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Firewall/Router - Linux vs ?????

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by sjb_xexec

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I have ordered ADSL for our office, and I want to build a PC to run as a firewall and router. All PCs in the office will have public IP addresses. For service reasons, I want to run my own firewall, rather than rely on my ISP...

I am considering (as the only option) Mandrake Linux 7.1 (I am familiar with the RedHat and Mandrake distro's) running on a Duron600 PC with 64MB, 20GB hard disk, and 2x 3com 3c905C.

My boss (not very technical) is cagey about Linux. Can anybody reassure (or give a good reason to the contrary) that Linux is eminently suitable for the job. I intend to also run an office mail server from the Linux box, since Exchange etc is far too expensive for a network of less than 20 people.

Is the IPCHAINS software included with the linux distro secure and powerful enough? I have heard a lot of good things about "Seattle Seawall"

Comments please!
Joel

2 replies

by ed spencer

If you are on a tight budget then go with Linux. I would recommend using the same machine but with something more like Trinux instead of the RedHat/Mandrake installs. The reason for this is that you can put it all on a floppy disk, write protect it, and if there is a problem you just reboot the machine to restore the configuration. It's much more secure because there's no room to install more software or use it for a launching platform. If the box is compromised you simply reboot and it's been fixed. Hard to do with a full install.

If he insist on going with a commercial product (Win32 or hardware based) price them and don't forget to include set-up and training. If you have to set up a trial of the 'commercial' product and compare it to the linux solution head to head. Linux will almost always win in a small environment for price/performance.

by lee.powell

My suggestion to you would be to look at www.clarkconnect.org. They have done a nice job of taking Redhat 7.3 and stripping it down and putting one of the best firewall applications with it. The software is easy to install and very secure. It does everything without having to do much configuration. They have great support and best of all it's free. Your boss will be amazed!

-Lee

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