What constitutes....***firewall***??????

[Dooin' it]

While this may seem easy........(simply shop/google/cnet "firewall")......except that doesn't really *define* it and most firewall searches basically come up w/ *router*.

Looking at google/cnet etc. some networking items are called *firewall*. Of course they're usually linked to routers & such but there are so many other similar items (a lot of which people think they need but don't) like.........

gateways
switches
hubs
etc.

Once heard a guy at Fry's trying to describe the difference between a switch and a hub. 'Bout lost my marbles out my ear.

So...............anyway..................what EXACTLY constitutes........."F-I-R-E-W-A-L-L"?????

TIA!!!!!!!!!!! (Hopefully this'll help someone who searches when all the geniuses....<JP>.....chime in. Well, at least JP will probably be first, anyway!)

[DallasDon]

That would be under "Google:, definiton of firewall:

link


The lazy way, copy and paste:

A firewall is a set of related programs, located at a network gateway server, that protects the resources of a private network from users from other networks. Basically, a firewall, working closely with a router program, filters all network packets to determine whether to forward them toward their destination. A firewall is often installed away from the rest of the network so that no incoming request can get directly at private network resources. There are a number of firewall screening methods. A simple one is to screen requests to make sure they come from acceptable (previously identified) domain names and IP addresses. For mobile users, firewalls allow remote access in to the private network by the use of secure logon procedures and authentication certificates.

[Dooin' it]

Hmmmmmmm.........I see I need to be more specific...........

Let's try.............what constitutes "Hardware Firewall"???? eh?

Is a router all by itself a ***firewall***??????

[ArcticFox]

A software firewall is something like ZoneAlarm that is a peice of software residing on the PC's on a network.

A hardware firewall is a physical device, such as a router, internet security appliance, or something like this:

http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/d...3CR16110-95-US

Edit - more info - a hardware firewall is almost always better than a software firewall, as it takes up zero resources on your PC's and when a hacker reaches your firewall, if it's a hardware setup, he hasen't even hit your network yet, just the outside door. With a software firewall, he's already through the gate and into your network waiting for the key inside each room, if you get what I mean.

[Dooin' it]

Yes, AF, that's perfect.

Ya, somebody on another forum was asking for a (in this order)........firewall/router/wireless connection.

I proposed that simply a wireless router would do all of this. When it came down to defining *firewall* I find myself a bit ***assuming*** so wanted to make sure I had concrete to fill the trenches with.......so to speak!!

BTW, here were the recommendations given for the guy as a ***firewall/router*** and ***router*** (which prompted my suggesting one thing takes care of it all).........

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3729512

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3669104

To further deepen the question then, if routers didn't have WEP/WPA what would make them ***firewalls***??? (for example a wired router?.....since wep/wpa are really only wireless-related)

[ArcticFox]

???

Linksys blows, Netgear is OK but my WGR614 gave up the ghost recently, so I'm hesitant to recommend them with my full honors, but whaddabout:

http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/d...=3CRWE554G72TU

Cheapest price for that item is:
http://www.pagecomputers.com/cgi-bin/page/B1425139.html

[GroundZero3]

hrm i havent had any problems with my linksys router

WEP/WPA is encryption for wireless. It has nothing to deal with the wired part hence when they dont put them on just wired routers

moved this thread to the proper section

[Dooin' it]

OK, Gz, that's cool.

Ya, if you noticed, I made sure to "exclude" wep/wpa from the *wired* scenario.........thus my question again.........

What makes a regular plain-jane wired router a ***firewall***?????

And, FWIW, I wasn't showing the links for pricing at all. I paid $19AR for my D-link DI-524. Wouldn't pay a penny more for a G router these days! (c;

[[Neo770]]

I think what makes a regular router firewall is that it blockes all incomming traffic on ports that havent been specifically opened for use.

[GroundZero3]

well those home routers your buy arent technically firewalls.

They protect your network and everything but when you are talking about firewalls cisco comes to mind.

basically what makes it a router is it decides what packets come into the network and to which computer

more info

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/router.htm