Windows Server 2003 & personal firewalls

[Nicely]

Just got my home network sorted on a 2003 Server domain. 2003 Server comes with the usual Microbotch firewall. However, I'm after something that I can control a bit easier and I know I can trust. Most of the personal firewalls won't work on 2003 Server.

Any suggestions?


EDIT: should have mentioned that my 1.5MB connection goes through it.

[Draven]

give isa a shot?
its quite good once you get your head round it

[Yak]

Thats not exacly cheap though. Would bunging a router in there be better or do you want control of the applications access?

[Nicely]

What about Tiny Firewall?

[RohanC]

give isa a shot?


NOOOOOO!!!! UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN!!!

How about Black Ice Defender... http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?V1=253470&PN=1&SP=10023&xid=26412&CID=0&DSP=&CUR=840&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=0

Not sure if they do a 2k3 server version yet though. I think Black ICe is the daddy :)

I am aware that ISS worked with M$ on ISA firewall.. its still crap tho....

[Martin T]

I'd get a router with built in firewall. I would never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever install any personal firewall software on a server operating system. They may be a necessary evil on some Workstations/home computers but I'd never let one near a server knowing all of the problems they cause.

[RohanC]

I'd get a router with built in firewall. I would never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever install any personal firewall software on a server operating system. They may be a necessary evil on some Workstations/home computers but I'd never let one near a server knowing all of the problems they cause.

Problems.. dont know what you mean.. only took me 4 hours to get a DC working with ZoneAlarm.....

Damn satelite broadband, can only connect with USB and they only have M$ drivers for the sat box :furious:

[Nicely]

Martin, although I don't agree about your personal firewall comments (I have had no issues with McAfee), I have had a look at the prices of broadband routers with inbuilt firewalls and agree that this is probably a good route to take.

Don't get me wrong, in a business environment I would never consider a PF. However, I'm talking about a small network, a free PC, and the other workstations are all protected.

[Jonny]

How about a naff old PC and a copy of ipcop? Free if you have the parts lying around...

Failing that, I'd agree with a hardware DSL router...