[TriLUG] Linux Firewalls for Home LANs... How Come?

[David A. Cafaro]

The appliance route is very nice.  I still run a firewall on my server just 
as extra precaution, but for the most part my Netgear router does a great 
job of blocking the unwanted, and hiding me.  The biggest advantage the 
Linux box has is you can do state-full packet inspection and other highend 
firewall tricks that the NAT boxes just can't (yet).  But yes the boxes are 
nice, lower power consumption than running a cheap PC, less heat, less space.

David

At 08:43 PM 3/19/2002, you wrote:
>Okay, Folks...
>
>This isn't a troll, honest.
>
>Almost two years ago I picked up an SMC firewall/router/switch/print 
>server for $90.  It's tiny.  It uses almost no power.  It takes up almost 
>no space.  It's close to uncrackeable.   It serves DHCP, LPD, has a web 
>interface, logs accesses, provides selective tunneling, and handles 255 
>IPs. You take it out of the box, plug it in, and it works for Linux and 
>Windows systems.
>
>It's not like I didn't have some old hardware that I could have put to 
>work doing the same job.  But is there a great reason not to plunk down 
>$100 for an appliance for this purpose?
>
>I'm guessing the main reason would be for the learning experience.
>I get all of the learning experience I need keeping my desktop systems up 
>to date and upgrading their devices.  More than I want sometimes.
>
>Sorry if this ruffles any feathers.  I'm just wondering if I'm missing out 
>on something by going the appliance route here.
>
>
>                                       Scott
>
>
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