tutorial for IP tables with examples

[jlangley]

a friend of mine told me I should know how to build a firewall and said I shouldn't waste my time with IP Chains. Does anyone know of a document with a good tutorial preferably with examples?
a confused home user.

[neffu]

A good site is to read is the Linux Router Project http://www.linuxrouter.org

If you want to have a separate router box by using an old PC you can try these various floppy router software that you can setup without a hard drive.
www.freesco.org (http://www.freesco.org) www.gnatbox.com (http://www.gnatbox.com) (A Commercial product but has free limited 4 user demo) www.coyotelinux.com (http://www.coyotelinux.com) www.edge.fireplug.net (http://www.edge.fireplug.net)

To name a few.

I recommend getting one of the firewall software that fits on a floppy and use an old 386 or 486 with 16MB of RAM and two NICs to load the firewall.

Freesco and Gnatbox are good to use because the initial setup is easy and secure out of the box. Once you have a working Firewall, then you can dive into the Linux Router Project and learn about the ins and outs of firewalls and various configuration methods.

So have a separate firewall up and working quickly and painlessly, THEN go back and learn the details. I've realize its actually better to learn something when you have a working model that you can always go back and compare. Plus when building your own anything its easier if you're extremely familiar with what you're building.

Just my 2 centavos.

[ 01 March 2001: Message edited by: neffu ]

[ 01 March 2001: Message edited by: neffu ]