For the casual user, learning the syntax for iptables to set up a functioning firewall and/or gateway with Linux can be a bit of a pain. If you work with iptables frequently, it's pretty easy to get the hang of — but it's definitely a bit much to tackle just to set up a single device for your home or office.

Most Linux distros include wizards or utilities to set up a rudimentary firewall and gateway/router functions, but they often lack flexibility. That's why my picks for this month are Guidedog and Guarddog. Guidedog is a GUI tool that can be used to set up packet routing/forwarding and IP masquerade (NAT) and port forwarding on a Linux host with iptables. Guarddog is a GUI tool designed to help set up a firewall using iptables and is a great tool to use in conjunction with Guidedog.

By Joe "Zonker" Brockmeier at UNIX Review.

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