The perfect Linux firewall. It doesn’t exist, right? Actually, some argue that IPCop could very well meet the needs for even the most snobbish of security freaks. Just an opinion I suppose, but a strong one nonetheless.

This document describes how to install the GNU/Linux GPL IPCop firewall and create a small home office network. In the second installment we cover creating a DMZ for hosting your own web server or mail server and the Copfilter proxy for filtering web and email traffic.

This is intended to be a quick and dirty overview on creating a IPCop firewall and comes without warranty of any kind!

What is IPCop
The IPCop project is a GNU/GPL project that offers an exceptional feature packed stand alone firewall to the internet community. Its comprehensive web interface, well documented administration guides, and its involved and helpful user/administrative mailing lists make users of any technical capacity feel at home. It goes far beyond a simple ipchains / netfilter implementation available in most Linux distributions and even the firewall feature sets of commercial competitors.

Firewalls have had to undergo a tremendous metamorphosis as a result of evolving threats. IPCop is exemplary in offering such a range of default features and even further a large set of optional plug-ins which can provide further functionality.

Some of IPCops impressive base install features include: secure https web administration GUI, DHCP Server, Proxying (Squid), DNS Proxying, Dynamic DNS, Time Server, Traffic Shaping, Traffic/Systems/Firewall/IDS graphing, Intrusion Detection (Snort), ISDN/ADSL device support and VPN (IPSec/PPTP) functionality. As if these base features were not an astounding enough there are dozens of add-ons which can further expand the functionality of your IPCop from Web Filtering to Anti virus scanning. Source: Howtoforge

[tags]dynamic dns,gui,linux firewall,comprehensive web interface,ipcop,dhcp server,proxying,dns proxying,time server,traffic shaping[/tags]