firewall

[newbee]

Is a firewall a program or a device? I read that the firewall can be implemented on software and hardware? How is it implemented on software? How is it implemented on hardware?

[bassman]

Hey Newbee,
First lets discuss what hardware and software really are.
Hardware is the most obvious, it is anything tangible. The concept of software can be a little harder to grasp (no pun intended http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ).
It is the coding and programing that is stored on various media and hardware that causes output due to input.
A software firewall would be a program that you install on your harddrive.
A hardware firewall would be a seperate device from your harddrive that would most likely have a hardware chip (i.e. CMOS) with the program coded into it (firmware).
It would be basicly implemented the same in either condition, just a matter of internal or external.

Hope that helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

------------------
Waiting patiently for the future to arrive. Frank's Place (http://dreamwater.net/tech/frankscomp/)

[Gallaeglagh]

To give a few examples

a software firewall would be Sygate, Tiny or Zone Alarm.

a hardware firewall would be A Linksys, Netgear router/firewall.

------------------
"Mr President we must not allow a mineshaft gap!" - Dr Strangelove

[YODA74]

Another Hardware Firewall would be an ICSA Certified Firewall and VPN Solutions from watchguard,From around $400.00 and up.

------------------
Death has come to our windows.

-- Jeremiah 9:21
(undoubtedly a Biblical reference to a Microsoft product!)

[Beno]

Newbee,

Hardware firewalls, if you can afford one are the best to get. They don't chew up valuable CPU time and memory as a software firewall would. However software firewalls are free and can be quite effective in 99% of cases. If you have the $$$ buy a hardware firewall, otherwise download zonealarm or blackice for free :-)



------------------
"Don't stop till you get enough"

[Ghost_Hacker]

Software firewalls are firewalls that run on top of an operating system. There are 2 types host and network. A host firewall would be like Zonealarm or Blackice, it protects just the box it's running on. A network firewall would be like Microsoft's ISA or Checkpoint Firewall-1 which would protect whatever internal network it was connected to.


A hardware firewall is a device with firewall functionality as part of it's firmware. Linksys routers being a example most home users would come across. (as already pointed out by others)


When looking at what firewall is best, it is not simply a matter of "soft" or "hard", but instead what do you need the firewall to do on your network.

Do you need packet filtering? Proxy/NAT functionality? a firewall that keeps track of who's talking to who? (statefully) or some combination of all these functions?


Hope this helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 02-15-2002).]

[newbee]

Thank you so much, I appreciate the help