - 2TB installed) |
| M.2 M Key (2) | PCIe 3.0 x4 (available for expansion) |
| M.2 B Key | PCIe 3.0 x1 + USB 3.0 (LTE modem installed) |
| M.2 E Key | PCIe 3.0 x1 + CNVio (Wi-Fi module slot) |
| SIM Slot | Micro SIM for cellular connectivity |
| Arduino | Integrated ATmega32U4 coprocessor |
| GPIO | 20 digital I/O, 12 analog inputs, 7 PWM, UART, I2C, SPI |
| COM Port | RS232/RS485 serial header |
| SATA | SATA III data + power connectors |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack |
Video Output
Section titled “Video Output”| Interface | Details |
|---|---|
| HDMI | HDMI 2.1 (up to 4096×2304 @ 60Hz) |
| DisplayPort | DP 1.4a via Thunderbolt 4 (up to 8K @ 60Hz) |
| eDP | eDP 1.4b (up to 4096×2304 @ 120Hz) |
| Multi-Display | Supports up to 4x 4K displays simultaneously |
Physical Specifications
Section titled “Physical Specifications”| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5.7” × 4.0” × 0.9” (146 × 102 × 24 mm) |
| Enclosure | Custom OBSIDIAN aluminum chassis |
| Cooling | Active (integrated fan) |
| Operating Temp | 32°F to 113°F (0°C to 45°C) |
| Power Input | USB-C PD (via Thunderbolt) or 12V DC (5.5×2.5mm barrel) |
Software
Section titled “Software”| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Kali Linux (OBSIDIAN image) |
| VPN | NetBird client (always-on) |
| Management | ARROW Control agent |
| Encryption | LUKS2 full-disk encryption (2TB NVMe) |
| Secure Boot | UEFI Secure Boot enabled |
ARROW vs OBSIDIAN Comparison
Section titled “ARROW vs OBSIDIAN Comparison”| Feature | ARROW | OBSIDIAN |
|---|---|---|
| Status | ✅ Available | 🚧 Coming Soon |
| Form Factor | Compact | Performance |
| Base Platform | LattePanda 3 Delta | LattePanda Sigma |
| Processor | Intel N5105 (4C/4T, 2.9GHz) | Intel i5-1340P (12C/16T, 4.6GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4 | 32GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe + 64GB eMMC | 2TB NVMe |
| Ethernet | 1x Gigabit | 2x 2.5GbE |
| USB Ports | 3x Type-A, 1x Type-C | 4x Type-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4 |
| Cellular | Sierra Wireless EM7455 | Sierra Wireless EM7455 |
| Cooling | Active (fan) | Active (fan) |
| Best For | Standard deployments | Compute-intensive operations |
Choose ARROW when:
- Standard security testing deployments
- Cost-effective solution needed
- Simpler setup requirements
- Portable/travel use cases
Choose OBSIDIAN when:
- Maximum CPU/RAM performance required
- Large dataset processing or VM hosting
- Multiple high-speed network connections needed
- Thunderbolt expansion (eGPU, fast storage) required
What’s in the Box
Section titled “What’s in the Box”When you receive your OBSIDIAN device, the package includes:
- 1x OBSIDIAN device unit (with built-in LTE antenna)
- 1x 65W USB-C PD power adapter
- 1x Thunderbolt 4 cable (1m)
- 1x Ethernet cable (1m Cat6)
- 1x Quick start guide
- 1x Carrying case (foam-padded)
Optional additions (if requested):
- ALFA AWUS036AXM WiFi 6E adapter - For wireless security testing
- VESA mounting bracket
- 12V DC power adapter
- External LTE antenna kit
Initial Setup
Section titled “Initial Setup”1. Physical Connections
Section titled “1. Physical Connections”Step 1: Connect the USB-C power adapter to the USB-C port marked with a power symbol.
Step 2: (Optional) Connect an Ethernet cable for wired internet during setup.
Step 3: Press the power button. The LED ring will pulse purple during boot.
2. First Boot
Section titled “2. First Boot”On first boot, the OBSIDIAN will:
- Initialize LUKS encryption - Set your disk encryption passphrase
- Connect to VPN - NetBird automatically connects
- Register with ARROW Manager - Device appears in your portal
Important The LED ring indicates device status:
- Pulsing purple - Booting
- Solid purple - Ready, no network
- Solid blue - Online, VPN connected
- Pulsing red - Error or needs attention
3. Verifying Connectivity
Section titled “3. Verifying Connectivity”After boot is complete (solid blue LED):
From ARROW Portal:
- Navigate to Devices
- Find your OBSIDIAN in the device list
- Status should show “Online”
From the Device (via ARROW Control):
- Open ARROW Control from the portal
- Launch Terminal
- Run
netbird statusto confirm VPN - Run
curl ifconfig.meto verify internet
Connecting to Your OBSIDIAN Device
Section titled “Connecting to Your OBSIDIAN Device”Via ARROW Control (Recommended)
Section titled “Via ARROW Control (Recommended)”The primary way to manage your OBSIDIAN:
- Log in to the ARROW Portal
- Navigate to Devices and select your OBSIDIAN
- Click Open Control
- Access terminal, files, and system monitoring
Via SSH over VPN
Section titled “Via SSH over VPN”For command-line access:
# Using VPN IP addressssh arrowuser@<device-vpn-ip>
# Using NetBird hostnamessh arrowuser@obsidian-<device-id>.netbird.cloudVia USB-C Console
Section titled “Via USB-C Console”For emergency access without network:
- Connect USB-C cable to the non-power USB-C port
- Connect other end to your computer
- Open serial terminal at 115200 baud
- Log in with your credentials
Power Options
Section titled “Power Options”The OBSIDIAN supports flexible power configurations:
USB-C Power Delivery
Section titled “USB-C Power Delivery”- Recommended: 65W+ USB-C PD charger (included)
- Minimum: 20V @ 3A (60W)
- Supports Thunderbolt 4 power delivery
12V DC Barrel
Section titled “12V DC Barrel”- Standard 5.5mm × 2.5mm barrel connector
- 12V @ 5A recommended
- Useful for vehicle or fixed installations
Power Bank Operation
Section titled “Power Bank Operation”The OBSIDIAN can run from USB-C power banks:
| Power Bank Capacity | Approximate Runtime |
|---|---|
| 10,000 mAh | ~2 hours |
| 20,000 mAh | ~4 hours |
| 30,000 mAh | ~6 hours |
Note Power bank must support USB-C PD output at 20V. Standard 5V power banks will not work.
Network Configuration
Section titled “Network Configuration”Cellular Connectivity
Section titled “Cellular Connectivity”The OBSIDIAN uses an internal LTE antenna. For improved signal:
- Position device near a window
- Avoid metal enclosures
- Optional: Connect external antenna kit
Failover Behavior
Section titled “Failover Behavior”Network priority order:
- Ethernet (highest priority)
- Wi-Fi (if configured)
- Cellular (automatic failover)
Failover is automatic and typically completes within 15 seconds.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”LED Status Indicators
Section titled “LED Status Indicators”| LED Pattern | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Off | No power | Check power connection |
| Pulsing purple | Booting | Wait for completion |
| Solid purple | No network | Check connectivity |
| Solid blue | Online | Normal operation |
| Pulsing red | Error | Check ARROW Control for details |
| Alternating red/blue | Firmware update | Do not power off |
Device Not Connecting
Section titled “Device Not Connecting”- Verify power indicator is solid blue
- Check cellular signal (internal antenna)
- Try connecting via Ethernet temporarily
- Check VPN status in ARROW Control
Thermal Management
Section titled “Thermal Management”In high ambient temperatures or sustained workloads:
- Ensure adequate ventilation around device (fan exhaust unobstructed)
- Avoid direct sunlight exposure
- Verify fan is operating (you should hear it during heavy use)
- Monitor temps via ARROW Control → System
USB-C Power Issues
Section titled “USB-C Power Issues”If device won’t power on:
- Verify charger supports USB-C PD at 20V
- Try a different USB-C cable (not all support PD)
- Use the included cable for troubleshooting
- Check for cable/port damage
Maintenance
Section titled “Maintenance”Software Updates
Section titled “Software Updates”Managed identically to ARROW devices:
- Navigate to Devices → select OBSIDIAN
- Click Software Updates
- Review and install available updates
Factory Reset
Section titled “Factory Reset”Via ARROW Control:
- Go to System → Factory Reset
- Confirm the action
- Device reboots and requires re-provisioning
Warning Factory reset erases all data. Back up important files first.
Related Documentation
Section titled “Related Documentation”- ARROW Device - Full-size ARROW hardware
- Device Requests - How to request an OBSIDIAN
- Device Management - Portal device management
- VPN Management - VPN configuration
- ARROW Control Overview - Web-based management