Installing Firewall in Calculate Linux...

Rumkoffee · 04-24-2012, 11:50 AM

1st, is there one? Perhaps a basic one that runs transparently in the background on initial install and even in Live mode?

2nd, It seems that all the 'simple' Firewall configuration GUI's have been removed from Gentoo? Anyone have a clue why?

I do not understand networking beyond the extremely very basic. Setting up iptables is beyond me as well as beyond my time constraints.

I'd rather not install half of or more of KDE in Xfce just to get a simple Firewall GUI to setup a very basic firewall.

If anyon has suggestions on something more basic GUI to achieve my goal, it would be very welcome.

I used what was there... fwbuilder. I don't think this program is intuitive at all. Which is to say, if you're familiar with the rules and firewalls, doing home networks with multiple computers etc, and more advanced things, I suspect it is a really great program making things easy for you.

As I'm not this kind of user, I didn't find it easy to use at all initially. I got my basic firewall setup using on of it's templates and it failed to install it's script?

So, anyone know how to get fwbuilder to install it's script in calculate linux?

Another question, non network related:
Why can't eix-remote update see any of the 'other' Gentoo overlays? Is there an 'eix' difference? (As suggested by the error when it couldn't sync.)

MensaWater · 04-24-2012, 12:06 PM

I don't use Calculate but a quick web search suggests it, like most Linux distros, has iptables.

iptables is something loaded in the kernel and is as noted above the main firewall built into most Linux distros.
You don't really even give your specific requirements. A firewall can do many things so if your requirement were "I'd like to block everything by default and only allow ssh traffic on port 22" you'd likely get better responses than "I need a firewall".

Also saying you don't have time to learn is not a good way to get assistance. These forums are to try to get VOLUNTEER assistance (i.e. you're not PAYING for this) and most of us that answer like to feel we're educating people rather than just doing their work for them.

Rumkoffee · 04-24-2012, 11:39 PM

Thanks for your quick reply.

By the way, your response underscores my point.

I do not understand networking. As for your suggestions. Yes, I want the basic firewall setup
to block all outside attempts to connect to my system while it's on the internet. Basic firewall
setup from what I understand.

As you stated, a Firewall can do a lot of things. Which is what I do not understand.

I also am just honest. I am teaching. I spend a lot of my time preparing lessons. The rest of my time,
as far as it goes with computers is learning to manage Linux itself.

To use iptables from command line would require me to figure out and learn 'networking' on a major
scale. iptables, from what I have seen from the command line is a very advance user process and is
something for people who are really into and know networking well.

AS you can see from my errors, not stating what I wanted clearly from my firewall. I don't know those things.

I did not say I'm not willing to learn. I was honest. I have a job and I do not have the time to learn it! While doing and learning other things... how to manage Gentoo/Gentoo based distributions. (Quite different from Debian and other Distros where a lot of work is done for you.)

That is why I said I need a GUI and preferably a simple one.

My internet usage is fairly limited to be honest. Again due to time contrants as well as 'need'. I don't need much from it.

Also, I thought I was clear. I want a GUI to control iptables that is simple.

Which I do not think fwbuilder is. It's not Intuitive to me. It looks like an 'excellent' program that eases use for those who 'know' what they're doing in networking situations.

I did actually use the templet but at the moment I can not get fwbuilder to 'install' it's script!

So either another GUI in GENTOO that is more simplistic for those of us a little 'dumb' in the netowrking area like myself, or someone who uses fwbuilder in Gentoo and may be able to offer a solution on how to
get it to install it's script is what I'm looking for here. (Also Calculate specifically in the event there may be alterations from a 'straight' Gentoo install.)

The templet I used if it could be 'installed' would do what I ask. That much I can see. I just can't get it installed and because I really don't know what fwbuilder is 'doing' when it's trying to isntall the script I'm not sure how to fix it. I made several tries and change a few things but all failed on installing it's script.

Thank you for youre reply and sorry for the Vaugeness of my request.

Also, again, I like Linux the fact that I'm trying to use something Gentoo based should indicate that I'm not 'unwilling' to learn. However, I teach kids English here in Asia and they just switched to multimedia classrooms.

So I spend a lot of time flaffing the internet and getting illustrations to create presentations, etc. Then the time making those presentations... haha. So, really. I haven't the time to browse the net and figure out how to do iptables from command line cause I'd end up behind in my work.

Plus the reason I'm here is to 'learn' something else which takes up my other time. AS it's my purpose here after all.