can anyone suggest the pros of having a linux box.. debian 3.1 with iptables or ipcop versus something like a pix 501 or AT ar440.. The cable modem would connect to the fw, then I would need lan for the desktop pc and a lan for a web/mail server, the server would actually be more tied down than the desktop as only web and mail ports would be open..
all i really need is to have the fw running nat, denying everything bar web/mail stopping syn attacks and dos and stuff..
the server I have is a fairly old rackmount with dual power supplies so its noisy, large and fairly power hungry, whereas an appliance is small quiet and easy on the power.
anything a linux firewall can do that a pix cant?
Flamer.