On Fri, 2005-06-24 at 12:46, taharka wrote: > Scot L. Harris wrote: > >The hardware router/firewalls are very cheap and easy to setup. You > >should be able to find a linksys, netgear, or dlink router for $50.00 or > >less. > > > > > > > A better solution for a hardware router/firewall is, a stand alone > computer with two or more nics running m0n0wall. Check out the m0n0wall > project at: http://m0n0.ch/wall ;-) There are some benefits to creating your own firewall using a dedicated computer. However the drawbacks, particularly for new linux users, include added cost, complexity, and difficulty in setting it up to say nothing of the additional admin time it takes to properly administer such a firewall. On the plus side it will provide a finer granularity and control over what goes through the firewall. For new users it is simply easier, cheaper, and less headaches to get an off the shelf dedicated router/firewall. They take virtually no time to setup and provide very good security with little additional work required of the end user. Most end users don't really want to spend most of their time monitoring and caring for a firewall. Most simply want to use other applications and have access to the Internet. -- Scot L. Harris webid@xxxxxxxxxx NEVER swerve to hit a lawyer riding a bicycle -- it might be your bicycle.
