> So, my curiosity was perked into wondering whether firewalls
> originally filled this purpose before they became more orientated to
> protecting networks or whether this was simply a competing definition.
> Any definitive answers or good guesses?
The term "firewall" has been used for a long time as both
a routing error-control barrier and a network security device.
I don't think there's a competing definition, because the
devices in question have often been the same devices
(a low-end host w/2 cards or a router with screening)
and they've usually been implemented the same way.
My *guess* is that router packet screening was
initially done for error propagation control, not security,
but since it's a useful mechanism, it was adopted as
security, too.
I've never researched the router/screening side of
firewall history, so I don't know who it was who first
put screening in a router. Anyone know? Vendor
and programmer? Which came first, screening in a
router or "smart" bridges with filtering?
mjr.
-----
Marcus J. Ranum, CEO, Network Flight Recorder, Inc.
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