Firewall Speed

[Brpilot99]

Hi everybody ... we moved from the LEA broadband to virgin in the summer and installed a netgear 318 firewall box. It does the job but the throughput is quite slow. We are getting 8 meg on a 20 meg line ... Ive googled this and it seems that that is the case for these boxes. Can anyone recommend a replacement that will speed up the throughput so we get the full 20 megs but doesnt cost a fortune.. We are a small primary.

Thanks in advance

Brian

[FN-GM]

I would probably go with Smoothwall or a Cisco Firewall.

 

You could also use Smoothwall express.

[Geoff]

Old PC running Linux will do the job if your on a budget and don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty.

[twin--turbo]

Always ran Linux based FW's up until our new build (still got them in some roles).

 

( Clearos, Untangle, Endian) all do free software firewalls.

 

We now have a CISCO ASA5520, which is more than man enough for the job. But when we looked at adding an extra 4-port line card to it the price was a mouth watering £2,500!!

 

Rob

[shadowx]

Definitely another vote for Smoothwall Express, get an old linux box with a couple of network cards, installed Smoothie Express which is free and configure the cards and you're sorted.

[CyberNerd]

Cisco ASA here. It's been great and definitely gets my vote.

[twin--turbo]

Not cheep though and not easy to manage compared to many other solutions.

 

Rob

[bossman]

@Brpilot99:

 

I would get in touch with your ISP provider and make them aware of the issue and get them to replace with a router which meets the criteria, I would suggest a Cisco 2600 with Smoothwall box sat behind it for your own proxy filtering.

 

If the school cannot afford the cost of Smoothwall UTP box then as has been suggested Smoothwall express on a linux box with 2Gig nics minimum and 2Gb RAM minimum.

 

Hope you get it sorted

[twin--turbo]

Cisco 2600????

 

Noah used them.

 

An 800 or 1800 with Adv/Enterprise would do the job as both router and firewall.

 

Rob

[shadowx]

Seems like there is some confusion going on here...

 

Firewalls and routers are two different things, admittedly these days they tend to get bundled into one device but when the OP asked for firewall advice I assumed he/she wanted advice on a dedicated firewall, suggesting their setup had a firewall box AND a physical router. If that's the case then Smoothwall Express on any old hardware (With a decent sized drive for caching and logs and like bossman said, 2gb RAM minimum) with 2 decent NICs would do the job fine.

 

If you want a router AND a firewall in one set of hardware then you'd need something else...

[glennda]

Watchguards are fairly good devices.

[twin--turbo]

Got two WG fireboxes on the floor next to me.

 

Rob

[MatthewL]

Another Watchguard fan here, got 100 out at various sites.

[twin--turbo]

Another Watchguard fan here, got 100 out at various sites.

 

Any idea on the worth of a X5500e Peak?

 

Rob

[MatthewL]

Hope this helps.

[glennda]

Any idea on the worth of a X5500e Peak?

 

Rob

 

Without a live security subscription not a lot i think - few hundred pounds at most.

[twin--turbo]

Are they any use without?

 

We inherited them along with an SSL500.

 

Rob

[glennda]

Are they any use without?

 

We inherited them along with an SSL500.

 

Rob

 

No you will be able to use it for firewall only just not get updates/support for the device. or use services such as web blocker.