I'm a newbie, I just installed a Mandrake 10.2 Official linux. My problem is that when I ping other computers in our network from the linux box, I got good response but when i go to the other computers and tried to ping the linux box, there were no response.

I read in some threads that it is a firewall problem but I didn't install any application yet..

can somebody help me with this?

on a command line as root type iptables -L and tell us what the result is.

"drakfirewall" is the command name for the mandriva firewall configuration utility.

Under menu, do a "run command" and just type /usr/sbin/drakfirewall. Unless you either turn off the firewall or configure it manually (need some networking knowledge, or at least patience with us at linuxquestions), you will not be able to allow ping on the box. It is not part of the config. It is also not usually needed. If you need ssh or smb(windows shares) exposed to other computers, those are available. You won't be able to ping, but you will still have those services available on the network. This is actually better for security. Shorewall is a very powerful and dynamic firewall, it is just oversimplified within Mandriva. Mostly for the desktop user. Experienced users will just go directly to the config files and do it by hand.

Hope it helps.
Pete Lewis

jtshaw,

i typed iptables and it says, command not found..

to Pete Lewis

So you mean to say that my network is good? even though other computers cannot receive replies from the linux box?

I want to setup a firewall/proxy server in my linux box.. what's the next step then?

The command he asked for is:

iptables -L

You can check if your setup has not disabled by default (which is not so good) the answering to ping:

cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/icmp_echo_ignore_all
or something similar.

If it is 1, your system will not answer to ping request.

Sorry for the late follow-up. I'm pretty sure your network is fine. I do have a question if you don't mind. What are you using your linux box for?

If you are going to do any sort of networking with it, you have to keep the firewall in mind. For every service you want other computers to see you have to open that service up. If you are just using it for the excellent desktop OS that it provides, then it is really not much of a concern.

For apps, configure urpmi with the help from http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/.

Is that a box with dual booting ??? Like do you also have windows xp installed with linux for dual booting ??
Is your lan card driver is BROADCOM 44xx or something like tht ???