Quwery about firewall software

[Gene Heskett]

On Saturday 14 November 2015 05:10:20 Bret Busby wrote:

> Hello.
>
> I have been using a computer as a firewall/gateway computer, with an
> old version of Debian Linux, and Firestarter, both of which are no
> longer supported, and I have forgotten the relevant passwords for the
> computer.
>
> I am thinking of installing Ubuntu Linux on the computer, with
> possibly either Firewall Builder, or gufw, to set up a new firewall.
>
> This is a computer via which, a number of computers within the LAN,
> access the Internet, the LAN computers using various operating systems
> (which should not make any difference to the firewall/gateway
> computer), and using static IP (v4) addresses.
>
> The firewall/gateway computer has two network cards; one for the LAN,
> and, one for the router/modem.
>
> Whilst the gufw seems simple enough, to enable, for a single computer,
> I do not know whether it would be suitable for using on a LAN
> firewall/gateway computer.
>
> Please advise which of these two firewall applications, would be most
> appropriate in this context, for a relatively simple person.
>
> Thank you in anticipation.
>
A common, $70 USD router with enough reflashable memory that you can 
reflash it to DD-WRT makes an ideal firewall. I have a Netgear 
WNA3500-something here, protecting my 5 machine home network.  It has 
just sat there and ran for several years now, drawing about 5% of the 
power an old wintel box drew for several years prior to it.  Its 
programmed to forward one port to this machine, which is how you can see 
the web page in my sig.

When looking at routers, it must be reflashable, and must have 4 megs of 
flash, with 8 megs being even better.

Network access for my home network machines is utterly transparent, but 
no one has come in to do any dirty work in a decade or more.  I'm 
probably foolish, but I haven't worried about the black hats in years.

> -- <you are missing a space between the second dash and the \l here to
 make that into a legit sig separator. So your sig IS copied to my reply.

> Bret Busby
> Armadale
> West Australia

[...]

Cheers, Gene Heskett
-- 
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