Re: Software and platform for an Enterprise Firewall

[Rick Smith <smith () securecomputing com>]

At 10:01 AM -0500 12/22/97, Paul_Schmiege () kcmo org wrote:
>  ...   I have heard pros and cons for having a firewall on UNIX
> and NT.  However, there really has not been a good argument to pick one
> operating system over another.  That is why I am posting this message to
> the list.  Can anyone tell me which is the best software and operating
> system platform?

If you've already heard the pros and cons, what else can people say? It all
depends on what you value most. What constitutes "best" in your world? Best
security, easiest administration, shortest learning curve, etc, etc. If
you've already decided that the firewall must be hosted on a standard off
the shelf OS like NT or a standard version of Unix, then resistance to
penetration isn't your principal concern. Remember that there are two
approaches to buying a firewall: 1) treat it like an application that rides
atop an unsecure commercial OS, or 2) treat it like a router that runs in
its own box.


Rick.
smith () securecomputing com                Secure Computing Corporation
"Internet Cryptography" at http://www.visi.com/crypto/ and bookstores