Dell has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SonicWALL

[Mark]

This could have probably went under Security or Connectivity, but I will place it here.

https://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=12588

I am undecided if this is a good thing for SonicWALL or not, which many of you know I am personally not a fan of.

[Jeff Zylstra]

Many times when a computer company buys a vendor it's because they somehow want to integrate that product into their current hardware of software somehow.  I could be way off base, but since routers and the like are so hardware agnostic, I don't see how they could corrupt the direction of development of technology in any meaningful way.  That said, SonicWall does more than just routers now, so I could be way wrong on the rest of it.  I guess I don't see how this helps Dell in any way, unless the online backup solutions offerings of SonicWall is what they're after.  Or am I missing some other synergistic "win" for this pairing?

[Mark]

I think the "win" is somewhat two-fold.  Dell isn't in the computer business.  They are in the service business and this just adds to their portfolio of offerings.  Also, the article points out that SonicWALL has a nice patent portfolio so I'm sure Dell is very interested in that for one reason or another.

[Billy Welsh]

Mark:

What don't you like about SonicWall?

[Mark]

Mark:

What don't you like about SonicWall?

It's web management interface mostly and the log.  Logs are muy importante!  I can't stand SonicWALL's logs.  Plus, I hate subscriptions... though everything has them these days.

It's a personal preference thing.  I'm just a Cisco fan.  I HAVE admitted that it's not an apples to apples comparison though, but don't see anything changing my stance on SW.

[Hans Manhave]

I bake from scratch, some bake from boxes.  Both can be good or bad.

[Mark]

I bake from scratch, some bake from boxes.  Both can be good or bad.

Exactly why I don't intend to push my preference on anyone.

I brew from scratch and I have brewed from boxes.  Let's just say that to date, brewing from boxes has tasted better. lol

[Billy Welsh]

Mark:

What don't you like about SonicWall?

It's web management interface mostly and the log.  Logs are muy importante!  I can't stand SonicWALL's logs.  Plus, I hate subscriptions... though everything has them these days.

It's a personal preference thing.  I'm just a Cisco fan.  I HAVE admitted that it's not an apples to apples comparison though, but don't see anything changing my stance on SW.

As an amateur naturally I prefer the SW web interface - back in our Cisco days I was lost 

But I'll be the last person to praise their logs.  I don't even think my techs refer to them on a regular basis - only if debugging something.

[Mark]

As an amateur naturally I prefer the SW web interface - back in our Cisco days I was lost 

I am not an expert by any means, but I do like to use both ASDM and SSH to make config changes.  Depends on what I need to do.

[Jeff Zylstra]

I think the "win" is somewhat two-fold.  Dell isn't in the computer business.  They are in the service business and this just adds to their portfolio of offerings.  Also, the article points out that SonicWALL has a nice patent portfolio so I'm sure Dell is very interested in that for one reason or another.

?  Maybe I'm not familiar enough with Dell.  Are you saying that they do not make most of their money making and selling computers, but from providing some kind of service?  I guess I'm confused.

I can certainly see the patents and intellectual property angle,however.

[Jeff Zylstra]

Mark:

What don't you like about SonicWall?

It's web management interface mostly and the log.  Logs are muy importante!  I can't stand SonicWALL's logs.  Plus, I hate subscriptions... though everything has them these days.

It's a personal preference thing.  I'm just a Cisco fan.  I HAVE admitted that it's not an apples to apples comparison though, but don't see anything changing my stance on SW.

I agree with you on their logs, but I think that their preferred method of logging events is their data collection engine, which collects a lot more information than the log does, but requires a separate server to run on.   

I don't know if they offer anything for configuration other than the web interface. 

[Mark]

I think that their preferred method of logging events is their data collection engine, which collects a lot more information than the log does, but requires a separate server to run on.   

That's ludicrous!! A PERFECT example of why I do not like them.  It's stupid things like this.  THAT one goes on my list! lol

Cisco is not perfect though.  For example, the ASA5505, which *should* be comparable to the TZ210 does not do URL filtering without a 3rd part device like (eeewww!) Websense.

But, the 5505 has support for vlans and has I think 2 PoE ports.  Also, for almost the same price as I paid for a TZ210 (government/non-profit prie for TZ210 mind you) my ASA came with plenty of ipsec VPN client licenses where as the TZ210 came with 0.  Now, these are add-ons for both products if I understand correctly, but in a price comparison, no dice.

Again, it's not fair apples to apples though.  IPS is an extra physical module on the ASA, where it's all software & subscription on the TZ210.  I think I prefer the module because the processing is offloaded to the module.

[Kenny Cruzan]

I have tasted Marks brew and he needs the box

I liked SW back with the standard OS.  When they moved to the enhanced OS, I was lost for a while.  In fact, I still get lost because half the time my programming never works.  However, if you use the wizards, it works 99% of the time.  I hate the way that when you want to create a simple rule, you have to go through great measures to prepare all the info for the rule.....I can see Mark's dislikes compared to other vendors.


I do think SW makes and excellent product.  My #1 complaint is their service.  It sucks!  I think Dell can help with that.