Sonic or Smoothwall

[Brave_heart]

Personally i am a fan of Smoothwall but i have one school using Sonic.

Anyone offer me some views on either?

I don't like the sonic unit form what i can see so far but i am open to be persuaded!

[Norphy]

Do you mean SonicWALL?

 

I've used both, I used the SonicWALL UTM product about two years ago and I'm using the Smoothwall UTM now. In my experience, SonicWALL is a MUCH better firewall and Smoothwall is a much better filter.

[Homer]

We're using SonicWALL here and it's maturing a lot but I would absolutely agree with Norphy, Smoothwall (used it in my last school) is an excellent filter but a little lacking in firewall/routing (in 2014) in comparison to the SonicWALL which is very well featured in terms of routing/firewalling but the filter is a little clunky. They are improving this though.

[Norphy]

Although the firewall and routing sections have improved in Inverness/Kenilworth, they are still way behind where SonicWALL was two years ago. But that's not surprising really, SonicWALL have been doing firewalls since the year dot and Smoothwall are first and foremost a filtering company.

[FN-GM]

We have both here.

 

Smoothwall - Good filter poor firewall

Sonicwall - Poor filter good firewall.

 

We use Sonicwall at the perimeter and Smoothwall for the interior.

[Brave_heart]

Thanks everyone - this has confirmed my own thoughts.

[njc235]

From what I know, added to what I've heard, Smoothwall is the better filter for sure but the reporting required to meet KCSIE and Prevent guidelines puts the Sonicwall & Fastvue product ahead. Added to this, the Sonicwall is a far superior firewall.

[Brave_heart]

From what I know, added to what I've heard, Smoothwall is the better filter for sure but the reporting required to meet KCSIE and Prevent guidelines puts the Sonicwall & Fastvue product ahead. Added to this, the Sonicwall is a far superior firewall.

So does the smoothwall 'fail' KCSIE requirements?

[TechMonkey]

From what I know, added to what I've heard, Smoothwall is the better filter for sure but the reporting required to meet KCSIE and Prevent guidelines puts the Sonicwall & Fastvue product ahead. Added to this, the Sonicwall is a far superior firewall.

 

I'd be interested in expansion of this.

[njc235]

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/teachers-and-professionals/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring/provider-responses-1

 

 

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/teachers-and-professionals/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring/provider-responses-2

 

Sorry it's taken me a while to find these.

[Securly_Chris]

Hi,

 

I know I've already met some of you but for those who haven't I'm product manager responsible for the Firewall here at Smoothwall.

 

We're busy working on introducing IPv6 support at the moment and I'm always looking to hear about what ideas, improvements or features you'd see in a firewall!

 

Feel free to drop me PM on here with suggestions or to arrange a chat sometime, it would be great hear your feedback even if you're not using Smoothwall firewall at the moment.

 

Regards,

Chris

[TechMonkey]

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/teachers-and-professionals/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring/provider-responses-1

 

 

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/teachers-and-professionals/appropriate-filtering-and-monitoring/provider-responses-2

 

Sorry it's taken me a while to find these.

 

Sorry, not sure how this supports your statement as they have both self certified themselves as meeting requirements. The only difference is Smoothwall seem to have marked themselves more critically whereas SonicWall seems to have misunderstood the question when asked about reporting mechanisms.

[Brave_heart]

Thanks everyone - this has clarified my thoughts.

To summarise - smoothwall is excellent for filtering and the product team are updating the paper work to demonstrate the KCSIE stuff.

Sonicwall is a great firewall but not so hot on the filtering side.

 

Reality is that we should have both a firewall and filtering system in place.