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The kernel in these appliances suck!
When using proxy rules (WFS and Fireware Pro), even if you have very little bandwidth usage (we have only 5mb/sec and it can still hang the box), if something like FTP proxy has lots of connections it dies.
You have to physically power down/up. Not good when the device is in a data-center and your servers are inaccessible.
Worse still is that the Watchguard support SUCKS! The front line support have very little idea.
The WG business model seems to be:
- Sell fundamentally flawed devices (yeah they work for basic NATing)
- Then extort subscription fees for support of their products - that have built in redundancy.
If only they ensured that enough CPU / Memory was reserved so that when proxy clags up the device, you can still connect to do a soft reboot. All would be acceptable.
I lost HOURS and HOURS sorting through issues with them - very bad firewall investment. (probably fine if you're a small business SOHO)
If anybody wants to discuss the details of my Watchguard experiences, please reply, I'II be alerted and follow you up.
Regards,
Adam :)
After my (justifiable) dummy spit about poor 1st level support responses, the Watchguard senior support management, have opened a new incident that has been escalated to a 2nd Level support person at Watchguard Asia Pacific office.
As things progress, I will provide a final update on the resolution to the proxy hanging issue that we have experienced in the Watchguard FB II (WFS) and X1000 Core (WFS and Fireware Pro).
My argument is: I wont pay support for something where the issue relates to an original problem, not fixed after purchasing a new unit.
:)
The release notes mention numerous fixes and enhancements with this major release.
It was a painless up-grade from Fireware 8.3.1 to 9.1 and then to 9.1.2
I'd like to point out that the on-going efforts by Watchguard (after my initial battle with 1st level gate-keeper support) has been OUTSTANDING.
Thanks to Shari M; Kimberly H, Gary S, Jolene G, Jay S, Mike W who all played apart to facilitate this solution.
I will update this thread with further outcomes, hopefully that our problems are solved and we are sleeping peacefully at night.
:)