What to replace ISA with?

[kamikaze]

We have a network which routes all internet access througj an ISA 2006 server. This server is now beginning to cause problems & ideally I would like to tkae it out of the loop totally. Does anyone know a hardware solution I can install in it's place? I tried removing it last year & replacing it with a load balancing/failover Netgear firewall - it workied fine over the weekend whilst I installed it but when 300 users logged in on the Monday the network stopped!!

 

I only need the proxy to stop the firewall being hammered as I have finally managed to get our Sonicwall CSM3200 working which provides content control.

 

I look forward to any suggestions you may have.

 

Mike Taylor

Network Engineer

St Leonards School

St Andrews

[Ric_]

Smoothwall UTM would be my recommendation. Provides firewall and a BECTA accredited content filter in a pretty box

 

SmoothWall | Products » UTM-1000 Series

 

Testimonials can be found at SmoothWall | Company » Testimonials (just to prove there's not only me that thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread) - check the Baines School one in particular because it describes how I replaced ISA with a UTM.

[john]

I also second the Smoothwall UTM approach, and I suggest you go to the site and check out the Settle College one as I also did what Ric did and replace ISA with it We also use it as we have an independent Internet Feed as well as the LEA one so need to ensure its correctly filtered which it is with the Smoothwall being BECTA accredited

[kamikaze]

So no noticeable degradation to network performance with the UTM-1000 installed in place of the ISA server? Just want to make sure before I strat trying to convince the people above!

 

Thanks for your help

 

Mike Taylor

[Ric_]

So no noticeable degradation to network performance with the UTM-1000 installed in place of the ISA server? Just want to make sure before I strat trying to convince the people above!

 

Thanks for your help

 

Mike Taylor

 

I would say that it performs better than my ISA box did. ISA can do some random stuff and I always found it rather clunky and fiddly to do stuff.

 

If you have a chat with Claire or Gavin at Smoothwall (0800 5999040), they may also be able to loan you a UTM for a couple of weeks (it takes 5 minutes to install in its basic config). You'll then see how good it is. If it's not for you just send it back.

[john]

So no noticeable degradation to network performance with the UTM-1000 installed in place of the ISA server? Just want to make sure before I strat trying to convince the people above!

 

Thanks for your help

 

Mike Taylor

Nope was faster and more efficient for me

 

(god I sound just like Ric) maybe that is because it really does work as well as we say it does

[Simcfc73]

Just some issues with NTLM authentication to contend with when you switch, like not being able to use Google Chrome to log into Facebook and Media Player issues when streaming.

[john]

All very easily solved though I had issues with 4OD, iPlayer and Windows Updates, just follow the Smoothy guide on the KB for how to deal with the MS Updates, but add in the sites you are having issues with and voilla.