*BSD News Article 44461


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From: dreamer@lhaven.UUmh.Ab.Ca (Lawrence "The Dreamer" Chen)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans.misc,comp.dcom.servers,comp.dcom.modems,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,biz.comp.telebit.netblazer
Subject: Routers and Firewalls
Message-ID: <S72Jw*wNz1@lhaven.UUmh.Ab.Ca>
Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 17:01:26 GMT
FollowUp-To: poster
Organization: Lunatic Haven Information Systems
X-Newsreader: Arn V1.03a
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Please respond by Email, since my USENET connection is non-existent at best.

Due to various problems with our current UUCP provider, our company is
investigating the possibility of switching to a local Internet provider.
(FYI, the UUCP provider is Portal Communications, and we have received
zero USENET in several weeks and we are questioning if we are getting all
of our mail....which is very important since we are trying to organize
a conference for the end of June)

Anyways, I'm now faced with some interesting requirements for connecting
our office to the Internet.

The first is the requirement of a Firewall.  I don't know how strong of
a policy management wants yet, but from past experience they want something
for the least money and requires the least of my time to maintain...but
offers the best protection in the world.  I know that the requirements
contradict themselves, but I suspect I'm not alone in the world.  From
the budget and my time point of view, I suspect a router with firewall
features would fit the bill better than trying to build a dual-homed
Firewall.

Of course, eventually they are going to want anonymous FTP and a Web server.
Suggestions on how to implement after the selection of the router/firewall
would be appreciated.

Currently our one main server is an Interactive 3.0 UNIX machine running
on a 486DX/50.  I'm contemplating converting another PC (currently running
Windows) over to FreeBSD.

Anyways, back to the router requirements.

The router we want is to currently do dial-on demand to a V.34 modem to our
Internet service provider.  So, we want it to establish the connection
when necessary, maintain the connection incase it drops, and drop the
connection when it is nolonger necessary.  The router also needs to support
or be upgradable to connect to ISDN.  Management asked the provider for
ISDN, even though I told them they wouldn't like the price.....which of 
course they just found out the price and agreed with me.  However, it may
just be a matter of time for the company to prove that ISDN is the way to
go anyways.

Also, some provision for remote client/LAN access to our own LAN, would
also be a requirement.  Possibly the down road our branch office might want
into us, and when management is away from the office, they'll probably
want to use their laptops to connect in.

So, is there an inexpensive router that combines all the features required?

-- 
 "Just a Crazy Engineer with an Amiga and an HP48sx"    - The Dreamer
 Email: dreamer@lhaven.uumh.ab.ca    or    "Lawrence Chen" @ 1:134/3002
 PHONE: +1 403 526 6019      FAX: +1 403 529 5102       CIS: 74200,2431
 Praxis Society K12 BBS: +1 403 529 1610 Lunatic Haven: +1 403 526 6957
 Packet: VE6LKC @ VE6PAQ.#SAB.AB.CAN.NA
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