Linux security tool

Sun Microsystems Inc. on Monday will announce a new Linux-based security appliance featuring Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.'s VPN and firewall software. The announcement will be made at the Comdex Fall 2002 show in Las Vegas.

The new LX50 VPN/Firewall appliance will run a hardened version of Linux and Check Point's FireWall-1 and VPN-1 software.

The announcement by Sun, of Santa Clara, Calif., is further evidence of the shift in the security industry away from server-based solutions and toward multi-function appliances. Numerous vendors, including giant Symantec Corp. and others, have introduced similar appliances.

Check Point, based in Israel, has had a longstanding relationship with Nokia Corp. under which the Finnish vendor's Internet Communications subsidiary builds and sells dedicated appliances that run FireWall-1 and VPN-1.

Copyright ?? 2002 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in eWEEK.