Open-source security platform debuts

StillSecure this week announced an open-source platform for IPv4-based routing, firewall, DHCP, intrusion-prevention, Wi-Fi and VPN services.

The Cobia Unified Network Platform is being offered free to businesses or home users, according to StillSecure CTO Mitchell Ashley. A commercial license is required to bundle the software with hardware, include it as part of a software or hardware product, or resell it with Cobia support services.

Ashley says the purpose of Cobia is to create a “Cobia community,” which would support software development on the open-source network and security services platform.

“StillSecure today is offering all the modules for Cobia, but individuals can offer their own modules,” says Ashley, adding that Cobia software can run on Linux or Windows servers or in a virtual VMware environment. The Cobia platform is IPv4-based today but StillSecure expects to expand that to include IPv6 early next year.

The modules that StillSecure is making available now are Cobia Admin, Cobia Firewall, Cobia DNS and Cobia DHCP. Some of the modules StillSecure intends to release by the third quarter are Cobia WiFi, Cobia VPN and Start Guard IPS for Cobia.

The beta code is available, with general availability expected in the second quarter. StillSecure plans to make a Cobia software developers kit available to technology partners in the second partner.