It depends. For a firewall script, it needs to be setup to run at boot, before your network connection is activated. How to do this, depends on your distro.

A firewall shouldn't slow your internet connection by any significant amount. Certainly not a decent one like IPTABLES anyway. You do have to use a firewall on Linux - just because you live in a good neighbourhood doesn't mean that you don't lock your doors.

How do you mean? You will basically have to edit the script and change the iptables rules.

This shouldn't block outbound connections, but you may need to add rules to open ports from some P2P and IM software.

You don't really need a firewall on dial-up, because you are not connected for long enough.

Basically, most Linux "Firewalls" are just frontends to IPTABLES, which is built into the kernel. This script that win32sux as posted is just shell script that sets rules for IPTABLES to follow.

I would suggest Firestarter, which is also a frontend to IPTABLES. It write a script, that is run automatically on boot. While it may be overkill for most desktops, it is possibly easier than trying to understand complex IPTABLES rules.

I hope this helps
--Ian

My distro is Ubuntu Dapper and I've never set up anything to run at boot...soooo...I have no idea how to do it.

My closest neighbor is about a mile from my house, it's back on an old dirt road 1/2 mile from the main road....I rarely lock my doors cos unless you know there's a house back here you're not gonna find it....In case you're wondering...I live in the sticks. lol


Okay I can understand that...making a backup copy of it before i try it should take care of that then.


This is sounding way too hard already. :P


Actually my modem is connected to the internet all the time. When the computer boots up, it automatically connects and holds that connection for 12 hrs. After 12 hrs, my carrier drops it and then the dialer automatically connects again.

Will do on the firestarter and yes it does. Thank you.

~* Ash