[FW1] Why run FW-1 on Unix vs. NT?

[fw-1-mailin...@lists.us.checkpoint.com]

Can anyone tell me in their experience with FW-1, why I should go with, say
Sun Solaris, vs. NT? NT exists in our shop, where Unix does not.

I'm right now in the process of purchasing the platform for my Checkpoint FW-1.
I've seen the performance reviews where Unix clearly outruns NT.

Maximum load would be about 1000 users hitting our Domino web server on the
inside of the FW-1 where they'll be querying, searching, and downloading
file data. Outbound traffic is http by approx. 125 users. Encryption and
address translation turned on. Does it sound like an NT box is suitable enough?

Many thanks to anyone who responds.

Diana Stuart
Network Manager
Decision Resources, Inc.

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[fw-1-mailin...@lists.us.checkpoint.com]

Diana hi,
with encryption on NT you should get 2Mbps which is E1 so if
your internet feed is <= 2M then NT or Solaris isn't an issue.

As you already have NT expertise then I'd suggest that you
stick with what you know, but nothing like a good excuse to
learn UNIX ;-)

If you give the box 256M RAM with PII-266 I don't see any
probs, I've installed FW 2 through to FW3.0b 2064 on
UNIX and NT with no real problems. Most issues
regarding either system comes back to configuration
these days (not quite true earlier). I think that as long
as you understand
1) IP routing very well
2) Your OS and its limitations and vunerabilities
then you should be OK with either version

my 2 cents worth ;-)

hope it helps
regards
Norman