hello all..

i have a freind who makes the network in my dad's company running good and has this linux server.

now i have a question about the server:

i want to know if the server serves as a firewall, my freind says yes but i don't trust him that well..
so here's my question..

the 15 pc's are running windows xp .. the server is running debian.. my freind says the server will hold all windows virusses becose the server runs linux. but after 1 week computing on 1 of the 15 rigs and the pc is full of virusses.. does linux attract windows virusses or something?


ROUTER --- Switch --- My pc (win XP )
|
SERVER ( running debian unstable)
|
SWITCH
|
15 pc's

Well,

That's not a matter of Linux, my friend, that's a question
of how the firewalling is set-up, and whether people get
e-Mails delivered through the server or not. If they all have
pop/smtp mail through the Linux-gateway there's nothing
Linux can do stop mail-viruses.

One more thing: why would one install unstable on a
production machine? It's not like you need the latest
gadgets, and stable + security should be more than
sufficient ;)


Cheers,
Tink

linux doesn't attract viruses, windows does. Linux also won't be able to stop all viri even with a firewall. There really is no replacement for antivirus scanners on client PCs.

The firewall OS is not an important factor. The important issue is the firewall software and even more important is the firewall configuration. Usually Firewalls can not handle viruses which spread over legitimate traffic. Some of the new firewalls include application intelligence which can help against viruses and worms or can quarantine infected hosts.
In addition to the firewall you should install an updated anti viruses system.

AGREE think..

sadly my ftaher trusts him .. i don't
i think he uses it for own fun..

but please explane production machine....

and maybe he runs unstable for the ghosting software or something..

i really need help

this came in just now...

i heard from somebody else he uses unstable for quicker updates.?
is that true?

( i think he lies )

production machine, n:
machine that's relevant to a business' functionality.


Cheers,
Tink

Debian unstable is updated more frequently, but that is because it is a fluid collection of recent software. What is important for your server I think is security updates. Debian unstable has NO security updates, Debian Stable is the version that gets security updates. Also, as the name implies, it is UNSTABLE, so the packages are more likely to have bugs and your server is more likely to crash.

Many people (like me) run Debian unstable on desktops because they want the latest versions of software like office suites, image manipulation programs, web browsers, etc. However, the applications sometimes do have bugs, and if you update your machine frequently, you will sometimes run into problems where upgrades make certain applications not function properly or at all. Therefore, Debian stable is a much better way to go for a server.