Checkpoint SPLAT and hardware limitations

I'm just struggling through planning an implementation of Checkpoint VPN-1 on SecurePlatform & HP hardware. Unfortunately the quad-port NICs the customer used to use (PCIx NC340T) are no longer available for purchase. The only quad-ports that are available for purchase are the NC364T (a PCI express card) - but they are only supported in SecurePlatform 2.6 NGX R65 (as opposed to just SecurePlatform NGX R65). What's the difference? The newer one is a fork based on the Linux 2.6 kernel.
I found this useful summary from a Checkpoint forum post:

"The main point of moving to the 2.6 linux kernel is increased hardware compatibility. Check Point recommends that you stay on the standard R65 SecurePlatform unless you have hardware that is not supported by the standard R65 release. If you have hardware that is not supported by R65 standard, but is supported by the 2.6 kernel release, then use it.
See the Hardware Compatability List
Please note that there are a few systems not supported by the 2.6 release...
The initial SecurePlatform 2.6 release includes all standard release HFA 01 and HFA 02 fixes. Moving forward, the HFAs will be released separately - e.g., HFA 03 for R65 may be released in a month, and HFA 01 for SecurePlatform 2.6 may be released 3 months later. With different code trees, its recommended to stay with the "main branch" if you can. Same goes for the R65 management "plug-ins"... they're not available for SecurePlatform 2.6.
You cannot upgrade "in-place" from standard R65 to the 2.6 release, but you can upgrade in-place from prior versions. For standard R65 you can perform and export/import to move the SecurePlatform 2.6 release."

What a can of worms that is eh!

I also spotted this forum post which mentions he has the NC364Ts working with SPLAT 2.6 R65, so that's kind of reassuring. Funny though - the Release Notes for R65 mention nothing about all this - but I did find additional Release Notes for SPLAT 2.6 for R65 (which I found by searching - not listed in the documentation links).

Unfortunately that has caused me another problem:
"VPN-1 Accelerator Cards II, III, and IV are not supported in this release. They will be
supported with new drivers in the future."

Grand Theft Auto IV Easter Eggs

This could be an interesting set of links:
Grand Theft Auto IV Easter Egg Finds | Game | Life from Wired.com

Love the cheat URL www.whattheydonotwantyoutoknow.com :-)

I haven't come across anything that cool yet - how do these people find these things? More time on their hands than I've got, obviously. I'm only 17% through so far - been spending a bit of time playing Multiplayer tonight, which obviously doesnt get me anywhere further ahead (good to work on my aim, though).

My favourite things so far in GTA4:

• The Cybercafe (web interface is cool, SPAM email is funny)
• Ricky Gervais standup comedy on TV in the apartment
• The Police Car computer
• Flying through the window after a headon collision (ended up in a tree once!)
• The Mobile phone (dial 911 for a police car, SMS text message to restart mission)

I've signed up at the 'Social Club' but it hasn't really opened up anything interesting yet - the multiplayer stats tracking isn't online. So far I have:

• Walked 17,296 miles
• Driven 124,050 miles

So I've got my first couple of 'certificates' in the Liberty City Marathon :-)


Its definitely the only exercise I've done this week!