[SunRescue] dsl advice

[GregoryLeblancGLeblanc at cu-portland.edu]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: BSD Bob the old greybead BSD freak
> [mailto:bobkeys at weedcon1.cropsci.ncsu.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 9:14 AM
> To: rescue at sunhelp.org
> Subject: Re: [SunRescue] dsl advice
> 
> > > Are there any issues with machine speed in using an older 
> sparc as a
> > > gateway?  I was thinking of doing something similar, and 
> have available
> > > things like an IPX or an SS2, or maybe a DEC 3000 that I 
> could use.
> > > What are the pros and cons of using older slower 
> equipment as gateways
> > > for the home net, at the usual home connect speeds one is 
> likely to get
> > > these days?
> > 
> > I use an IPX running Redhat 5.2.  It performs flawlessly, I 
> never touch
> > it.  More than enough speed.
> 
> Are there any security issues in using Redhat vs Openbsd for 
> this particular
> kind of gateway application?

I doubt it, assuming that you're keeping up with patches.  My RedHat
firewall doesn't run anything except the firewall software, so it should be
pretty hard to break, unless there is a flaw in the kernel someplace.  I'm
planning to move over to OpenBSD soon, but that's mostly because I'm hoping
to add some functionality, not for increased security.  OpenBSD ships
secure, RedHat can be made secure.  I don't think that OpenBSD out of the
box is any more secure than a well locked down Linux machine.  And I
certainly like the way that RedHat works better than those weird BSD things.
:-)
	Greg