Meaning of "R" in firewall name?

[HeikoAnkenbrand]

I have always wondered why the "R" (R54, R60, R70,R... ) in the firewall name was used.
What is the meaning of the "R" or was that just a marketing idea?

I think: Release?

[vinceneil666]

Release

[HeikoAnkenbrand]

Are you sure about that or is it just a guess (like mine)?

[vinceneil666]

I am willing to go out on a limb, and say yes. I am sure 🙂 

[Timothy_Hall]

I'm pretty sure it is "Release" as well.  The first time I can recall the "R" being authoritatively used to name a release was version R55 to distinguish it from the "NG w/ AI" release.  Prior to that it went something like this:

• Firewall-1 Version 2.0
• Firewall-1 Version 3.0, 3.0a, 3.0b
• Firewall-1 Version 4.0, 4.1
• Firewall-1 NG (Versions 5.0-5.3 called FP1, FP2, FP3) - FP stands for "Feature Pack"
• Firewall-1 NG w/ AI (Version 5.4)
• Firewall-1 NG R55
• NGX R60 and onwards...

[PhoneBoy]

Let’s not forget 1.x releases on floppy disk!
I have lots of early memories of the 2.1c release 😉

I have also sometimes seen NG AI referred to as R54.
Also around the same time HFAs (hotfix accumulators) we’re a thing.

[HeikoAnkenbrand]

I started with Check Piont with version 2.xx (it's been too long for me to remember the exact version).

@PhoneBoy :
We/you could do a Checkmates event about "historical Check Point versions" 😀.
Maybe you can install a 2.1c and show how it was like when we had to edit the objects.C and rules.def by hand.

[Nik_Bloemers]

I like that idea! My experience only goes back to around R65. Would love to see some of the older stuff.

[PhoneBoy]

The earliest stuff was on SunOS/Solaris, which might be difficult to get running today without vintage hardware.
Nokia IPSO (of particular interest to me) was never really VM friendly, even though it was on x86 hardware.
That said, I did see FireWall-1 3.0 in a Windows NT VM a while back, which might be as far back as we can reliably go 🙂
At one point I did have the R55 Policy Editor (what it used to be called before SmartDashboard) loaded on one of my Windows 10 PCs, which I used in Demo Mode.

Which, now that I think about it, might be the best way to demo the older versions: load the old UIs and run them in Demo Mode.
Pretty sure even the Policy Editor from 3.0 supported the Demo Mode (using *local as the hostname).

[HeikoAnkenbrand]

I still have a Sun Ultra 5 Model 333 with solaris 2.6 or 7 in the basement. I'll get the box up and see if it still works.
This is more problematic with the monitor, since the connections 13W3-to-HD15 video adapter cable ( PGX24 on-board  graphics) no longer work with vga connectors.



I think this is also possible without a monitor via the serial console.

I'll see if I can install FireWall-1 v2.1. 👾

Do you already need a license?
If so, where do I get the eval lic? 🙂 🙂 🙂

[the_rock]

For eval license, I dont know, I guess Dorit Dor or Gil Shwed my friend 😉

[HeikoAnkenbrand]

So close to the goal.
The CD with FireWall-1 v2.1 is corrupted.☹️

[the_rock]

That sucks :(. Speaking of old things...I have this old mp3 player I still use when walking and running, its 4 GB capacity for songs and voice recordings, can play radio in ANY world countries (I took it with me all over the world). Its almost 20 years old and I recall I paid 15$ for it refurbished back in 2002 or 2003...the thing is indestructible, its amazing.

[mwc13]

I just got rid of all my old Sun hardware and the old solaris versions software would include the old checkpoint, I will check seems May have an ISO on backups somewhere, was thinking saved and old SPARC server but dont think so will check storage in case need to help out. Possible to use on the old x86 version solaris ? could maybe VM that ?

[Daniel_]

Should also work with qemu e.g.
https://learn.adafruit.com/build-your-own-sparc-with-qemu-and-solaris

But didn't solve you're corrupted CD 🤔

[the_rock]

Never thought of it, but wow, thats very interesting question :). Im thinking Gil Shwed would know FOR SURE!!!

[Timothy_Hall]

I imagine @Dorit_Dor would as well.

[the_rock]

I would put my money she would know 🙂

[Dorit_Dor · Accepted solution]

R-releases started at 2003 w R54, as part of using release numbers ("R"-elease followed by number) 

NG Jun 2001
R54 Jun 2003 (calgary)
R55 Nov 2003 (corsica)
R60 May 2005 (dallas)
R61 / R62 2006
R65 Feb 2007 (Enfield)
R70 Mar 2009
R71 / R75 2010 - foxx
R75.40 May 2012 - fiber

etc etc 

[HeikoAnkenbrand]

With this we would have the "R" question 100% clarified:

R-elease

Thanks @Dorit_Dor.

[JozkoMrkvicka]

What about E85.00 ? "E" would be Endpoint, or? 🙂

[PhoneBoy]

Yes, the "E" refers to Endpoint specific releases.

[the_rock]

I always wondered, unless its a secret...how do you guys come up with actual names for the codes? Ie Corsica, Calgary etc?

[Dorit_Dor]

First letter move forward by major release. Name selected by sponsor (should be theme - like cities) …

i dont personally care as much about names - only about content… i could be just fine w x1, x2, x3 etc. so you wont get more exciting stories from me on this 

[the_rock]

I see...ok, fair enough. I was just curious as far as whether there was any logic behind it, or if it was simply random 🙂

ליהנות משאר סוף השבוע שלך

I hope google translated that right :))

[_Val_]

Google is too formal and uses an infinitive for "enjoy" in your sentence 🙂  Should be something like

 תהני משאר הסוף השבוע שלך

[Moti]

pop quiz ... what was the Andromeda release? 😉

[William_Pope]

Was Andromeda the VoIP release?

Here is a release question back at you - Anyone remember the Booze Releases (alcohol based code names) ?  No hints PhoneBoy - I know you remember them!

[TJ_Aus]

I started with v3 on HP-UX

[PhoneBoy]

Yes, me and @tpoole_global are quite familiar with these releases, which were mostly for a special customer.