[ Thanks to Hugo for
this link. ]
“Linux has become extremely popular in the IT industry because
of its robustness, reliability, flexibility, and seemingly
unlimited scope for customization. Linux has many inbuilt
capabilities that let the developer customize its tools, behavior,
and appearance according to his needs without requiring expensive
third-party tools. One such inbuilt capability is firewall
configuration for Linux systems on a network, be they systems
connected to the Internet or a LAN, servers, or proxy servers
interfacing between a LAN and the Internet. This capability can be
put to use with the help of the netfilter/iptables IP packet
filtering system that comes integrated in versions 2.4.x of Linux
kernels.“The netfilter/iptables IP packet filtering system is the latest
among Linux packet filtering solutions like ipfwadm and ipchains
and is also the first one to be integrated into the Linux kernel.
The netfilter/iptables system is ideal for Linux system
administrators, network administrators, and home users who want to
configure firewalls according to their specific needs, save money
on firewall solutions, and have total control over IP packet
filtering…”