Re: [TCLUG:2254] Cable modem is ripping me off

[Carl Wilhelm Soderstrom <chrome@real-time.com>]

On Mon, Oct 16, 2000 at 03:35:25PM -0500, Andy Zbikowski wrote:
> You should check out the Netmax suite to pacify the NT proxy folks.
> (http://www.netmax.com) Pick your flavor: 
> Linux or FreeBSD
> 
> What you're really paying for is "we tweaked it for maximum security" and
> the tasty web interfaces. I've never used any of them myself, but the web
> interfaces look good, and those NT folks should "get it."
> 
> Anybody used something from the Netmax line?

yep. set up a fileserver once for a customer. I can't say it's all bad; 
they do have a web-based interface for just about anything you want to do 
/with the supplied software/. I don't remember if the web interface uses SSL; 
I don't think so.
	to their compliment, they do have a (apparently) decent tape backup
system included. it doesn't support anything other than SCSI tape drives out
of the box; but with some knowlege and command-line tweaking, IDE tape drives 
can be supported as well.
	they have a package system, which is sort of "rpms writ large"...
they bundle a lot of things together into upgrade packages. there are
security updates listed on their web site; but they aren't very up to
date. (that said, they're better than nothing). 
	security-wise; they're nothing spectacular. they leave piles of
unnecessary services open, just like redhat. (which is probably where it
comes from).
	I believe there's some degree of X interface; but since the box we
installed it on had an unsupported chipset at the time (intel 810); I never
bothered to try it.
	mind you, I was working on a fileserver rather than a firewall.
YMMV.

as for the web interface itself, I think it's very clunky and not very
intuitive. it might be easier to pick up than a command line, for those who
are afraid to learn text commands; but it's far from being pretty or quick.
(and it's a rather hideous shade of green). 
	take a look at the online demo to see for yourself.

they also do some wierd things with user accounts. it's not trivial to go
from web-management to command-line management. I remember having problems
changing user passwords on the command line (they aren't written to
/etc/passwd by default; only if you give them shell access as well). user
directories are under /var/ as well (buried a few layers deeper than
strictly necessary, too).
 
so yes, it's a decent tool for newbies to use; but not at all a good place to
learn about linux. Also, it's like most other GUI-fied interfaces; if stuff
breaks, you're in trouble. (that said, it looked fairly idiot-resistant).

Carl Soderstrom
-- 
Network Engineer
Real-Time Enterprises
(952) 943-8700