recommend hardware firewall

[Mikkel]

On 04/04/2010 02:26 PM, Bill Davidsen wrote:
> 
> I see no benefit to a hardware router vs. running Linux with the firewall 
> configured. There is a benefit to running a separate firewall machine, doing 
> nothing else, passing only what you want to pass, tracking things you want to 
> record for future use, not subject to holes in applications.
> 
> There are good, free, firewall packages you can run on a cheap machine.
> 
Off the top of my head, I can think of a couple. The difference in
power consumption between a hardware router and a cheap machine
comes to mind. Noise may also be a factor - cheap machines tend to
have noisy fans. The hardware router usually also has a smaller
footprint.

Then you have the consideration someone else mentioned - the
different processors and available software tend to require
different exploits for the router, and the rest of the network.
Defense in depth.

Now, this all applies to a home or small office setup. When you get
into larger networks the trade-offs become different. But this tread
is not talking about larger networks.

With a single machine, the cost/benefit comparison is also different
then for a small network. But you may still want the hardware router
for wireless support, or added protection.

Mikkel
-- 

  Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for thou art crunchy and taste good with Ketchup!

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