Microsoft ISA Server Pros and Cons

[GarethMunro]

Hi all I'm looking at getting Microsoft ISA Server. Anyone got Pros and Cons of this Program. Also is there another program out there that would be better for me? I am the Administrator of a 80+ Computer Network at an Agricultural College. I am just about to give access to our boarding students (170) to the network and internet from their dorms. So I need a program that will allow me to throttle bandwith per user, log all internet transactions (so I can see how much is downloaded and by whom) and filter undesirable sites. I am running Windows 2000 Server. And the students own computers will be running from Win 95 - XP. Any Ideas?

Gareth Munro
ITD Emerald Agricultural College

 

[devastator]

I have heard ISA Server is a *itch to configure. That is why we currently are sitting on Proxy Server 2.0.


Drew

 

[mozingod]

I used it for a 20 user test network. The only thing is, by default all protocols are blocked, so you just have to open it up how you want. Might want to check out

http://www.isaserver.org

for more info. I found it quite nice to use (especially w/SP2, which cut cpu/memory usage from about 40%/90M, to 7%/9M!!!) Darrell Mozingo
MCP (soon MCSA), A+, Network+, i-Net+, MOUS 2000 Master

 

[lck092580]

"I have heard ISA Server is a *itch to configure. That is why we currently are sitting on Proxy Server 2.0."

I found it very easy to configure.. it's a great piece of software.. if you can afford get it.

T

 

[devastator]

I may try it now. We have the $ but I got enough negative feedback on it that I just remained with Proxy Server.


Thx,


Drew

 

[lck092580]

Hehe.. well u know what they say.. if it's not broken.. don't fix it..

Have u considered getting MS's MCSE book for ISA server?.. it comes with, i think, a 3 month trial cd.. u can play around with it .. i think u'll like it. This way u'll be training urself and if i really find it difficult to configure then u've only lost around a hundred dollars.


T

 

[yizhar]

HI.

Just to make sure you know this - the ISA (or any other proxy/firewall) should be installed on a dedicated server or box - both for security and performance.

As suggested, you should test the product first, then implement it. You should also learn and plan client implementations - are you going to use firewall client, secure nat, proxy, or a combination?

Bye
Yizhar Hurwitz

http://come.to/yizhar

http://teachers.sivan.co.il/yizhar