HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer Turion II for 193 US dollars ?

[SidSid]

Is anyone using this as an untangle box (HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer Turion II Neo)? Today, they are $193 including my 7 % tax and shipping at PCconnectionexpress. I’ve read both the NewEgg and Amazon reviews and it appears to be a flexible little box. My need is for an eloborate home lab only.

Thanks
Sidsid

[SidSid]

I’ve successfully configured two N40L’s each with Untangle and four physical ports (1 WAN and 3 subnets each). One N40L has 4 GB and the other has 8 GB RAM. They are very quiet compared to my original power hungry AMD triple core. I will keep one as the primary Untangle box and the other as a backup box for my home lab.

I may also convert the 8 GB box to a VM after experimenting with Untangle VM's on a low cost Fujitsu I3 2100 servers. However, I have to make sure that the AMD Turion II Neo processor in the N40L has the horsepower to successfully run several VMs without creating Untangle timing issues under worst case stress. I would like a mail server as the second VM on the same N40L box if it can be accomplished reliably.

SidSid

[dashpuppy]

I’ve successfully configured two N40L’s each with Untangle and four physical ports (1 WAN and 3 subnets each). One N40L has 4 GB and the other has 8 GB RAM. They are very quiet compared to my original power hungry AMD triple core. I will keep one as the primary Untangle box and the other as a backup box for my home lab.

I may also convert the 8 GB box to a VM after experimenting with Untangle VM's on a low cost Fujitsu I3 2100 servers. However, I have to make sure that the AMD Turion II Neo processor in the N40L has the horsepower to successfully run several VMs without creating Untangle timing issues under worst case stress. I would like a mail server as the second VM on the same N40L box if it can be accomplished reliably.

SidSid

Advice,

Keep your firewall on the edge, on it's own box.

[SidSid]

DashPuppy,

Keep your firewall on the edge, on it's own box.

I’m guessing at the reason for your statement.
Can you please provide the logic for “firewall on the edge” and also “on it's own box”.

I feel a bit lazy and un-green if I don’t try to VM a box that runs 24 X 7. Still, the N40L boxes can remain dedicated Untangle boxes sans VM. Though, I’d like to justify this configuration.

Thanks,
SidSid

[sky-knight]

It's generally a bad idea to merge edge and core functionality from a security perspective.

That said, I'm perfectly willing to do that if there is a good hypervisor in the mix. It provides enough separation for me as long as the management interface isn't exposed to the world. (or IPMI / IPKVM etc).

[dashpuppy]

DashPuppy,



I’m guessing at the reason for your statement.
Can you please provide the logic for “firewall on the edge” and also “on it's own box”.

I feel a bit lazy and un-green if I don’t try to VM a box that runs 24 X 7. Still, the N40L boxes can remain dedicated Untangle boxes sans VM. Though, I’d like to justify this configuration.

Thanks,
SidSid

Kinda a silly idea personally I wouldn't suggest is, for lab purpose sure for testing.

Firewalls should be a dedicated box "EDGE" < the piece that routes and protects.