There is a company that makes router software and firewall. It is $299, and
it comes pre-loaded on an IDE flash module exactly like the one you're
mentioning.
http://www.mikrotik.com/
I wouldn't recommend that product to anyone who wants a firewall though...
It's neat, but I wouldn't trust it. It isn't ICSA certified, and their web
site makes no mention of the firewall specs other than the word "Firewall"
in it's feature list. I doubt that it would do stateful packet inspection.
It is neat that they have it available on a flash IDE device though.
Anyway, after thinking about the whole storage device issue...once the
GNATbox is booted, I believe that the firewall doesn't need to read anything
off the disk in order to operate. (Guys, correct me if I'm wrong!) If this
is the case, then I have just found a new level of appreciation for
GNATbox's design!
Under this assumption, a failed floppy drive, or even a failed hard drive
would allow the GNATbox to continue running...it just wouldn't be able to
update statistics to disk, re-configure or restart.
And you have probably found that GNATbox does very little disk access while
it runs. A hard drive is spinning all the time, but a floppy drive just
spins up briefly when it is needed. Therefore diskette and drive wear is
really minimized with a floppy system.
Disaster recovery is where the floppy system really shines. To recover from
a bad diskette, all you need to do is make a new one from your saved image
file and you're laughing. Even if you need to replace the floppy drive
itself, it is still less work than with a hard drive, which makes recovery
quicker. And those of us who must guarantee uptime to our clients will
really appreciate this.
To recover from a hard drive failure you would have to replace the hard
drive and then load a couple of floppies to install the software back onto
the new hard drive. It makes for extra steps that I as a person with
limited time on my hands would rather not have to deal with.
A Flash device takes the reliability to a new level though. I'm all for
that!
-Ryan
-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Congdon [mailto:hostmaster_at_congdonweb_dot_net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 5:33 PM
To: Ryan Colp; gb-users_at_gta_dot_com
Subject: Re: IDE Device?
Actually, I can understand the concern of older IDE Drives...
What I was actually thinking about was what you were speaking of. I have a
couple of 'Disk on Module' 16MB IDE Flash Drives. They simply get plugged
straight into the IDE port and power. No need to dedicate a space for a hard
drive (or moving parts...My biggest concern about the GnatBox) I think I'd
actually prefer an old hard drive over a new floppy disk any day...
Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan Colp" <rcolp_at_csil_dot_net>
To: <gb-users_at_gta_dot_com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 16:23
Subject: IDE Device?
> Send postings to: gb-users_at_gta_dot_com
> Access the list archives at:
> http://www.gnatbox.com/gb-users/
> ----------------------------------
> A while ago we were discussing the need for a larger capacity media to run
> GNATbox from. There were strong feelings from myself and others that
using
> a hard drive (especially an old one!) is a bad idea from a reliability
> standpoint. The fact remains that GTA will need to find a way to store
more
> data as more features and device support are added. Some of the ideas
were
> to use two floppy drives, a hard drive, or a flash card.
>
> I saw something neat today... Solid State IDE drives that use Flash
memory!
> I knew that there were flash cards available...but this one actually
> connects and behaves like an IDE hard disk. Extremely cool! You can get
> modules that perch on the IDE connector of your motherboard, or you can
get
> 2.5 and 3.5" IDE flash drives that fit in a drive bay with no moving
parts.
>
>
> I found these devices at Advantech, and I'm sure there are or will be more
> manufacturers to choose from in the future... http://www.advantech.com
>
> Putting GNATbox on a solid-state storage device would make the software
> version every bit as reliable as the GTA hardware solution! The only
moving
> parts you're left with are the cooling fans! Two-floppy support is a good
> idea...but solid state is a great idea.
>
> So while I was against the notion of using IDE drives in the past, in this
> case I would be all for the idea of seeing IDE support in GNATbox...just
as
> long as people don't use old hard drives that will develop bad sectors
much
> sooner than later and cause a tech support nightmare!
>
> Ain't technology great? Yaay Flash!
>
> -Ryan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christopher Congdon [mailto:hostmaster_at_congdonweb_dot_net]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 1:53 PM
> To: gb-users_at_gta_dot_com
> Subject: RE: remote logging configuration problems
>
>
> Send postings to: gb-users_at_gta_dot_com
> Access the list archives at:
> http://www.gnatbox.com/gb-users/
> ----------------------------------
> Is there any chance that GnatBox will be able to be stored on an IDE
device?
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nick Holland" <nhollan_at_home_dot_com>
> To: <gb-users_at_gta_dot_com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 9:14 AM
> Subject: Re: remote logging configuration problems
>
>
> > Send postings to: gb-users_at_gta_dot_com
> > Access the list archives at:
> > http://www.gnatbox.com/gb-users/
> > ----------------------------------
> > I have seen a message similar to that...it was due to having the
> > write-protect slide set on the GB disk. Is this possible in your
> > case? After a little disaster many years ago, my finger just
> > automatically write-protects diskettes when they pass through my
> > hand...often on the way to being formatted or otherwise being written
> > to. 8-)
> >
> > Failing that, how about a bad floppy or drive? I'm interpreting
> > Input/Output error as a pretty clear message that something went wrong
> > durring the write, and that's pretty simple in GB's case. I don't
> > think it directly delt with the logging setup.
> >
> > Nick.
> >
> >
> >
> > Seth Clark wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > > I'm trying to setup logging but get the following message when trying
to
> > > save my
> > > Remote logging configuration.
> > > I'm using: GNAT Box Light Version: 3.0.1
> > >
> > > Unable to save remote logging configuration.
> > > Input/output error.
> > >
> > > Syslog server IP address: 192.168.1.45
> > > Filter facility: local1
> > > NAT facility: local0
> > > WWW facility: local2
> > > Priority to log tunnel opens: warning5
> > > Priority to log tunnel closes: warning5
> > > Priority to log WWW pages accessed: warning5
> > >
> > > 192.168.1.45 is the address of a NT box where I have syslog.exe
running
> > >
> > > Any Suggestions?
> > >
> > > Seth
> > >
> > ----------------------------------------------
> > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo_at_gta_dot_com
> > with "unsubscribe gb-users your_email_address
> > in the body of the message
> >
>
> ----------------------------------------------
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> ----------------------------------------------
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>
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