[NTLUG:Discuss] Re: firewall/router to protect M$ box

[tr_data1]

> From: Johnny Cybermyth <djcybermyth at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [NTLUG:Discuss] Re: Discuss Digest, Vol 31, Issue 19
>
> I have a DSL account with SBC Yahoo!.  I set my home network up 
> using an older p2 box running a stripped down version of suse(v6.2
> I think) as a firewall/router.
>
> [chg to h/w firewall/router resulted in insufficient protection to M$]

That's my belief as to what would happen. I was kind of hoping that the
h/w ones were more robust by now. Some even talk about SPI and
DoS protection. I'd rather not have a monthly/yearly expense of virus
protection s/w on the M$ box either if going through a firewall catches
most things. 

If your main box was/is Linux, would you still have a separate machine
for the firewall/router? I have a k6/233 not being used right now but
it doesn't seem worth the elec$/heat/space expense vs running on my
main box. What are the advantages? I can't imagine such a task would
consume much ram/cpu/disk. Right? Or is it a matter have having all
the ports, etc more tightly controlled on the firewall/router box?
=TR=