08-12-2003, 09:10 PM
I have always used FreeBSD or Linux based home firewall/routers. All you need is some shitbox
PC and 2 network cards and you're ready. HARDWARE firewalls are definately the way to go. Don't
go for this software based crap like Zone Alarm or the all controlling Norton Firewall. I use Mandrake Multi Network Firewall (MNF) which is based on Mandrake Linux. It runs on an IBM Pentium 3 box i have and the download is FREE from www.mandrake.org. You burn the ISO images to CD's and install. It takes me about 8 minutes to install the linux and about 30 to configure the RULE sets for the firewall. Once you install the Linux, you can connect to the inside network card via an inside PC and connect to https://192.168.1.1:8443. The firewall utilized ssl certs to connect to the configuration page. It lets you see real time intrusion graphs with in/out data and PRELUDE/SNORT intrusion detection systems.
If you are gonna protect your work network, use Cisco devices. But at home...try a linux based firewall. Hell...if I HAD too...id even go buy one of those LinkSys routers (which can be configured for filtering).
PC and 2 network cards and you're ready. HARDWARE firewalls are definately the way to go. Don't
go for this software based crap like Zone Alarm or the all controlling Norton Firewall. I use Mandrake Multi Network Firewall (MNF) which is based on Mandrake Linux. It runs on an IBM Pentium 3 box i have and the download is FREE from www.mandrake.org. You burn the ISO images to CD's and install. It takes me about 8 minutes to install the linux and about 30 to configure the RULE sets for the firewall. Once you install the Linux, you can connect to the inside network card via an inside PC and connect to https://192.168.1.1:8443. The firewall utilized ssl certs to connect to the configuration page. It lets you see real time intrusion graphs with in/out data and PRELUDE/SNORT intrusion detection systems.
If you are gonna protect your work network, use Cisco devices. But at home...try a linux based firewall. Hell...if I HAD too...id even go buy one of those LinkSys routers (which can be configured for filtering).