I was listening to the latest Podnutz Computer Repair podcast, and you were talking about Jeff’s new Logitech mouse that could connect to 3 different devices. This reminded an application I use on my bench from Microsoft Garage that allows you to use your keyboard and mouse on up to 4 different PCs within the same IP range. I found out about this on the Technibble forums a few years ago.

Its free and it’s called Mouse Without Borders, I thought you might like to give it a try. I’ve been using it for over a year on 3 PCs and have been happy with it. (Of course, since it is MS, I do need to reboot my PCs every once in a while)

The application needs to be installed on each PC, once installed and each PC is connected, you can arrange your machines in 1 or 2 rows. I have 2 PCs with multiple monitors, and it works without a hitch. The only real issue is making sure your mouse stays on the screen of the PC you are working on while typing. Especially if you have a skype window open on one of the other connected PCs

Thanks for all of your hard work (and Jeff’s as well) on the podcast, I learn something new every show.

Brian McDermott

Calyptix Email

Hi John,

Are you still working with Calyptix? A friend who operates a support business and computer store about 2 hours away sells Smoothwall (also based in Charlotte along with Calyptix and Araknis — how does that happen?). He thinks Calyptix is overkill for small businesses. At one time you recommended Araknis for small business.

Yes, I still sell and highly recommend Calyptix.
Calyptix is not overkill for ANY business
My thinking has changed on Araknis…

I’m thinking I need to forget about Calyptix. As I learn more, I get bothered more by lower-priced alternatives, outdated Calyptix documentation and an issue where I had to make 4 trips to client site at my expense because of a sudden failure of PPPoE (which seemed caused by a firmware update, and the answer was to not use PPPoE, which to my relief the ISP gave me as on option.)

Lower priced alternatives? You get what you pay for.
Where are you finding outdated documentation? Did you work with a support rep on this issue?
EVERY vendor is going to have an issue once and awhile. I am not defending any of them. I have a few customers still using PPPOE and have been without issue.

Discussion with friend went like this, after he asked why I sell something so expensive compared to his $200 firewall or $50/mo service:

His $200 firewall and $50 service. What is that? Updates, Support, Configuration, Etc. Assuming Smoothwall.
Calyptix has options in this price range for sure.

Friend: “The code releases only come out as needed, but it is not doing much of the security platform stuff. You can turn a bunch of stuff on your platform (I think he is referring to Calyptix) like UTM, IDS/IPS, …. most of that is unneeded by SBS customers. The core product is traffic shaping and we use the open source distribution. It is very cost effective for upgrading customers from nothing to something. “

Are you going to learn, manage, update and take responsibility for the OpenSource deployment?
Who are you going to contact if you need assistance?
My belief is that it is becoming every internet users responsibility not to be a problem on the Internet.
If you are running a business, why would you not want greater uptime, more protections, etc.

Me: “I’m selling Calyptix firewall for security, compliance for credit card processing and healthcare, the security protection including IDS/IPS, constant monitoring and updating that does not normally include any hourly fee (unless something goes wrong, or in the case of a rare major update, a manual restart). Even the cheapest one provides 3 LAN interfaces that can be connected or separated (apply DMZ feature to any of them to keep them separate from the others). So, in a couple of cases, I put Internet-only wireless on a DMZ LAN interface.”

Totally agree. This is the basic feature list of any good UTM appliance.

Friend: “Yep that is all well and good, but that is still overkill for most static operations. In those places you only need to protect inbound, not outbound traffic. The Smoothwall system gets definitions automatically, but the code updates and health check we like to do ourselves.”

TOTALLY disagree that you do not need to monitor outbound traffic. How are you going to know if you have an issue if you do not monitor traffic?

So, is Calyptix good where you do have things like HIPPA and PCI situations? But Araknis or Smoothwall for more simple situations?

How is Smoothwall simple?
Araknis AN300 is the most basic level of protection.
I use Calyptix as a one-man shop.
NO Calyptix is not the only choice and it is NOT the best at everything UTMs do.

Options For UTM/Firewall

Calyptix

Smoothwall

Untangle

SonicWall

Fortinet (Fortigate)

Watchguard

and Check Point, Sophos, Cisco/Meraki, Juniper, Barracuda, pfSense, ZeroShell

Wikipedia Firewalls

Some routers can be a risk (Thanks Rick400tec). This is why you want a platform is fully supported.

If your home wifi router is on this list, it might be vulnerable to CIA hacking tools

Music By Jim Holley