SmoothWall 2.0 Linux-Based Firewall Released

thegraham writes "Despite some earlier server problems, SmoothWall 2.0 has been released this evening - there are also release notes available. SmoothWall is 'a firewall operating system distribution based on Linux, enabling a low-end, possibly otherwise redundant, Intel and compatible PC to become a hardened Internet firewall', and changes from version 1 include: 2.4 kernel, new web interface, improved networking and many bugs corrected through the Beta program."

Comments

I dunno..

[grub]

Using an old Pentium with two NICs for this is great, but the $699 licensing fee is a bit steep. Better stick to OpenBSD..

Re:I downloaded Linux

[Anonymous Coward]

I couldn't agree more. With XP's firewall, I'm able to completely lose all access to the internet. I never have to worry about getting infected with virii, because they have no chance of being downloaded on my bulletproof machine.

I wonder when the rest of the OSs of the world will realize that XPs new focus on security first is the way to go.

Re:I downloaded Linux

[dasmegabyte]

Is there a -2, Obviously Retarded?

Great protection

[Spackler]

This thing is great. It is preventing my unauthorized slashotting attempt.

Re:OpenBSD

[amplt1337]

Has been doing this for a long time...

You mean... dying?

Re:I used smoothwall for a while

[Chunky Kibbles]

See, here's the thing; there's enough choices out there that nowadays I tend to have a "one strike and you're out" policy for a lot of software.

Don't like distro XX? Use a different one.
Don't like firewall softare YY? There's more available
Don't like mail server ZZ? No-one else likes Qmail, either.

I used to be a huge RedHat proponent, then they released 7.0, and I quit using RedHat.

The behaviour of Smoothwall once was so spectacularly bad [and I mean SPECTACULARLY], that I simply can't trust Smoothwall ever again, no-how, no-way. To the point where I'll actively encourage other people to avoid it also. Redhat is on my list of distro's I recommend newbies try, although I don't like it for my own personal use. Smoothwall is on my shitlist for the rest of time.

And since there's other, just-as-good-if-not-better choices out there, I see no reason to use Smoothwall.

In all seriousness, what benefits do I, a normal user, gain from using non-commercial smoothwall [with hopelessly untrustworthy developers] over using somethign else like IPCop?

Gary (-;

Re:I use the forked IPCop

[gnu-generation-one]

"Anyone else got opinions on Smoothwall vs. IPCop?"

They should write that on the bottom of fireworks, in place of the traditional "light blue touchpaper and retire"...