I am buying a hardware firewall

Ephracis · 11-22-2004, 06:59 AM

I about to buy a firewall. I have decided that it should be a hardware since I have heard that they are easier to set up and harder to get through. Also, if someone get through a software firewall they can easily shut down or even configure the firewall.

But now I want a good and reliable firewall. What should I look for when I am searching for one and which manufacture do you recommend?

Thanks,
MezzyMeat

Xolo · 11-22-2004, 08:12 AM

I heard the HotBrick hardware firewalls are good, and reasonably priced as well.
Have a look: Http://www.hotbrick.com

bignerd · 11-22-2004, 02:39 PM

The answer to what hardware based firewall is best depends on what you need.

You can spend from $400 up to 6 digits.

Cisco Pix is a good choice. Has Soho on up to Enterprise firewalls. Very powerful, even has a web based gui.

Juniper recently aquired Netscreen firewalls. They like Cisco have from SoHo on up to Enterprise firewalls.

I have personal experiance with many different Pix and can vouch for there functionaility. It's good. A buddy of mine is evaluating a Netscreen. He has passed his Cisco Pix security exam so he knows a thing or two about Pix as well. He seems impressed with the Netscreen power as well as ease of use. He's just finished up a MS Client to Netscreen whitepaper that details using l2tp VPN that terminates at a Netscreen firewall. So he's been under the hood of the Netscreen a lot too.

Netscreen has an advantage in that they embed Trend Micro's (tm) anti-virus scanner in their product. Pix does not. But the Pix has an advantage in product support. You have a problem with the Pix and you will get to talk to (eventually) someone who is nigh-on an expert in the field. My friends experiance with the Netscreen support left him muttering about "juvinile idiots". Take that any way you like.

Hope this was helpful.

-b

halo14 · 11-23-2004, 12:04 PM

I use Smooth Wall and it is awesome.. and very easy to configure... As well as free... using the linux kernel... the hardware firewall protecting my father-in-laws medium sized network for healthcare.. is protected by a SmoothWall box that's just an old E-Machine.. Celeron 466MHz, 128 MB RAM, 6 GB HD, 2 Linksys NICs...

And it runs great... I also have intrusion detection enabled... Smooth Wall is a fully functional Router/Firewall capable of Network Address Translation, Port Forwarding, VPN access, etc...

It's a great way to turn an old slow machine into a powerfull firewall...