Re: End of the m0n0wall project

On 02/15/2015 08:01 AM, Manuel Kasper wrote:
> Dear m0n0wall enthusiasts,
>=20
> on this day 12 years ago, I have released the first version of
> m0n0wall to the public. In theory, one could still run that version =E2=
=80=94
> pb1 it was called =E2=80=94 on a suitably old PC and use it to control =
the
> Internet access of a small LAN (not that it would be recommended
> security-wise). However, the world keeps turning, and while m0n0wall
> has made an effort to keep up, there are now better solutions
> available and under active development.
>=20
> Therefore, today I announce that the m0n0wall project has officially
> ended. No development will be done anymore, and there will be no
> further releases.
>=20
> The forums and the mailing list will be frozen at the end of this
> month. All the contents of the website, repository, downloads, mailing
> list and forum will be archived in a permanent location on the web so
> that they remain accessible indefinitely to anyone who might be
> interested in them.
>=20
> m0n0wall has served as the seed for several other well known open
> source projects, like pfSense, FreeNAS and AskoziaPBX. The newest
> offspring, OPNsense (https://opnsense.org), aims to continue the open
> source spirit of m0n0wall while updating the technology to be ready
> for the future. In my view, it is the perfect way to bring the
> m0n0wall idea into 2015, and I encourage all current m0n0wall users to
> check out OPNsense and contribute if they can.
>=20
> Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who
> has been involved in the m0n0wall project and helped in some way or
> another =E2=80=94 by contributing code, documentation, answering questi=
ons on
> the mailing list or the forum, donating or just spreading the word. It
> has been a great journey for me, and I'm convinced that even now that
> it has come to an end, the m0n0wall spirit will live on in the various
> projects it has spawned.
>=20
> Manuel Kasper
> 15 February 2015


Manuel, I am truly saddened by this announcement.

I can only imagine how much time and effort you have invested in m0n0wall=
, and
it would be a shame to see it disappear regardless of the existence of
pfSense, or OpenSense, etc.  I really think that m0n0wall captured and he=
ld a
very nice niche space where "a firewall is a firewall, and that is just a=
bout
all it is or should be"  :)

For the past 11+ years - since I first found m0n0wall, and paired with wi=
th a
PC Engines "WRAP" single board computer (then ALIX, and now APU) - I have=
 been
very impressed with the project and have told countless people about m0n0=
wall,
and have installed and supported it on many of our clients' networks.

I have tried to support the project financially when possible, participat=
ed
on the mailing list, IRC channel, and have been an official mirror site f=
or
many years now... (I am not bragging, nor complaining, just trying to bac=
k up
my positive words of support by demonstrating some of my actual supportin=
g
actions  heheh   :)

Some of my clients may never know how lucky they have been to have access=
 (for
free) to such an incredible and technically sound, dependable, open-sourc=
e
firewall product whose focus never veered from its initial intentions of
keeping things simple.

It is a testament to m0n0wall's well-thought design concepts and simple
interface that such things as pfSense et al have sprung into existence -
basing their initial beginnings from a m0n0wall core.

I hope everything is well in your world Manuel, and that this decision wa=
s not
made out of frustration or any other negative space. I also hope that som=
eone
has the skills and desire to pick up where you have left off and will con=
tinue
m0n0wall in some form or another for a long time to come.

Congratulations Manuel! It's been a long run, and it's been a great run! =
  I
wish you good luck in whatever project grabs your attention next!

Be well!

Bill



P.S. Back in September 2010 I was rooting around in my basement looking f=
or
something and I came across what I believe to be the FIRST m0n0wall CD th=
at I
ever burned - m0n0wall Version 1.0, dated 05/15/2004. Hope someone gets a
chuckle out of this old photo.   I wonder if that beat-up CD will boot!  =
:)

http://www.revpol.com/htdocs/images/20100911_003.jpg


--=20
Bill Arlofski
Reverse Polarity, LLC
[Not Responsible For Anything Below This Line]