IPCop is a powerful, open source, Linux based firewall distribution for primarily Small Office Or Home (SOHO) networks, although it can be used in larger networks. It provides most of the features that you would expect a modern firewall to have, and what is most important is that it sets this all up for you in a highly automated and simplified way.

This book is an easy introduction to this popular application. After introducing and explaining the foundations of firewalling and networking and why they're important, the book moves on to cover using IPCop, from installing it, through configuring it, to more advanced features, such as configuring IPCop to work as an IDS, VPN and using it for bandwidth management. While providing necessary theoretical background, the book takes a practical approach, presenting sample configurations for home users, small businesses, and large businesses. The book contains plenty of illustrative examples.

What will you learn from this book?

-The roles of several common networking devices and explains how firewalls fit into this.

-IPCop package and how IPCop's red/orange/blue/green interfaces fit into a network topology. It then covers the configuration of IPCop in other common roles, such as those of a web proxy, DHCP, DNS, time, and VPN server.

-How IPCop interfaces connect to each other and to the network as a whole.

-Installing IPCop.

-To employ the various tools IPCop provides us with to administrate, operate, troubleshoot, and monitor our IPCop firewall.

-Need for an IDS in our system and how to use the SNORT IDS with IPCop.

-The VPN concept and how to set up an IPSec VPN configuration for a system. Special focus is laid on configuring the blue zone — a secured wireless network augmenting the security of a wireless segment, even one already using WEP or WPA.

-How to manage bandwidth using IPCop making use of traffic shaping techniques and cache management.

-The configuration of the Squid web proxy and caching system.

-How to install add-ons and then learn more about common add-ons like SquidGuard, Enhanced Filtering, Blue Access, LogSend, and CopFilter.

-IPCop security risks, patch management and some security and auditing tools and tests.

-The support IPCop users have in the form of mailing lists and IRC.

Who this book is written for?

Anyone interested in securing their networks with IPCop — from those new to networking and firewalls, to networking and IT Professionals with previous experience of IPCop. No knowledge of Linux or IPCop is required.

More details about the book are available at: http://www.packtpub.com/ipcop/book

IPCop is a powerful, open source, Linux based firewall distribution for primarily Small Office Or Home (SOHO) networks, although it can be used in larger networks. It provides most of the features that you would expect a modern firewall to have, and what is most important is that it sets this all up for you in a highly automated and simplified way.

This book is an easy introduction to this popular application. After introducing and explaining the foundations of firewalling and networking and why they're important, the book moves on to cover using IPCop, from installing it, through configuring it, to more advanced features, such as configuring IPCop to work as an IDS, VPN and using it for bandwidth management. While providing necessary theoretical background, the book takes a practical approach, presenting sample configurations for home users, small businesses, and large businesses. The book contains plenty of illustrative examples.

What will you learn from this book?

-The roles of several common networking devices and explains how firewalls fit into this.

-IPCop package and how IPCop's red/orange/blue/green interfaces fit into a network topology. It then covers the configuration of IPCop in other common roles, such as those of a web proxy, DHCP, DNS, time, and VPN server.

-How IPCop interfaces connect to each other and to the network as a whole.

-Installing IPCop.

-To employ the various tools IPCop provides us with to administrate, operate, troubleshoot, and monitor our IPCop firewall.

-Need for an IDS in our system and how to use the SNORT IDS with IPCop.

-The VPN concept and how to set up an IPSec VPN configuration for a system. Special focus is laid on configuring the blue zone — a secured wireless network augmenting the security of a wireless segment, even one already using WEP or WPA.

-How to manage bandwidth using IPCop making use of traffic shaping techniques and cache management.

-The configuration of the Squid web proxy and caching system.

-How to install add-ons and then learn more about common add-ons like SquidGuard, Enhanced Filtering, Blue Access, LogSend, and CopFilter.

-IPCop security risks, patch management and some security and auditing tools and tests.

-The support IPCop users have in the form of mailing lists and IRC.

Who this book is written for?

Anyone interested in securing their networks with IPCop — from those new to networking and firewalls, to networking and IT Professionals with previous experience of IPCop. No knowledge of Linux or IPCop is required.

More details about the book are available at: http://www.packtpub.com/ipcop/book

"IPCop Linux is a complete Linux distribution whose

sole purpose is to protect the networks on which

it is installed."