Re: [cobalt-security] Qube2 Firewall "feature"

[Malcolm McLeary <mim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jeff,

on 21/3/00 3:09 PM, Jeff Newman at mjeffn@xxxxxxxx wrote:

> I didn't know that.  I don't know about adding a modem.  No telling what
> might break in the GUI though.

The Gateway GUI handles it ... I have no idea what they do with the serial
port because the "modem" is in the PCI slot, not connected to the serial
port.

> I went to my local Heffer store (gateway) and inquired about the rebadged
> cube.  They didn't know what I was talking about.  I asked if they ever
> checked out their own web site - and got a 'you talk'n to me' kind of look
> before I was informed that gateway did windows not linux.  That's great
> considering their headquarters is only a two hour drive from me.

Its featured on the front page in Australia ... <http://www.gw2k.com.au/>

> I'd really like to experience the product.  It sounds better then the
> original and Cobalt's MIA support is making me too nervous to keep
> recommending their products to my clients.  What's up with that?  Nine
> months ago I could get a tech support call back within 30 minutes.  Now I
> can't even get a reply to an email.

I had one for a week to play with ... it worked great, only minor changes to
the GUI, a bigger disk, PCI modem, fixed version of netatalk, and it is
better configured straight out of the box ... just turn it on.  It comes
with a Companion CD to install IE5 and OE5 so a client workstation is
immediately able to talk to it.

It solves many of the "I just bought a Qube" questions you see on the list.

Living in Aust I don't phone Cobalt Tech Support, and they don't phone me.
Email support was acceptable as I could send off a "problem" and have a
response the next morning, now ... its days, if at all!

Only time will tell if Gateway can support end users and VARs any better.  I
think they will as they have the infrastructure to support consumer level
and corporate level PCs and servers.  However, from what I can gather the R
& D and bug fixes is still done by Cobalt ... but Gateway may carry more
weight and that may be a contributing factor in the "Cobalt's MIA support".

> I'm about fed up with them and seeing all of the issues floating around on
> the list makes me more nervous.  Seems like people are spending a lot of
> time trying to fix a lot of broken units out there without cobalt's help.
> Like many of us, I do this stuff for a living and bill only for my time, and
> get paid for my time only if my customers are resonably satisfied with their
> results.  When I recommend a product, I need access to answeres quickly, not
> problems.  I am not a, nor are my clients, beta site.  Cobalt has really
> been giving me cause to rethink how I am doing things.
> 
> What do you think?

That about sums it up.  :-(

Gateway Aust are pushing the Micro Server as a "one stop shop" for internet
connectivity for a small to medium enterprises ... hence my questioning as
to the suitability of the "firewall" feature.

If Gateway do as you were told "gateway do windows not linux", then they may
have the same Microsoft marketing attitude ... "it doesn't have to work, it
just has to sell.  Hence, down here at least, there could be quite a few of
these little boxes being connected to the internet via their built-in modems
and providing businesses not only with internet connectivity but also user
authentication and storage for the office LAN.

Given the constraint that the customer has been sold a Gateway Micro Server
because it can do everything ... can the "firewall" feature be configured
such that it provides adequate protection?

If the customer eventually upgrades to a faster connection (i.e. moves to
the 2nd ethernet port instead of the built-in modem), then the obvious
addition is a SonicWall because the higher access speed increase the threat
and hence additional protection measures need to be deployed.

Cheers,  Malcolm

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                       Information Alchemy Pty Ltd
                             ACN 089 239 305
                           Canberra, Australia

Malcolm McLeary                                  Mobile:   0412 636 086
Managing Director                                Email:  mim@xxxxxxxxxx

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