Bug#627993: RFP: ipmasq -- IP Masquerade NAT (Network Adress Translation)

[Alexander Reichle-Schmehl <tolimar@debian.org>]

Hi Christopher!

* Christopher Forster <christopherforster@spray.se> [110526 11:51]:

> * Package name : ipmasq
> Version : 4.0.8-7
> Upstream Author : Brian Bassett <bbassett@bbassett.net>
> * URL : http://www.bbassett.net/ipmasq/
> <http://www.bbassett.net/ipmasq/> 
> * License : GPL
> Description : This package contains scripts to initialize IP Masquerade
> for use as a firewall. IP Masquerade is a feature of Linux that allows
> an entire network of computers to be connected to another network
> (usually the Internet) with only one network address on the other
> network. IP Masquerade is often referred to as NAT (Network Address
> Translation) on other platforms.

Thanks for your interest in Debian, but are you sure this package is
needed?

It has been part of Debian previously, but given up by it's former
maintainer (see http://bugs.debian.org/538384 for details).  In the
removal request he said "it would need substancial reworking (upstream
wise, not packaging wise) for modern environments, while at the same
time there are other similar packages in debian already."

So I'm wondering if there has been any new development since then?  Also
it seems, that the Homepage you mention above is kind of dead; last
changed in 1999, and the last version offered there for download is
3.4.4, which seems to be even older than the version in Debian's
oldstable release.

So can you you elaborate on why the package should be reintroduced and
if there's any upstream activity (and if so, where?)?


Best Regards,
  Alexander