[dba-Tech] Software Firewalls

Scott Marcus marcus at tsstech.com
Tue Dec 7 13:12:17 CST 2004


So the question should be, "Which routers supply outbound traffic
filtering?".

I'm asking. because I've always just used the hardware router firewall
on the cheap routers and never worried about outbound traffic.

Scott Marcus 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of John W.
Colby
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 12:13 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Software Firewalls

In fact a hardware firewall usually does everything that a software
firewall does, plus more.  It is unusual for example for software
firewalls to do stateful packet inspection.  Doing so is extremely
processor intensive.  A good hardware firewall has a co-processor out in
the router that does that stuff and offloads the workstation from doing
that.  IF you have a good hardware firewall, and the cheaper routers are
NOT firewalls or are very limited firewalls, then you truly do not need
a software firewall.  I know of nothing that a software firewall does
that a good hardware firewall cannot be made to do.  

Furthermore, the hardware firewall can be made to do it for ALL
workstations at one fell swoop, vs. having to write rules and get them
applied to each and every workstation's software firewall.

I am NOT recommending that everyone out there get rid of their
zonealarm.  I am saying however that if you spend the bucks on a good
router with a good hardware firewall built into it, and you set it up
correctly, then you can safely get rid of Zonealarm (or whatever you
use).

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 

Contribute your unused CPU cycles to a good cause:
http://folding.stanford.edu/

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Mitsules,
Mark
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 12:03 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Software Firewalls


Arthur,

I concur with Bobby.  Regardless of Drew's feelings on the subject, or
for that matter Bryan's situation, I believe a software firewall like
ZoneAlarm DOES serve its purpose very well.  Using ZoneAlarm, NOTHING
can access the internet or conversely allow connections FROM the
internet unless you SPECIFICALLY grant it that right.

Different strokes and all that...ymmv.


Mark




-----Original Message-----
From: Bobby Heid [mailto:bheid at appdevgrp.com]
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2004 3:59 PM
To: 'Discussion of Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Software Firewalls


No, a software firewall can help with apps "phoning home".

I run both.

Bobby

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Arthur
Fuller
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2004 3:50 PM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Software Firewalls


Stupid question of the month (perhaps)...

Given that I have a LinkSys router, is any additional software firewall 
redundant?

Arthur

>  
>


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