[ILUG] Smoothwall ??

[Justin MacCarthy]

Hi

>
> On Mairt, 2002-01-22 at 12:16, Glen Gray wrote:
> > I know a couple of users here have used/tried SmoothWall. Thinking about
> > installing it over my HAN server as I'm having trouble with the firewall
> > scripts and figured I'd give SmoothWall a chance. If it doesn't suit I
> > have backups of configs etc.
> >

> > Anyway the questions
> > 1)Does it support auto-dialing a modem and hangup after idle

Yes .. and no , depends on your modem I think ,both of these features work
with the ISDN card I use.

> > 2)Does have netfilter/2.4 kernel

The version of the Linux kernel is 2.2.19. (as of .9.9)

> > 3)Can I install ypserv and nfsd (i.e. are they included)

You can install anything you like, but just don't ask the SmoothWall
developers, they are rude and unhelpful. I would have built/will build my
own firewall if I was knowledge enough..

 From their "helpful" docs
http://www.smoothwall.org/download/pdf/docs/0.9.9/doc.faq.pdf

"Q. I would like to install a {insert application} on my
Smoothie, can you help me?
Ah, the grand daddy of all questions, quickly followed
by and his brother:"

> > I've not been able to find a package list on the site, though I admit to
> > not looking too hard :-P
> >
> > And the main question, is it any good ?

It was great in the respect that it took about 25 mins to setup of my 'HAN',
but the pc I'm running it on is way above the spec (p166 + 96 ram + 8gig
drive) needed and I do feel like it's a waste of the box, I'll probably dig
up a lower spec'ed box at some stage.

They don't seem to have any web interface to updating the snort rules which
IMHO is a pity for a firewall

It's based on a striped down RedHat AFAIK. Comes with squid, ssh, snort,DHCP
and DNS proxy, NAT (although I've had a couple of weird experiences when
ftping - might not be related ) and a web based admin to all the above. More
details at
http://www.smoothwall.org/download/pdf/docs/0.9.9/doc.userguide.print.pdf

You can also run green / red / orange and have a DMZ - I run it in red/green
so I don't know much about that.

There is also a new version coming out for HOME users with website/content
blocking , if you have kids etc..
As for writing a review - there are lots of them out there including some
German guy giving out about the security issues (was on slashdot a while
ago) and besides I don't feel informed to write a review :-)

However if you want a review of the SmoothWall developers attitudes , I
__could__ give you one but , I'll _should_ bite my tongue on that one....

Justin - novice Linux head