Greetings,

Firewalls are pretty important for keeping your system secure, it's a big International Network out there. Could someone tell me how the Linux firewall works, be it through the Linux kernel PPP interface, iptables, ipchains, etc. Can it be configured so that application x (e.g. an internet browser) is allowed send and receive through a certain port - and only that port? And all other access, be it by that application or other applications is denied? Or does it have general rules and makes guesses on what is and isn't allowed access?

Could someone point me to an application - Qt or GTK+ coded, preferably Free - that offers this functionality. I use many applcations, and often install new ones, so a little dialog that would appear notifying me of access or a request to access, giving the option to permit or deny and further define a rule (e.g. port) would be useful. Manually editing iptables configuration files, typing in and out of root mode, would be frustrating and would require more reading and learning than I would prefer.

I know I could just check FreshMeat.net, but asking fellow Linux users who have used the app in question and have tried other applications seems better in this case.

Thanks in advance,
AnonE9

preferably free? you're not used to linux yet.. try finding one that isn't free... personally i normally recommend firestarter (gtk+) works great.

that was funny i cant stop laughing.

got to admit you got a good sence of humor acid_kewpie .

HI,
I would definitely recommend fwbuilder. It has a simple GUI, and it reduces the difficulty level quite a bit. It is also well support with a very active forum.

Regards

John

Note the capital in Free, acid_kewpie. By Free I mean licenced under the GPL (General Public Licence) which allows me to copy, modify and examine the source code of the program in question (given any changes are submitted to the community, who own the code), therefore ensuring my freedom. What, you didn't know this?? I suspect you're "not used of Linux yet"... as Linux, the GPL and Free Software are so closely linked.

Free as in 'free' could mean just being able to download the app, binary only, use it all you wish but are deprived of the privilages outlined above with Free software. It's a big difference. You could call Microsoft's Internet Explorer "free" software...


Anyway... does anyone want to post some screenshots of their favourite firewall in action so I can see if it meets my requirements?

BTW, I asked specifically because firewalls are the kind of software that are pretty essential and easy to market, like anti-virus software (of course anti-virus software doesn't apply to Linux users... yet).

stop talking crap, that's exactly what i meant, at least 95% of software in use under linux is released via the GPL (or GPL2 or LGPL), capital first letter or not . you seriously think i don't know what the GPL is????

if you want screenshot of apps jsut go to there homepage. you do know what a home page is......? and a search engine...? super.

Right kewpie stop with the slaggin! Let's forget about the Free/free thing, okay?

I'd prefer to get screenshots from the readers of the forum because often the screenshots on sites are limited and of outdated versions (though the fwbuilder.org ones aren't).

What I'm looking for is a dialog window that appears whenever there is a request for access that isn't defined (i.e. permitted or denied), and asks me what I want to do. This is how Tiny Personal Firewall for windowS operates, and I find it effective; easy-to-use but can keep your system very secure, by not just making guesses on ports, addresses, etc. fwbuilder doesn't appear to operate like this. Any other suggestions apart from fwbuilder? fwbuilder does seems like a pretty good firewall, and it's probably what I'll choose, but I'd like to see what others there are.

firestarter just try it. it runs under kde but was designed for gnome just like it says on firestarters website. u can have it run in your system tray. by having it run in your system tray it will tell u when your getting hits. just try it. works great.

here http://www.schrock321.com/snapshot2.png a shot of my firewall running. look at the bottom right hand corner of the image. there is a blue dot on the taskbar. when that blue dot turns into a red image it means u got a hit.

acid_kewpie helps alot of people around here i would show him a little more respect if i were you

AD

Okay, okay, I'm new. Sorry acid_kewpie.

BTW, judging from you're screenshot they've (KDE) improved on mimicing the windowS appearance ALOT. Nice backround and icons too! Now if only more GTK+ apps would port to 2.x (e.g. GAIM)...

gaim is on gtk2 now.