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3Com to Sell Firewall-in-a-NIC

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the better-make-sure-they're-secure dept.

Broue Master writes "According to a UK ZDNet article, 3Com is commercializing a firewall into a NIC aimed at desktop and servers." Interesting idea, although it'll be interesting to see if the idea catches on.

4 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. interesting by flynt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Interesting idea, although it'll be interesting to see if the idea catches on.

    That's interestingly a very interesting comment that piqued by interest in this interesting subject of interest. What I'm more interested in knowing is if any other interesting people are interested in this interesting idea? Because if there are interesting people interested in this interesting idea, well, I almost hesitate to say it, I'd be interested!

  2. Hmmm. Interesting reutilization. by irregular_hero · · Score: 5, Informative
    The article indicates that the NIC in question is the 3CR990, which, up until this point, has been the "encryption offload" high-performance NIC. The firewall simply replaces the onboard encryption "soft"-ware with something that handles packets a little differently. I find it fascinating that the NIC is simply "reloaded" with appropriate software that can directly alter its core function. It would be really intruiging to figure out just how this is done on the card.

    What is especially interesting is what is loaded: Secure Computing's Gauntlet firewall product (yes, it is originally derived from the old TIS stuff, but has been commercially, er... hydrogenized :) ). This would seem to indicate that the card can support applications that weren't written for it, e.g., it can use software whose platform has been retargeted in compilation (well, at least it implies that).

    I wonder what other derived applications could be loaded into that space? Hmmm... the mind wanders...

    You thought I was going to mention a Beowulf cluster, didn't you? Shame on you. No cookie for you.

  3. Already happened by aridhol · · Score: 5, Informative

    Merilus already has a FireCard.
    It isn't quite the same, but it exists.

    --
    I can't say that I don't give a fuck. I've just run out of fuck to give.
  4. Moderators on crack by Sloppy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why was this modded up as funny? I thought it was interesting.

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.