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
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