how to install a XG home image on a modern hardware ?

So what hardware (other than a Sophos Appliance) will work with the latest build of XG.  I just bought a brand new Dell T150 and it doesn't have a legacy option.  We have used our own hardware for at least 10 years on Sophos firewalls.  Now I am screwed if the hardware fails and I have 4 firewalls.  Any help on the best hardware to use for XG would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi,

you need to select a motherboard that has the legacy option and build your own box. from memory, there is a nice asus server mb that has the legacy option.

ian

I don't understand why you don't just get XGS hardware. As a business user, you have to buy a license and the SW licences are not cheap compared to XGS licensing.

I have plenty of criticisms of Sophos but as they produce their own hardware for their software, I think you are hoping for too much to expect Sophos to evaluate and certify third party hardware just so you can go and buy something else. I would rather they spent the time and money on improving the OS.

The reason we use our own hardware is if we have say a Sophos appliance failure on a Friday afternoon in Australia how long do you think it will take to get a replacement appliance?  At least a week if not longer.  If I have my own hardware I can replace it that afternoon.

I don't expect Sophos to certify all hardware but I expect if they sell software licensees that they know what hardware will work with their software.  Even a general idea, a whitepaper, a list of BIOS settings, something?  All I get is 4GB of RAM and 2 network cards.  You are on your own from there.  This is unacceptable for enterprise level software IMO. 

Thank you for the information but XG does not support UNAME or WHOAMI commands at the console.  It looks like most commands are disabled and I can't find a way to get the kernel info from XG.

For such scenarios, customers get a HA (two appliances). You do not have to get an extra license to run this. Simply purchase two appliances and run the HA. 

The portion of customers running software "bare metal" is small. Virtual is another part of the story. 

You are right bare metal installs must be extremely rare as there is zero documentation on it.  I am all for HA and two appliances but we are under software contract for another two years so I can switch to an appliance. 

What about doing a Hypervisor setup in between? This would eliminate all limitations. 

Have you spoken to whoever supplied the licences and see if they can arrange a trade in for XGS hardware and new licensing. I don't know if Sophos do that sort of thing but some companies can be quite flexible, especially if you are experiencing the sort of issues you are.

I have not gone down that road yet as I thought this would not be as hard as it is to get this working.  Most likely there would not be much of a discount and it would cost us a lot more money then just buying the correct hardware that will work with this software.  This should not be this difficult.  

Thank you for the information but XG does not support UNAME or WHOAMI commands at the console.  It looks like most commands are disabled and I can't find a way to get the kernel info from XG.

That is really odd. I know for a fact it at least works on the UTM.

Uname also works on the XG.

ian

Uname also works on the XG.

ian