from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
firewall machine
n.
A dedicated gateway machine with special security precautions on it,
used to service outside network connections and dial-in lines. The
idea is to protect a cluster of more loosely administered machines
hidden behind it from {cracker}s. The typical firewall is an
inexpensive micro-based Unix box kept clean of critical data, with a
bunch of modems and public network ports on it but just one carefully
watched connection back to the rest of the cluster. The special
precautions may include threat monitoring, callback, and even a
complete {iron box} keyable to particular incoming IDs or activity
patterns. Syn. {flytrap}, {Venus flytrap}. See also {wild side}.
[When first coined in the mid-1980s this term was pure jargon. Now
(1999) it is techspeak, and has been retained only as an example of
uptake --ESR]
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
firewall machine
flytrap
<networking> A dedicated gateway machine with special security
precautions on it, used to service outside network, especially
{Internet}, connections and dial-in lines. The idea is to
protect a cluster of more loosely administered machines hidden
behind it from {crackers}. The typical firewall is an
inexpensive {microprocessor}-based {Unix} machine with no
critical data, with modems and public network ports on it, but
just one carefully watched connection back to the rest of the
cluster. The special precautions may include threat
monitoring, {call-back}, and even a complete {iron box}
keyable to particular incoming IDs or activity patterns.
Firewalls often run {proxy gateways}.
Synonym {flytrap}, {Venus flytrap}.
(1997-06-08)