Recognizing the impact the Linux operating system has had on IT environments, Check Point Software Technologies Inc. said today it will port its VPN-1 and FireWall-1 product families to support Linux in the first quarter of 2000.

Check Point's goal is to help network administrators create a secure virtual network architecture strategy, one that extends the high level of security found in Internet transactions to those conducted over a local area network, says Mike Lee, product marketing manager for Check Point. "To do this, Check Point's security products need to run on a number of different platforms, including Linux."

Although Check Point plans to support a variety of Linux versions, the company's VPN and firewall software will initially support Linux operating systems based on the 2.2.12 kernel--Red Hat 6.1, for example--and running on Intel platforms only. VPN-1 and FireWall-1 currently support the Windows NT, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, and AIX operating systems.

Check Point's VPN-1 product family provides secure Internet connectivity to corporate networks, remote and mobile users, satellite offices, and partner sites. FireWall-1 is a suite of network security software that monitors access to a network, provides authentication, and includes a reporting module.