Web Server Security : Dedicated firewall

by Sharen Scott on October 19, 2009

It is not enough to protect dedicated web server from viruses, worms, malware, and other kinds of malicious applications. A dedicated firewall is a security measure that helps us to prevent unauthorized access to or from our network. In this article we are going to present six open source firewall solutions. These won’t be simple apps that act only as firewalls, but rather feature-laden suites offering commercial-like functions.

Before we kick start this article it would be worthwhile to explain the main purpose of a firewall, as well as its inner workings. In a nutshell, a firewall is either software (running as a service/daemon on a server, for example) or a device that enforces a set of rules such as “permit” and “deny.” Basically, the criteria are customizable and depend on the user.

Nowadays the functionalities of a firewall have been expanded with various other useful features. Here we cannot forget about network address translations (NAT), routing, state table, virtual private networks (VPN), dynamic DNS, additional DHCP capabilities, the ability to act as a PPPoE server, and more; some even include network intrusion prevention systems. We’ll name the firewalls that have become “all-in-one” suites.

In this article we are going to describe and briefly present the following firewall solutions: SmoothWall, Endian, ClarkConnect, pfSense, Untangle, and Shorewall. Each of them is a free, open source, and robust firewall suite, in no particular order. There are unique differences between them, and it is up to the user to test drive and decide which one really fits his or her requirements. We’ll maintain an objective point of view.

This being said, let’s begin with the first three.

Pages: 1 2 3 4

{ 1613 comments… read them below or add one }

Benefits Of Sinrex July 26, 2010 at 10:33 am

Benefits Of Sinrex
wow awesome blog. Want more.

Sinrex Male Enhancement Cream July 26, 2010 at 11:19 am

Sinrex Male Enhancement Cream
Great blog article.Thanks Again. Will read on…

Sinrex Australia July 26, 2010 at 12:42 pm

Sinrex Australia
Really enjoyed this blog post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.

Sinrex Australia July 26, 2010 at 12:43 pm

Sinrex Australia
Thanks for the blog article.Really thank you! Really Cool.

T1 Line Cost Comparison July 26, 2010 at 3:00 pm

T1 Line Cost Comparison
Very good blog.Thanks Again. Really Great.

Bring The Fresh July 28, 2010 at 8:18 am

Bring The Fresh
Really informative post.Much thanks again. Really Great.

Using Market Samurai Guy July 28, 2010 at 1:39 pm

http://www.usingmarketsamurai.com
Cool post, what’s next?

Gout and Food Guy July 28, 2010 at 3:20 pm

http://www.goutandfood.com
I enjoyed your post; thanks for sharing.

Affiliatedotcom.com Bonus July 29, 2010 at 2:55 am

Affiliatedotcom.com Bonus
Thank you ever so for you post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.

Violin Lessons July 29, 2010 at 5:03 am

Violin Lessons
I loved your blog post.Thanks Again. Cool.

Hand Held Vacuum Cleaners July 29, 2010 at 6:54 am

Hand Held Vacuum Cleaners
Fantastic blog.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.

Bo Dog July 29, 2010 at 10:24 am
T1 Line Cost Comparison July 29, 2010 at 2:09 pm

T1 Line Cost Comparison
This is one awesome blog post.Really thank you! Fantastic.

Slotmachines July 29, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Bt8040 July 30, 2010 at 6:28 am

Bt8040
Thank you ever so for you blog article.Much thanks again.

Linda July 30, 2010 at 2:13 pm

Linda
Im obliged for the blog post.Really thank you! Really Great.

Wedding Photographers Gainesville July 30, 2010 at 6:31 pm

Wedding Photographers Gainesville
Thanks for the article.Thanks Again. Great.

Gainesville Wedding Photographer July 30, 2010 at 9:15 pm

Gainesville Wedding Photographer
Major thanks for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.

Wedding Photographer Gainesville July 30, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Wedding Photographer Gainesville
I value the post.

Comcast Package Deals For Existing Customers July 31, 2010 at 7:48 am

Comcast Package Deals For Existing Customers
Hey thanks for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.

gravity inversion July 31, 2010 at 9:29 am

http://www.gravityinversion.net
At a round table there is no dispute about place.

Social Network Empire Bonus | Social Network Empire Review July 31, 2010 at 2:45 pm

Social Network Empire Bonus | Social Network Empire Review
Really enjoyed this article. Much obliged.

whirlpool gx5shdxvd July 31, 2010 at 3:30 pm

http://www.whirlpoolgx5shdxvd.com/
They asked the Turkmen whether he wants to buy bees he said Why should I have all that buzz with my money?

Thor Movie Site July 31, 2010 at 10:48 pm

http://www.thormoviesite.com
Faint heart never won fair lady.

table teeter August 1, 2010 at 6:22 am

http://www.tableteeter.org
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

table teeter August 1, 2010 at 2:07 pm

http://www.tableteeter.org
When pleasure interferes with business give up business.

stop eating poop August 1, 2010 at 3:10 pm

http://www.stopeatingpoop.com
Patience is a virtue that causes no shame.

stop eating poop August 1, 2010 at 10:48 pm

http://www.stopeatingpoop.com
Business before pleasure.

dog eats poop August 2, 2010 at 12:38 am

http://www.dogeatspoop.com
Practice what you preach.

Stainless Steel Electric Skillet August 2, 2010 at 2:58 am

Stainless Steel Electric Skillet
Im grateful for the article post.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.

coprophagia treatment August 2, 2010 at 8:28 am

http://www.coprophagiatreatment.com
Patience cures many an old complaint.

Http://housesforsaleboise.com August 2, 2010 at 8:31 am

Http://housesforsaleboise.com
Enjoyed every bit of your article.Thanks Again. Awesome.

Get Free Guide To Fafsa And Calculator August 2, 2010 at 3:31 pm

Get Free Guide To Fafsa And Calculator
I appreciate you sharing this post.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.

coprophagia treatment August 2, 2010 at 4:23 pm

http://www.coprophagiatreatment.com
Against stupidity God Himself is helpless.

secret bras August 2, 2010 at 6:06 pm

http://www.secretbras.net
Beauty draws with a single hair.

secret bras August 3, 2010 at 2:24 am

http://www.secretbras.net
The exception proves the rule.

pheromone collar August 3, 2010 at 4:20 am

http://www.pheromonecollar.com
Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.

Internet Safety Tips For Kids August 3, 2010 at 4:54 am

Internet Safety Tips For Kids
Major thankies for the blog. Really Cool.

Internet Safety Software August 3, 2010 at 8:13 am

Internet Safety Software
I appreciate you sharing this blog post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.

Natural Cure Acne Treatment August 3, 2010 at 11:00 am

Natural Cure Acne Treatment
Enjoyed every bit of your article.Thanks Again. Great.

pheromone collar August 3, 2010 at 12:57 pm

http://www.pheromonecollar.com
Honesty is the best policy.

market samurai affiliates August 3, 2010 at 3:02 pm

http://www.marketsamuraiaffiliates.com
Alls for the best in the best of all possible worlds.

learn affiliate August 3, 2010 at 10:04 pm

http://www.learnaffiliate.net
Good management is better than good income.

iron man addict August 4, 2010 at 4:49 am

http://www.ironmanaddict.com
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Comcast Bundled Packages August 4, 2010 at 5:11 am

Comcast Bundled Packages
A big thank you for your blog article.Much thanks again. Great.

flowers sydney August 4, 2010 at 11:16 am

http://www.flowerssydney.org
If you play with fire you get burnt.

captain america the first avenger August 4, 2010 at 1:21 pm

http://www.captain-america-the-first-avenger.com
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Make money with Internet Marketing August 4, 2010 at 9:45 pm

http://www.makingmoneyonlineprogram.com
In the midst of great joy do not promise anyone anything. In the midst of great anger do not answer anyones letter.

Internet Blocking Software August 4, 2010 at 9:48 pm

Internet Blocking Software
Great thanks for sharing this blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.

Internet Blocking Software August 4, 2010 at 9:49 pm

Internet Blocking Software
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog post. Really Cool.

Previous post:

Next post: