Pix .vs Router

[tfrench01]

We have a cable modem, currently attached is a PIX501. Is it recommended, or mandatory to have a router between the cable modem and the PIX.?

[spremkumar]

Hi

yes of course u can have one router between u r Pix and cable modem which adds upto to u r security.

In the router itself u can block/filter worms,virus traffic using different feature available in the IOS,so in this case if u hve a router it will face the outside world and ur pix will come behind the router without exposing u r Firewall to the outside world

regds

prem

[scottosan]

No, you do not need a router between your PIX and Cable Modem

[Richard Burts]

I think both previous answers have answered parts of your question and represent different perspectives. No it is not mandatory to have a router between the PIX and the Cable Modem. Yes it might be recommended. There might be certain features you would like to implement that might take a router on the outside, perhaps filtering as was suggested which would help implement the layered security model which is frequently recommended. Or perhaps to terminate a GRE tunnel, or perhaps some other feature.

So depending on your particular requirements it might be called for. But it is not a requirement.

HTH

Rick