What's a good Firewall Device for Home?

[GamingDaemon]

Can people recommend a good firewall device for a home network for about 4 desktops and 1 laptop that will be connected to the internet via a cable modem.

I'm trying figure out if I need packet inspection type protection.

My budget is <= $400.

TIA

 

[azev]

You can get cisco pix501 or pix506, great firewalls and give you a chance to learn cisco pix command

 

[Atheus]

Linux based or 2nd hand Cisco based firewalls are your best options for a 'serious' system at <$400, but to be honest, if you have to ask, you probably won't know how to set the thing up anyway. A normal NAT system as found in almost every consumer router, combined with a software firewall to block outgoing communications, will be perfectly adequate.

 

[InlineFour]

let's be realistic now, if he doesn't host a public server (aka open any ports), a consumer NAT router will be good enough.

i recomend playing around with clarkconnect. it's based on linux and free!

 

[GamingDaemon]

I should have specified that this is for a pre-wire network closet for a new home being built. It will need to support 2 casual users and 1 serious gamer (me). So it needs to be an appliance that can fit in the network closet that my specialist builds for me.

And you are probably right that I don't need the level of Cisco.

Does that help?

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon

I should have specified that this is for a pre-wire network closet for a new home being built. It will need to support 2 casual users and 1 serious gamer (me). So it needs to be an appliance that can fit in the network closet that my specialist builds for me.

And you are probably right that I don't need the level of Cisco.

Does that help?

are you referring to network racks?

 

[GamingDaemon]

It is a network closet panel, nothing large. Here is a picture at my contractor's website.

 

[blemoine]

i am pretty sure a consumer router will fit in your closet. they are usually pretty small. if you must spend $400.00 buy a used pc and install IPCOP. it makes an excellent firewall. it will do more than enough.

 

[GamingDaemon]

blemoine,

If I buy a PC to use as my firewall with IPCOP, where would I physically put it? My house won't have a basement, and I am trying to keep this clean. I also don't want to have a dedicated PC for a firewall. That's why I would prefer to buy a small firewall appliance. The $400 figure was just a relatively high number I threw out there.

I guess the real quesiton is: Should I use a LinkSys, NetGear or D-Link firewall device, or I should go with something more expensive like SonicWall, FireBrick, etc?

 

[blemoine]

take your pick Linksys Dlink or Netgear will give about the same results. the sonicwall & firebrick i think or over kill. go with the consumer router that you think looks the best in closet. you won't see a performance difference by going with a particular brand.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Interesting. It seems that all three of those (Netgear, Linksys and DLink) all have negative reviews about dropping connections. Perhaps that is just what you get when you spend ~ $100.

Now if I also want to control what websites some computers have access to (like my child's computer), do I need a software firewall. I want my gaming computer to have essentially as fast a connection to the web as possible.

 

[azev]

I'd go ahead with sonicwall. SonicOS is pretty easy to do, and you can do web filtering like you wanted to do. Most of firewall have rule based access control which is very easy to learn. With Sonicwall you'll get the benefit to dial in via VPN when you're away. Get entry level Sonicwall, and I think you'll be set.

 

[InlineFour]

"if you have to ask, you probably don't need one."

 

[bluestrobe]

Linksys BEFSR41

or

D-Link DI-604

or

Netgear RP614

This is assuming you don't want to go wireless from inside of a copper loaded closet. I would go Linksys out of personal preference but the D-Link is also good. Never had luck with netgear products. You don't need an enterprise firewall and a consumer one would be your choice at this point.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: bluestrobe

This is assuming you don't want to go wireless from inside of a copper loaded closet.

Can you explain this a little more. Do you mean that the network closet will limit my wireless broadcast?

 

[azev]

I suggest getting an ap, and run a wall outlet in the middle of the house at the highest point, than you can run Power over ethernet so you dont have to worry about having power outlet there. This is exactly how I install wireless in my house, and I got good coverage for the whole house (around 2800sq 2 stories).

 

[GamingDaemon]

Just to follow up on this thread, I ended up buy the Buffalow wireless router:

BUFFALO WHR-G54S 125M Wireless Cable/DSL Smart Router.

Aside from some setup problems (my cable modem was caching the old mac address from previous router for about 30 minutes), everything is great. My download speeds went from 1.5Mbps to anywhere from 2.8MBps to > 10MBps. Add to that great wireless service and many more security features, and I am one happy camper.