Which firewall/anti-virus would you guys recommend for use on a game server? I would like to install my own when I get my server but without such a high price.

Windows or Linux?

Windows.

AV:None and IPsec for Firewall.

If it wasn't for the fact you can only but a minimum of 5-client license - I'd strongly recommend Symantec AntiVirus Corp Edition. (then again for $250 for 5 machines - thats less than 50 each - not all that bad)

As far as a firewall, IPSec is your friend, but if you will be running a high traffic site, a physical device like a Cisco Pix firewall appliance would be a smart way to go.

Nforcer, he's running a game server. You don't need AV because no one should be upload unknown stuff or malicious stuff to your server and game servers will blow CPU/RAM before the pipe. I prefer for game servers not even running a firewall at all and turning off all non needed services instead.

While I might agree about no AV probably being OK -- even if your server is exploited from a service, game servers can be wiped and reinstalled without too much problem, unlike a webserver with xxx number of clients. I'd go with IPSEC for the firewall though. I wouldn't think it would impact performace much, and a good default deny ruleset will likely protect you even if scenario #1 happens.

I keep seeing references to "the firewall and IPSec"...do you guys mean Windows ICF+IPSec, or RRAS+IPSec?

Just IPSec

This has a good starting point:
http://www.analogx.com/contents/articles/ipsec.htm

After you get the system set up how you like it, you can export your registry hive and easily copy it to any other servers.

I will skim it briefly now but will read thouroughly in the next day or so. Thanks for sharing this resource.

One of the biggest oversights one can make. You "should't" have to worry about it - BUT just because nobody 'should' be able to upload, doesn't mean someone can't make it happen anyway.

If you are just running game server's just lock down the box and keep an eye on your process's. I also don't run any av.

For Firewall IPsec good option and even if it did slow your server down i thnk ya would thank it or the hackers its keeping out also if ya have a shared hosting server the peeps hosted will thank you in the long run

For Windows, I find that the SP2 Security Configuration Wizard to be a valuable tool to install and use.

Microsoft does a great job with security with W2K3 .

If you have admin access to your server, I recommend you install and run it if you have not already done so.

Then run the free vulnerability scanning service from Orbit at least once a month to check your server security.

An antivirus, perhaps an anti-spyware software and a backup software would also be great to ensure that if anything happens, you have some additional form of security. Make sure you also do the Microsoft Updates as and when they are made available.

So...if i am running only I365 gameservers with cortex, some of you say no firewall at all?

Nope. Just keep a close eye on your process's.

I just had a firewall installed on one of my game servers. I will see if it is worth it. I can say it was a bit of a nightmare.