Cisco PIX® 501 (PIX-501-BUN-K9) Firewall

Pros: trustworthy PIX OS, reliable, VPN options
Cons: low processor speed and memory

The PIX 501 is the smallest model in Cisco's PIX line of firewalls. It's primary intent is for the SOHO market. While the PIX line is no longer being produced by Cisco, replaced with the ASA devices, the PIX 501 is still widely available. Google ...

Pros: Very stable and well proven design. Effective
Cons: Very weak web interface. Requires geek knowledge to configure

While many people think that 400 bucks for a firewall is obscene, it's more obscene to spend 50 dollars on something that LOOKS like a firewall and is intended to protect your personal information, bank records and other highly sought after information. ...

Pros: industry standard firewall outstanding support from Cisco
Cons: more expense then other home firewalls command line config is complex - use HTTP

to many home/small office users looking for a firewall product might think "$500 for a firewall?? are you crazy I can get a linksys bef-sx41 alot cheaper"

Cisco Pix is not your "average" firewall that Simply does Stateful packet inspection, but includes comprehensive IDS (intrusion Detection System) detection against 60 of the most common attacks hackers use. it also has a really nice HTTP/GUI Based Interface (PDM 3.1)

In addition this "$500" unit runs the exact same firewall as cisco's high end 535 units that sell for $20,000 (the exception being slower CPU, No Failover vpn limited to 10 internal) if your trying to get "Cisco Certified" this is the unit to learn on.. it also support IPSEC /L2TP VPN's radius authentication for 802.1x etc.

I've been running this in my home behind a Cable modem, and it's rock solid, all attacks have never gotten through nice thing is you save everything to ROM memory, so when a power failure occurs you don't lose settings ..

more info see
http://www.cisco.com/go/pix

Pros: Solid performance home to medium sized business, full set of security measures, VPN capabilities
Cons: Need to understand how networks and Internet works.

This is the only firewall to use. It has it all: VPN clients that are included in the cost of the unit, a set of intrusion detections rules/filters that work, and most of all access control lists (ACL's) that are understandable. If you're worried about getting the unit setup, then buy the SMART-Net maintenance and then you will have access to Cisco's support for setup or problems.