RE: Need Help Building Linux Based Firewall

[sanjay.patel () rexwire com]

It depends on what functionality you need out of your firewall. 

Instead of building one you can always install something like smoothwall
or ipcop.

SKP

-----Original Message-----
From: phani () myrealbox com [mailto:phani () myrealbox com] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 10:53 PM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: Need Help Building Linux Based Firewall


On Wed, Nov 27, 2002 at 10:24:54AM +0800, Khuzairi Yahaya wrote: hi,

> Dear Tech Gurus,
>
> I was given the responsibility to setup a Linux Based Firewall.  I am 
> looking at either Redhat, Mandrake and Suse on intel platform and 
> Sparc based.
>
> I need your opinion on the following:
> 1.  Which OS is considered the best suited for a firewall?
If you are running the firewall on a separate box then you can try and
look at se SE Linux. Even a locked down BSD is good (I dont hv much
knowledge of BSD so i cannot comment on the same)
> 2.  What are the application/software required to be installed?
Again, if you are running a separate box as the firewall , then *no* app
shld be installed except for the firewall. 
> 3.  What security conserns/issues I need to address?
That depends on your company's security policy.
> 4.  Should I use multiple processors?
Usually not needed for a firewall, but if you hv em then heck y not ;)
> 5.  Any website for reference?
google for linux firewalling . there are lots of materials out there for
the design of firewalls and rule sets

hth
phani