Hello,
Over the weekend, I installed ASL v5.838 and updated it to 5.841.
The Hardware:
Mobo: ASUS CUSL2 (Intel 815E chipset)
CPU: 800MHz PIII
RAM: 512MB Mushkin (256 x 2)
Hard Drive: 30GB IBM DeathStar ATA100 drive that failed after installation. Replaced with 40GB Seagate ATA100 drive.
NICs: 3C905x and DLink (10/100) (Don't remember DLink model)
CD Drive: Cendyne 48x cDRW that failed during installation and had to be replaced with a Hitachi CDROM drive
The installation and configuration should have taken just over an hour, but ended up taking a whole day.
First, the CDRW drive would not recognize the ASL CD as bootable (my checksums were OK, CD was good, also tried v5.202 and had the same error.) Surprisingly, other CDs (UBuntu, Knoppix, etc.) would read/install just fine. Anyway, tried the ASL CD on a VM on another server and concluded that the CDRW had issues. Replaced with a Hitachi CDROM drive from a DELL PC. Installation was smooth.
Rebooted following installation and got half-a-screenful of "02" and nothing more. Since ASL was going to be my router/firewall, I didn't have any Internet access to search these forums. So, rebooted a couple of times, tried installing v5.202 and tried installing with ACPI turned off (had a vague recollection of reading about that). After about 6 installation attempts, had the same error. So, booted the firewall PC using Ubuntu Live CD and was online. Searched these forums and found the BIOS LBA fix. Tried it (set the Drive to "Normal") and it worked!
Spent about two hours configuring ASL - this was my first time with ASL (upgrading from Mandrake Network Firewall 8.2). Made a backup of the configuration and upgraded to v5.841 using up2Date. Worked like a charm. Rebooted the PC and it wouldn't boot up - unable to find a hard drive. So, ripped everything else out of the box, replaced the IDE cable and used one of the other molex plugs from the Power Supply - no go. The BIOS wouldn;t recognize the IBM DeathStar. Like all my other IBM drives, this too had gone to meet its maker.
So, replaced the HD with a Seagate 40GB drive; reinstalled ASL, ran up2Date to get to 5.841 and so far, it's running great.
Both my NICs (a very old 3Com and a more recent DLink - both 10/100Mbps) were recognized and configured just fine. I have Verizon DSL (using DHCP) and the WAN interface picked up the IP address with no manual intervention. Amazing!!! On my LAN, both DHCP and static IPs work just fine. Tried to initiate Port Scans from a couple of security web sites and they were picked up immediately by ASL and I got the notifications. The Port Scans reported all ports as "stealthed".
Haven't had a chance to test VPN, HTTP Proxy and other features.
Thanks to Astaro for keeping the Home License alive and for including IPS as part of the free Home License. Thanks for all the helpful, informative and detailed posts on the forum.
One thing I'd like to see improved is the documentation (and better online help) for the IPS rules section.
Thanks,
MediocreFred.
