GNOME Lokkit

GNOME Lokkit allows you to configure firewall settings for an average user by constructing basic iptables networking rules. Instead of having to write the rules, this program asks you a series of questions about how you use your system and then writes the rules for you in the /etc/sysconfig/iptables file.

Note

You should not try to use GNOME Lokkit to generate complex firewall rules. GNOME Lokkit is intended for average users who want to protect themselves while using a dial-up modem, cable modem, or DSL Internet connection.

To configure specific firewall rules or to disable specific services and deny specific hosts and users, see the Official Red Hat Linux Administrator’s Guide (Red Hat Press/Wiley 2003).

To start GNOME Lokkit, type the command gnome-lokkit at a shell prompt as root. If you do not have the X Window System installed or if you prefer a text-based program, use the command lokkit to start the text-mode version of GNOME Lokkit.

GNOME Lokkit Configuration

After starting the program, choose the appropriate security level for your system:

• High Security — This option disables almost all network connects except DNS replies and DHCP so that network interfaces can be activated. IRC, ICQ, and other instant messaging services as well as RealAudio will not work without a proxy.

• Low Security — This option will not allow remote connections to the system, including NFS connections and remote X Window System sessions. Services that run below port 1023 will not accept connections, including FTP, SSH, Telnet, and HTTP.

• Disable Firewall — This option does not create any security rules. This option should only be chosen if the system is on a trusted network (not the Internet), if the system is behind a larger firewall, or if you write your own custom firewall rules. If you choose this option and click Next, proceed to the “Activating the iptables Service” section later in this chapter. The security of your system will not be changed.

  
  Figure 17-2. Basic Configuration

Local Hosts

If there are Ethernet devices on the system, the Local Hosts page allows you to configure whether the firewall rules apply to connection requests sent to each device. If the device connects the system to a local area network behind a firewall and does not connect directly to the Internet, select Yes. If the Ethernet card connects the system to a cable or DSL modem, it is recommended that you select No.

Figure 17-3. Local Hosts

DHCP

If you are using DHCP to activate any Ethernet interfaces on the system, you must say Yes to the DHCP question. If you say no, you will not be able to establish a connect using the Ethernet interface.

Many cable and DSL Internet providers require you to use DHCP to establish an Internet connection.

Figure 17-4. DHCP

Configuring Services

GNOME Lokkit also allows you to turn common services on and off. If you answer Yes to configuring services, you are prompted about the following services:

• Web Server — Choose this option if you want people to connect to a Web server such as Apache running on your system. You do not need to choose this option if you only want to view pages on your own system or on other servers on the network.

• Incoming Mail — Choose this option if your system needs to accept incoming mail. You do not need this option if you retrieve email using IMAP, POP3, or fetchmail.

• Secure Shell — Secure Shell, or SSH, is a suite of tools for logging into and executing commands on a remote machine over an encrypted connection. If you need to access your machine remotely through SSH, select this option.

• Telnet — Telnet allows you to log into your machine remotely; however, it is not secure. Telnet sends plain text (including passwords) over the network. It is recommended that you use SSH to log into your machine remotely if you need to. If you are required to have Telnet access to your system, select this option.

To disable other services that you do not need, see the Official Red Hat Linux Administrator’s Guide.

Activating the Firewall

Clicking Finish will write the firewall rules to /etc/sysconfig/iptables and start the firewall by starting the iptables service.

It is highly recommended that you run GNOME Lokkit from the machine, not from a remote X session. If you disable remote access to your system, you will no longer be able to access it or disable the firewall rules.

Click Cancel if you do not want to write the firewall rules.

Mail Relay

A mail relay is a system that allows other systems to send email through it. If your system is a mail relay, someone can possibly use it to spam others from your machine.

If you chose to enable mail services, after you click Finish on the Activate the Firewall page, you will be prompted to check for mail relay. If you choose Yes to check for mail relay, GNOME Lokkit will attempt to connect to the Mail Abuse Prevention System website at http://www.mail-abuse.org/ and run a mail relay test program. The results of the test will be displayed when it is finished. If your system is open to mail relay, it is highly recommended that you configure Sendmail to prevent it.

You must have the iptables service enabled and running to activate the firewall. See the next section for details.