Hi to everybody...Before all, I'm a (not too much)newbie (niubbi for Italian Public!)in Linux &c., and i'm tryng to learn all the necessary by myself .or with your help..using Mandrake 9.2 DL edition.

I crashed on a HUGE problem...For my pleasure i HAVE TO use application for file sharing or VPNing in private protocols...well, I absolutely need to open some ports on my drakfirewall.
Even using the "advanced mode", opening almost all ports on my Linny Machine,
DrakeConfig(anch Drakefirewall as a consequence) seem to "forget" my selections, and the situation doesn't change. Obviously, for first, I've tried to make all this things (in Italian I will say..Pasticci..in english is...totally mess!) under Root privileges, but the result was the same.

any of you knows how to "force" Drakefirewall settings?
have you got any other suggestion (f.e. installing Guard dog and send to hell DrakeFirewall)?

thx a lot in advance...

Bye

Lucius Sergius Catilina, the noble Roman Empire Revolutionary

i suggest you try shorewall... i use it all the time on all kinds of linux boxes...

it performs superbly, and it's very well documented...

http://www.shorewall.net/


if you don't like dealing with the command line interface you can use webmin to administer shorewall...

http://www.webmin.com/


but since you are looking to learn, i would suggest staying away from webmin (and whenever possible, all those cute mandrake tools)...

=)

there is shorewall in Mandrake Linux and system automatically installs shorewall if you tick Firewall during installation and package selection.I recomend Firestarter with gui and real incoming and outgoing traffic displayed in real time.
it is available from hxxp://firestarter.sourceforge.net/

mandrake's shorewall is different and older than the "real" shorewall...

uninstalling mandrake's shorewall and downloading shorewall directly from shorewall.net would be a wise choice...

not only because of the differences (specifically, zones, etc.), as is stated on their website:

"Shorewall configuration produced by Mandrake Internet Connection Sharing is strange and is apt to confuse you..." - Shorewall QuickStart Guide

but mainly because you can rest assured that you're getting the latest stable code directly from the developer...


here's where you can get the latest shorewall:

http://www.shorewall.net/pub/shorewall/shorewall-1.4.8/


and here's the installation guides:

http://www.shorewall.net/shorewall_quickstart_guide.htm


Firestarter is really sweet, too... but if you wanna LEARN, go for Shorewall, or even better (if you've got a VERY STRONG desire to learn), go directly with Iptables...

http://www.linuxguruz.com/iptables/


Keep in mind Shorewall's slogan: "Iptables made easy"...

=)