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Install Sophos XG or UTM on a Cisco ASA 5545-x

Patrick R

Hi all,

Maybe this blasphemy  but I got my hands on a Cisco ASA 5545-X (8core 12GB RAM) which would be a perfect candidate to install Sophos on. Basically it is still "a server" on which you can install stuff.

Yes, I know I can use the ASA as a firewall but you need a bit (understatement) more understanding of Cisco appliances to configure that one and I am knowledgeable with Sophos UTM/XG appliances so I prefer to install Sophos on it. Besides, I don't even have licenses to run FirePower on the ASA anyway.

Is there anyone here that has experience with this how to do that or is it technically not even possible to run a different OS on a Cisco ASA?

Patrick



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  • FormerMember
    0 FormerMember

    Hey Patrick,

    Interesting! But the question is, Is there any OEM lock on installing other Operating systems? 

    Theoretically, You can install SFOS on any system with x86 processor,4 GB RAM, and NICs with supported drivers but Haven't had any experience with ASA.

  • 0 in reply to FormerMember

    Hi Devesh,

    Thank you for your response. It is indeed interesting experimenting with this machine. It is more then powerful enough, Intel based cards and Intel processor.

    But I do get your point regarding OEM lock. That was sort of the reason why I started this thread. Hoping someone has already tried something similar. As said, I am not that knowledgeable with Cisco CLI but "just flashing it with Sophos" hasn't worked so far ;-)

  • 0 in reply to Patrick R

    Probably need to change the storage device. While the Cisco has a lot of features their licences cost a lot more than most other firewalls.

    Ian

  • 0 in reply to rfcat_vk

    As Ian mentioned you may have to switch the storage device. Maybe it is enough to completely format the drive.
    Further I think you definitely have to use the software version of SFOS. The hardware version will fail due to "no sophos hardware" reasons...

  • 0

    Did you get this working? Curious to know. Thanks. Paul

  • 0 in reply to FormerMember

    I managed to install SFOS on Barracuda F280 chassis. I was lucky to buy it online for 50$. 

    it has a quadcore, 4g ram (with 1 free slot), m2 ssd and 14x1gig

  • 0 in reply to Brumsterino

    Hi Brumsterino,

    No after a week of trying, together with my Cisco specialist colleague, we gave up on the project. Just inserting the new disk and change storage device didn't do the trick. We also ran into the issue that the Cisco seems to be only able to address bin files. So we had to fumble around with SFOS to get the correct bin working.

    Eventually another colleague showed up with a UTM 320, so I decided to continue working with that.

    It is a shame we didn't get it working with the ASA as the hardware is pretty impressive to let a SFOS running on, but maybe someone else has got more luck. Or it is simply not possible because of the limitations of the CISCO BIOS.