firewall/protection

[authority]

I'm about to format my machine (redhat9) and switch to slackware 9.1. My only concern is a firewall. I know redhat 9 comes with one built in and you can set the security level. Is there something like this in slack?

[bae127]

I don't think Slackware comes with any firewall configuration utilities. I use Guarddog (http://www.simonzone.com/software/guarddog/) myself, but there are many other applications that write the iptables files for you.

Check out kmyfirewall (http://kmyfirewall.sourceforge.net/) for KDE and many others at Linux.org (http://www.linux.org/apps/all/Networking/Firewalls.html) or Tucows.com (http://linux.tucows.com/firewall_default.html).

There are many options out there. It all depends on what you prefer. Slackware won't hold your hand - but it does give you alot of options (Well, most all Linux distros do give you the same options, its just that most people don't know about them). Slackware makes you learn a little more about how you computer works (IMHO).

Hope this helps...

[serz]

No, Slack does not come with any firewall but it does come with what every firewall use, iptables.

There are many firewalls out there, make search in this forum for firewall suggestions.

[mf-2HD]

Hi guys,

I didn't know Slack doesn't come with Firewall.

I've downloaded the source files from Guarddog.

To install it, do I do the standard tar -zxvf <filename>
./configure
make?

Will the firewall cover all users? If I installed it, and someone else login, will that other person be behind the firewall?

Thanks.

[bae127]

Slack DOES come with a firewall - just no GUI to easily configure it. All Guarddog does is write the iptables configuration file that you could write yourself with vi or emacs if you knew how (which most people probably don't).

Yes, the "./configure" then "make" then "make install" process should work (it worked for me anyways). Check the "README" file to be sure. Remember that you need to be root to configure your iptables with Guarddog.

[serz]

Originally posted by bae127
Slack DOES come with a firewall - just no GUI to easily configure it.
What firewall?...

[authority]

ok ya that did clear things up. I think ill give guarddog a try after I get slack up and running. thanks

[bae127]

Serz, maybe my definition of the firewall is a bit off.

Correct me if I'm wrong here (won't be the first or last time!)... The 2.4 kernels have packet filtering built in (according to the Linux iptable HOWTO (http://www.linuxguruz.com/iptables/howto/iptables-HOWTO-3.html)). The rules for this packet filtering are handled by the iptables tool.

Is a "firewall" more than this? I *thought* that some of the Linux distros like RedHat, Mandrake, etc just provide tools that help setup the iptables rules - like Guarddog.

Let me know where I'm wrong. Thanks.

[mf-2HD]

Hi

I am runnning Slack 9.1

I'm trying to install Guarddog using the source code.

For some reason I can't "make install"

I get this error message

<make[1]: *** [dbvalid] Error 1>

Any idea what this refers to?

Thanks.

[chort]

bae127,

You're correct that it comes with netfilter, so yes there is the ability to firewall. Most people think of "A Firewall" as a configuration that is in place, which does not come by default. I think for the sake of simplicity it should be treated as a firewall only if it's configured or has a ready-to-go script.

Other than that, you're dead-on. All these "firewalls" for Linux are really front-ends to iptables (or ipchains in 2.2).

[bae127]

chort

Thanks for the reply.

So I guess I should have said that Slackware comes with the "ability" to perform firewall functions, but that it does not come with the software/scripts to "enable" this functionality. I will try and remember this to make sure that my posts are clearer in the future.

Regards.

[dstubked]

netfilter is the firewall that comes with slackware 9.1, as with all the other distros! iptables is THE firewall(netfilter) configuration utility! guard dog is good, save u alot of problems figuring out the syntax of the various rules! 2 thumbs up for guarddog!