Hardware firewall a replacement for software firewall?

[bimbla]

Nvidia has nForce Security & ActiveArmor Firewall on its latest GPU Mobo chipset the C51.

Are these features ment to replace the software firewall like ZoneAlarm?
How effective is the hardware version compared to the software firewall?

bimbla.

[pip22]

hardware firewalls are generally accepted as being more effective. However, you need to bear in mind that a firewall on the mobo may sound good, but just how much is the user allowed to configure it, and how much feedback does it give to the user? With a good software firewall you can block specific programs from 'phoning home', and the firewall alerts you when something tries to get in you didn't ask for. These considerations must be taken in to account when making a comparison.

[bimbla]

Thanks pip22.

Can it be possible that there is a software bundled with the mobo to tweak the firewall setttings and also which monitors its activities?

Does anyone any insight on this?

bimbla.

[hoxlund]

just a thought, why not also run a software firewall?

[Dartman]

I have a hardware firewall built into my 4 port switch and I use nortons for the software firewall. Like has been said it tells me when something trys to phone home, trys to get in, etc. I can choose to allow it or not and like that. A hardware one alone may not trap all bad things. I've had things sneak in from legitimate sites that the firewall/ virus scanner stopped cold, and of course sometimes something can slip in, your never 100 percent safe. Run both and you should be about 95 percent good, then just try to be smart for the rest.

[LoneWolf]

Two are better than one, and one is better than none.

I'm running a D-Link DGL-4300 Gaming Router, which has built-in firewall capabilities, but also running the standard XP SP2 firewall (I have ActiveArmor, but while it works nice, I was concerned it was interfering with network throughput, so I ditched it...maybe I'll go back to it at some point).

Same with our organization --we may have a Cisco PIX firewall, but at work I can't always prevent someone from bringing in a worm-infested laptop from home and plugging it in inside, thereby negating the firewall. So this year, client workstations have the XPSP2 firewall on, with some customized settings to allow for programs we need. It greatly cuts down on the spread of worms.

[lightningbaron]

The saying is two heads are better than one.

The explanation has been given already. I would recommend running both a hardware firewall and software firewall as well.