[SlugBug] OT..Networking Hardware Software Recommendations

[Alan Dawson]

All,

I'm looking to purchase some hardware that can be used for multipurpose network
monitoring, say traffic protocol analysis one day, to IDS another day.  I've
looked at products from Fluke and Sniffer, but they seem dedicated to single
tasks, quite expensive, difficult to add extra functionality to...

I'm thinking "how about some hubs and small form factor PC's running Linux" -
Cost isn't really an issue - but if I can get 4 small PC's for £2000 instead of
one laptop I'd do that.  The Fluke and Sniffer products all seem to start at
about £10k, and if you require extra options need more money spending.

Does anybody have any opinions or experience ?

AED
-- 
"The long revolution is creating small federated microsocieties, true guerilla 

 cells practising and fighting for this self-management. Effective radicality  
 authorises all variations and guarantees every freedom. "