After working with PIX's, Checkpoints, Netscreens and Fortigates, I would go for Checkpoints every single time, given the exhorbitent amount that Checkpoints cost. I find the Netscreen web GUI really oddly put together (but administration consoles for any firewall take getting used to), and have seen them go flakey after a couple of months of uptime (dropping random packets to ports, etc.) with the only solution a restart.
The Checkpoints (especially the IPSO based Nokia boxes) are rock solid, and packed with features (if you want to pay that high price). We have several of these boxes (IP 330's, IP 350's, IP 390's) that have been running great for years with no issues. We push a hell of a lot of traffic through them, and don't get the issues we've seen with some Netscreens.
The Fortigates got off to a bad start with us - they do weird things too, especially when they're clustered. The GUI is really slick, but sometimes too many features just get in the way of what you want to get done.
The PIX's are really nice too, and seem to "just work". I've less experience with these than the others, but I'd go for a PIX over a Netscreen any day.
The UK has passed a few recent bills which make it much easier for IT workers who are not EU citizens to find work here. The main government agency to deal with these kinds of work permits is the Overseas Labour Service (which is a division of the Department for Education and Employment). Basically, IT workers are considered a shortage occupation here. There is a large list of shortage occupations on the website if you scan around. If your particular skillset is listed, you get to go through a fast track process (typically less than a month to get approval), rather than the slower track (which is more like 7 months +). With the slow track process, the company hiring you has to prove that there are no suitable candidates who are either citizens of the UK, or citizens of the EU. I'm a US citizen, and the company that sponsored me got me approved in a week and a half. But be sure to keep a close eye on the current shortage list. When you want to renew your permit, make sure your skills are still listed, otherwise you'll find yourself back on the long track, and very likely lose your job. It's a tough world, but the UK is a fantastic country to live in. And from what I've seen, it's very high tech, and I've never felt held back in my job by being a non-citizen.
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After working with PIX's, Checkpoints, Netscreens and Fortigates, I would go for Checkpoints every single time, given the exhorbitent amount that Checkpoints cost. I find the Netscreen web GUI really oddly put together (but administration consoles for any firewall take getting used to), and have seen them go flakey after a couple of months of uptime (dropping random packets to ports, etc.) with the only solution a restart.
The Checkpoints (especially the IPSO based Nokia boxes) are rock solid, and packed with features (if you want to pay that high price). We have several of these boxes (IP 330's, IP 350's, IP 390's) that have been running great for years with no issues. We push a hell of a lot of traffic through them, and don't get the issues we've seen with some Netscreens.
The Fortigates got off to a bad start with us - they do weird things too, especially when they're clustered. The GUI is really slick, but sometimes too many features just get in the way of what you want to get done.
The PIX's are really nice too, and seem to "just work". I've less experience with these than the others, but I'd go for a PIX over a Netscreen any day.
Since when was the Nobel Prize a team sport?
The UK has passed a few recent bills which make it much easier for IT workers who are not EU citizens to find work here. The main government agency to deal with these kinds of work permits is the Overseas Labour Service (which is a division of the Department for Education and Employment). Basically, IT workers are considered a shortage occupation here. There is a large list of shortage occupations on the website if you scan around. If your particular skillset is listed, you get to go through a fast track process (typically less than a month to get approval), rather than the slower track (which is more like 7 months +). With the slow track process, the company hiring you has to prove that there are no suitable candidates who are either citizens of the UK, or citizens of the EU. I'm a US citizen, and the company that sponsored me got me approved in a week and a half. But be sure to keep a close eye on the current shortage list. When you want to renew your permit, make sure your skills are still listed, otherwise you'll find yourself back on the long track, and very likely lose your job. It's a tough world, but the UK is a fantastic country to live in. And from what I've seen, it's very high tech, and I've never felt held back in my job by being a non-citizen.