Hi all.
I have just got linux up and running on my home computer. i`m using slackware 9.1

Now in windows I use a firewall but I havent set one up yet in linux. I havent got a clue where to start with linux. i have heard the ppl talk about IPtables but I`m a bit clueless on this.
I`m on 56k as well.

Do I need to set up a firewall or IPtables being on 56k? Also what is the best/easiest to set up

Thanks peeps

IPtables is your FireWall !! ( file -> /etc/sysconfig/iptables )
I have no idea how to use it myself. It looks complicated, but that's probably because I did not took the time to read up on it ....

Try a search for IPTables in this forem.... I see a lot of questions on the subject.

Rolf

Check out:
www.netfilter.org (especially the frozentux guide)
http://www.linuxguruz.com/iptables/h...les-HOWTO.html

unSpawn has posted some extensive references in the Security Faq posted at the top of this forum under the section titled "Netfilter, firewall, Iptables etc". Read all of that and you'll be a iptables guru in no time.

Most of the distros (e.g. Mandrake, SuSE and I'm sure others too) have nice graphical front ends that allow you to set up a basic firewall very easily. SuSE has a single file to edit for more detailed configuration without actually getting down to writing your own iptables commands.

If you want a stand-alone firewall server, IPCop is a CD-based linux firewall that is configured and managed via the web browser.

In short, there is no reason for you to become an expert on the nuts and bolts of iptables unless you want to. If all you want to do is to set up a firewall, your distro probably makes it easy. Of course the difference between Linux and some other OSs I could mention is that if you do want to get under the covers and understand exactly what is going on, with Linux you can go as deep as you like - right down to the source code if you wish.