Hi!!
The previous response to my last question worked just fab so thanks. you guys are great.

NEW PROBLEM

i know that red hat installs a firewall as default on setup and i can see iptables working when i type iptables -L.
according to the books i'm reading the firewall can be configured to be an awful lot better.
When i try typing the commands (as root) i seem to get so far before i run into trouble and linux stops wanting to know me.
If anybody has any ideas about a simple iptables configuration that works as written or any corrections to the red hat fedora for dummies book that i'm workin from i'd be very thankfull
TTFN

have you tried shorewall?
it is what mandriva uses, not sure about red hat.
once installed edit /etc/shorewall/shorewall.conf (maybe located in different location)
read through file and follow instuctions in firewall settings section you just change the lines you need to rather than inputting iptable commands manually

Try this link:

www hideaway net/ iptables/

Sorry for the strange link, I havent posted 5 posts yet...