Check Point s SecurePlatform operating system (Figure 2.70) is a pre-hardened, performance-tuned version of Linux that Check Point created and supports directly at no cost. Check Point provides SecurePlatform to its customers as another of the many platforms on which its software can be installed. SecurePlatform can turn a normal server into a network appliance in mere minutes.
Many appliances are often just x86 servers sometimes with a specialized operating system or a few other basic features. Most times they are also more expensive than servers. SecurePlatform also takes advantage of the enormous and continued advancements in the open server market. Intel has continued to produce unprecedented performance in their processors. Hardware manufacturers like Dell, IBM, HP, and even Sun have been producing x86 servers that are inexpensive. Coupled with SecurePlatform, very high performance can be achieved at a very low cost. For example, a server that retails for around $5,000 at the time of this writing can process in excess of 3Gbps of traffic. Often, the question comes up, How does SecurePlatform compare with Nokia s IPSO? IPSO comes with web-based configuration of routing protocols, high availability (HA) and load sharing capabilities built-in, as well as the ability to have multiple versions of the operating system installed all at no extra cost. SecurePlatform does not currently have as many features in the web interface, but it runs on less expensive hardware, has routing protocols configured via the command...
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