I guess this would make IPCop is a bit geeky. It's based on LFS, and you 
can compile the whole thing if you'd like. ;) (Instructions are on the 
web site)

kitepilot@kitepilot.com wrote:
>>> Any extra/unwanted packages which come in a standard distro,
>>> but which aren't needed for a router, have been removed
> The best (GEEKY) firewall is an LFS installation running iptables.
> You just NEVER install "any extra/unwanted package" to begin with.  :)
> I understand it is not for everyone though, but I couldn't resist...  8)
> ET 
> 
> PS: For the "uninitiated":
> LFS=http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/ 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> Alex Dean writes: 
> 
>> On Jun 4, 2009, at 3:24 PM, Paul Mooring wrote: 
>>
>>> Maybe most people would disagree with me on this but I don't think  
>>> there's too many advantages to runnning IPcop over a standard linux  
>>> distro in the first place if you're only looking to use it as a  router.  
>>> Any router or firewall distro is more or less an iptables  frontend 
>>> anyhow. To do it make sure "net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1" is in / 
>>> etc/sysctl.conf and there should be an iptables rule for nat, run  
>>> iptables-save and look for a rule that says either -j SNAT --to- source 
>>> or -j MASQUERADE, if your existing iptables rules don't have  that run 
>>> 'iptables -t nat -I POSTROUTING -o $EXTIF -j MASQUERADE'  where $EXTIF is 
>>> your external interface (probably eth0 or eth1), and  then you have a 
>>> fully functional router.
>> If you know what you're doing, I agree there isn't any difference.   But 
>> the set of people who might want a good firewall/router is much  larger 
>> than the set of people who are really comfortable with  iptables, and 
>> that's where IPCop & other distros like it fit in really  well. 
>>
>> There are other benefits besides iptables ease.  Any extra/unwanted  
>> packages which come in a standard distro, but which aren't needed for  a 
>> router, have been removed (and are therefore not exploitable).   
>> Configuring multiple interfaces for multiple networks is really  simple.  
>> Etc... 
>>
>> alex


-- 
-Eric 'shubes'

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