SUSE Linux Presents Firewall Solution for Company Networks

June 28, 2001


Today, SUSE Linux, the international technology leader and provider of Open Source solutions, presented a new Linux solution for professional deployment at the LinuxTag expo in Stuttgart, Germany.

Oakland, CALIFORNIA

Today, SUSE Linux, the international technology leader and provider of Open Source solutions, presented a new Linux solution for professional deployment at the LinuxTag expo in Stuttgart, Germany. The "SUSE Linux Firewall on CD" offers efficient protection for Internet-linked companies mission-critical data and IT infrastructure.

SUSE Linux Firewall is an application level gateway combining high security standards of a hardware solution with the flexibility of a software firewall. As central component of an intelligent overall IT security policy, SUSE Linux Firewall on CD provides a maximum level of security by checking, monitoring, analyzing, and login ongoing data transfer.

Instead of being installed on the hard disk, SUSE Linux Firewall is so-called a live system that enables the operating system to be booted directly from a read-only CD-ROM. Since it is impossible to manipulate the firewall software on CD-ROM, the live system constitutes a security gain. The configuration files for the firewall, such as the ipchains packet filter settings, are placed on a write-protected configuration floppy.

The source code, which is supplied together with the solution, enables an adaptation to specific requirements. The second CD contains the "Firewall Administration System" (FAS), a set of convenient tools for quick configuration and rational administration of even multiple firewalls.

Used by Lycos Europe Since Early 2001
"Lycos Europe has made positive and convincing experiences with a SUSE Linux Firewall on CD," stated Peter Brockhausen, Project Manager Software Engineering of Lycos Europe. "Availability and security are foremost priorities for the Lycos services. SUSE offers a technically feasible concept, which is also approved by the Federal Office for Security."

External and Internal Security
In case of attack on a company's mission-critical data, SUSE Linux Firewall on CD does not only protect the network against external access, but it also defines the limits for various divisions within the company. SUSE Linux Firewall on CD continuously logs the data transfer and provides transparent information on all accesses.

In addition, an http content filter offers the possibility of filtering HTML pages effectively. Undesired contents can be recognized and blocked. The proxy server, based on the Open Source program package "squid", accelerates Internet operations by saving pages that were viewed previously to quickly reload them on request.

Further features include syslog, postfix as mail relay, and SSH support. The package includes the software on 2 CD-ROMs, a 500-page manual, and 30 days installation support. The complete package can be obtained directly from the manufacturer or from software retailers at the price of USD 649.


About Novell
Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell® Nsure™), Web application development (Novell exteNd™) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise™), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell NgageSM). Active in the open source community with its Ximian and SUSE Linux brands, Novell is firmly committed to open source and offers comprehensive Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net - a world without information boundaries - helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

Novell is a registered trademarks; Nsure, exteNd and Nteprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE Linux AG. * All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.