OmniCluster has put a hardware firewall on a PCI card, enabling ISPs to add a dedicated firewall to any webhosting computer that has an available slot.

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Associate Editor [November 7, 2001]

The OmniCluster Firewall 1.0 is a standard PCI 2.1 system which combines a SlotServer PCI adapter; a GUI to configure, manage, and operate the base firewall; and a GUI to quickly install and manage the disk images associated with each SlotServer card.

An ISP can install this card within a dedicated server.

The custom OmniCluster ASIC turns the PCI bus into a gigabit Ethernet network allowing for the OmniCluster Firewall 1.0 and the hosted server to communicate at gigabit Ethernet speeds without adding additional cables or using up any network ports.

The product supports any server running Win2K, FreeBSD, Linux, or WinNT 4. Its operating system is completely isolated from the host OS, so there is complete transparency to the hosted computer.

As ISPs' customers demand individual security solutions, some mass-priced security offerings are no longer enough. Instead, an ISP can install this card in a server, and charge recurring revenue.

Dialtone Internet was the first to implement this solution and charge customers an extra $95 per month for the service.

The biggest benefit is this: since it's just a card, it installs like any other PCI card, and the company claims that means this firewall can be up and running in minutes.

Availability and pricing
OmniCluster Firewall 1.0 is $499.00.

The product is available from OmniCluster resellers or direct from Omnicluster at sales@omnicluster.com.

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