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Linux Firewall for Microsoft Exchange Server

Right now I have been asked to add a firewall to our network for our exchange server. We are running Exchange server on a stand alone server that also acts as a secondary dns server for our network. Is there a distro anyone would reccomend? Or is there any applications or services we should use in paticular?

Also what potential complications would there be running a firewall in front of our exchange server/secondary dns server?

Would it be much easier just to run a isa server instead?

Thanks for your help as allways!

-Brian

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Bud Durland

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Sembee

I ran a Linux firewall infront of an Exchange server for two years. It was fine. Exchange doesn't need many ports open - just 25 (smtp) and 443 (https). I only ditched it because I wanted a PIX and its VPN solution.

I used floppyfw for mine. An old 486 with two NICs, no hard disk or CD-ROM drive.

The choice of firewall is down to what you have experience in.

ISA is a complex beast with a learning curve. It is more than just a firewall, it is also a proxy server and will inspect the packets.

If you have confidence in using a Linux solution, then go ahead and use that.
If you want something where you can get a support contract, then look at something like a PIX, Netscreen etc.
Either of those two solutions will be much cheaper than an ISA and will give you a dedicated box.

Simon.