We are in a process to replace our Internet security infrastructure. It’s currently based on windows 2000 proxy server and Websense web filter 6.3 to “monitor” and control users internet browsing. For those who don’t know Websense, it’s on of the leader in internet security solutions. It’s main product is Websense security gateway, which provides a complete infrastructure to manage internet web access. We always had trouble with Websense filter, especially the reporting tool as it’s not really reliable… And as you would expect in a project to replace 3 proxy servers and all the stuff we use around, it’s not straightforward. First of all, the gateway can be installed only on Linux Red Hat 4.5 (yes, 4.5 not 5.4!) We thought it was a minimum requirement but it’s actually not! if everything seems to work fine, you can’t download the database because you have the wrong kernel (can’t see the relation between a download and a kernel though :p ) So it basically means that something on the code check that you have the specific kernel… I don;t really understand but fair enough and let’s go for a RH4.5!

They also told us that their support for MySQL was crap so they highly recommend to use MSSQL! Great! what if you install MySQL then? you’re not supported ? If it is so bad, why do they even give the customer the possibility to choose? And why someone from the company dare to say that their support of this database is bad? It’s not really a plus for the company… You tend to hide your weakness, not to expose them :) but whatever…

But the main problem we have now is that you can’t stream a video with real player! I don’t know if it’s a problem that affect more than this type of stream but it’s not cool… We raised a ticket with them regarding this issue and as the could reproduce it every time, they stated that it was a bug. They’ve been investigating the bug for more than two weeks now and they apparently haven’t figured out why this is happening!!!

Therefore, as long as the bug is not fixed, the project is frozen and we can’t go live ^_^. I love bugs. I hope they are going to come with a nicer answer than with the last we had with the reporting system! (not supported anymore because of too much bug… Thanks I noticed ^_^)

Sounds like it’s going to be a lot of  fun to support this system at work :p