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Re: is iptables enough?



On Wed, Mar 19, 2003 at 01:44:13PM -0600, Jones remarked:
> I am planning to replace a (dead) Windows 2000 computer that
> was used as a web server and email server with a Debian Linux
> solution.  This machine is connected to the net via DSL and
> would run apache and exim/qpopper and sshd.  Everything else
> would be turned off.  It is a small church and their current
> site is not very busy, but she says they do get a lot of
> email.
> 
> Am I right in assuming that iptabes is enough as a firewall
> solution and that I would not need to buy any additional
> software.  

Yes the iptables tool is sufficient to construct a reliable
firewall.  Network topology is another issue, and one people
enjoy debating ;)

> That is what I understand from my past experience
> with Debian/iptables as a server and from the files at
> debian.org security howto at
> (http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/securing-debian-howto/index.en.html)

I would recommend you take a look at the 'Shoreline Firewall',
more commonly known as 'Shorewall'.  It's a good firewall
solution and DEBs are available.  Takes a while to get used to
(i.e. figure out how it works) but it is reasonably well
documented, and most importantly, well done.

> On a less related note, what hardware config would you
> recommend for such a system?  She has a number of machines
> that I could choose from.  Most of them are 1.x Ghz Pentium
> systems with 256MB RAM and 10 GB IDE hard drives.  After
> increasing the RAM to 512MB, I think this should more than
> adequate for a system doing nothing but HTTP and SMTP/POP
> requests.

More than enough, yes.

> thanks
> jmb

My $0.02,
Raymond

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