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Introductory reading on firewall/iptables/etc for new Debian user?

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Richard Owlett

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Apr 23, 2013, 10:30:03 AM4/23/13
to
I will be using email, Usenet, browser and occasionally file
downloading.
Nothing on my system should look/act like a server.
I want all programs to access the internet after explicitly
asking for permission.
The response to the request may be:
No
Always YES
Ask each occurrence




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Richard Owlett

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:10:01 AM4/23/13
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Dan Ritter wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 09:28:17AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> I will be using email, Usenet, browser and occasionally file
>> downloading.
>> Nothing on my system should look/act like a server.
>> I want all programs to access the internet after explicitly asking
>> for permission.
>> The response to the request may be:
>> No
>> Always YES
>> Ask each occurrence
>
> Programs don't generally ask for permissions; they assume that
> they are connected, and report failures when they can't make
> connections.
>
> I suppose that you could write a wrapper script for every
> program, so that if you invoke it through the wrapper you have
> opened the necessary ports, and if you invoke the program
> without the wrapper the connections are dropped. However, while
> the wrapper is being run, any copy of the program could have
> the same permissions.
>
> On Android systems, this issue is slightly addressed (though not
> in the manner you want) by having a new user added for every
> program, and running each program under that user-id. Since
> iptables can look at effective user-id when making packet
> accept/drop decisions, you can do per-program firewalls that
> way.
>
> By the way, you have an unusually brusque way of stating
> conditions rather than asking questions, which comes across as
> slightly rude.
>
> -dsr-
>

Apologies, I've just been chastised by relatives and friends
for going in the other direction.
I was trying to make clear I want only minimal connectivity.
As to the per program feature, I want to prevent an app from
deciding to update on its schedule not mine. I'm restricted
to dial-up so I need to be able to ration a scarce resource,
i.e. connectivity.



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Dan Ritter

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:10:03 AM4/23/13
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On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 09:28:17AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
> I will be using email, Usenet, browser and occasionally file
> downloading.
> Nothing on my system should look/act like a server.
> I want all programs to access the internet after explicitly asking
> for permission.
> The response to the request may be:
> No
> Always YES
> Ask each occurrence

Programs don't generally ask for permissions; they assume that
they are connected, and report failures when they can't make
connections.

I suppose that you could write a wrapper script for every
program, so that if you invoke it through the wrapper you have
opened the necessary ports, and if you invoke the program
without the wrapper the connections are dropped. However, while
the wrapper is being run, any copy of the program could have
the same permissions.

On Android systems, this issue is slightly addressed (though not
in the manner you want) by having a new user added for every
program, and running each program under that user-id. Since
iptables can look at effective user-id when making packet
accept/drop decisions, you can do per-program firewalls that
way.

By the way, you have an unusually brusque way of stating
conditions rather than asking questions, which comes across as
slightly rude.

-dsr-


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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:20:01 AM4/23/13
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On Tuesday 23 April 2013 16:06:18 Richard Owlett wrote:
> I want to prevent an app from
> deciding to update on its schedule not mine.

I don't have any applications set to update automatically. That is the simple
solution to that problem!

Lisi


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Jochen Spieker

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:20:02 AM4/23/13
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Richard Owlett:
>
> Apologies, I've just been chastised by relatives and friends for
> going in the other direction.

Never mind.

> I was trying to make clear I want only minimal connectivity.
> As to the per program feature, I want to prevent an app from
> deciding to update on its schedule not mine. I'm restricted to
> dial-up so I need to be able to ration a scarce resource, i.e.
> connectivity.

Oh, so your request is actually about outbound traffic, not (only)
inbound. I don't think this is currently feasible with Linux.

J.
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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:20:02 AM4/23/13
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On Tuesday 23 April 2013 15:43:23 Dan Ritter wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 09:28:17AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
> > I will be using email, Usenet, browser and occasionally file
> > downloading.
> > Nothing on my system should look/act like a server.
> > I want all programs to access the internet after explicitly asking
> > for permission.
> > The response to the request may be:
> > No
> > Always YES
> > Ask each occurrence
>
> Programs don't generally ask for permissions; they assume that
> they are connected, and report failures when they can't make
> connections.

I have come across several Windows firewalls which ask exactly that. I
imagine that that is what Richard is thinking of. Personally, I have never
come across that in Linux.
[snip]

> By the way, you have an unusually brusque way of stating
> conditions rather than asking questions, which comes across as
> slightly rude.

Also, I had to do a double take to work out which bit was a question, rather
than a statement. I think that he is asking us to recommend some reading
matter.

Lisi


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Jochen Spieker

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:20:02 AM4/23/13
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Richard Owlett:
>
> I will be using email, Usenet, browser and occasionally file
> downloading.
> Nothing on my system should look/act like a server.
> I want all programs to access the internet after explicitly asking
> for permission.
> The response to the request may be:
> No
> Always YES
> Ask each occurrence

This sounds like you want some kind of "personal firewall" like it is
(or was) common on Windows.

What problem do you want to solve? The security gain of this approach is
very small. The nearest solution is to setup iptables to reject incoming
connection attempts. Doing that manually requires basic knowledge about
TCP/IP. There are frontends that may help you. The package 'gufw' is
probably close to that you would expect.

(And yes, your e-mail sounds rather brusque. And since you didn't
actually ask a question, it is hard to give a meaningful answer.)

J.
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Darac Marjal

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:30:02 AM4/23/13
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On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 09:28:17AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
> I will be using email, Usenet, browser and occasionally file
> downloading.
> Nothing on my system should look/act like a server.
> I want all programs to access the internet after explicitly asking
> for permission.
> The response to the request may be:
> No
> Always YES
> Ask each occurrence

Have a look at mason and firestarter. Both allow you to set up your
firewall in a "training" mode and will ask you "Should I allow this
connection?" Mason is TUI-based, Firestarter is a GTK GUI.

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Wayne Topa

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:40:02 AM4/23/13
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The only package that upgrades automatically, that I know of, is cron-apt so
Don't install that.

When I was on dial up I tried a number of firewalls and found that the
arno-iptables-firewall was the best for me. So much so I am still using
it now on Verizon 3g. YMMV.

HTH
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Richard Owlett

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Apr 23, 2013, 12:40:03 PM4/23/13
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I intended the subject line to convey request for reading
material.
The body of the message was to attempt to indicate areas I
knew would be important to me.
I couldn't ask a specific question as I don't know anything
about it in the Linux world.
And yes I have found certain features useful the Windows
firewalls I've used and liked.


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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 23, 2013, 1:00:02 PM4/23/13
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On Tuesday 23 April 2013 17:32:34 Richard Owlett wrote:
> I couldn't ask a specific question as I don't know anything
> about it in the Linux world.

The problem is, if you don't ask a specific question, we cannot give a
specific answer. The result of what you did "ask" is that you have had quite
a bit of advice on which firewall to use, and none whatsoever on which books
to read.

Have you got access to a library? Or a bookshop? Why not browse a bit and
see what you want. You can then ask more meaningful questions.

Lisi


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Jochen Spieker

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Apr 23, 2013, 2:20:01 PM4/23/13
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Richard Owlett:
> Lisi Reisz wrote:
>>
>> Also, I had to do a double take to work out which bit was a question, rather
>> than a statement. I think that he is asking us to recommend some reading
>> matter.
>>
>
> I intended the subject line to convey request for reading material.

Hrmmh, it appears I didn't pay much attention to the subject.

> The body of the message was to attempt to indicate areas I knew
> would be important to me.
> I couldn't ask a specific question as I don't know anything about it
> in the Linux world.

It really depends on how deep you want to dig into the topic. For
security purposes, you should definitely learn basics of networking
(ports, IP addresses, routing etc). This knowledge is generally
indepentend of the operating system. You can then go ahead and learn
about iptables which is used in the Linux kernel for packet filtering
and manipulation

For the purpose yo described you don't need to know anything about that.
Only that apparently nobody on this list knows a program that can do
what you know from Windows.

> And yes I have found certain features useful the Windows firewalls
> I've used and liked.

If you don't rely on them as security tools, they may help, yes.

But I still don't completely understand your situation. You said you are
on dialup and want to prevent unnecessary traffic. Can't you just
disable auto-dialling? Which specific programs use the network without
your consent?

J.
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Chris Bannister

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Apr 23, 2013, 6:20:02 PM4/23/13
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On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 09:28:17AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
> I will be using email, Usenet, browser and occasionally file
> downloading.
> Nothing on my system should look/act like a server.
> I want all programs to access the internet after explicitly asking
> for permission.
> The response to the request may be:
> No
> Always YES
> Ask each occurrence

Are you sure you are "looking" at this in the right way? e.g. :
http://www.perlmonks.org/?node_id=542341

http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/30583/why-do-we-need-a-firewall-if-no-programs-are-running-on-your-ports
http://wiki.debian.org/Firewalls
http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f139/is-a-firewall-necessary-408049.html
http://www.firewallinformation.com/
http://www.ask.com/question/why-is-a-firewall-necessary
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_firewall_and_why_is_it_necessary
http://computertutorflorida.com/2011/09/is-a-firewall-necessary/
http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/security/9806-firewall-not-needed.html
http://askubuntu.com/questions/26736/is-a-firewall-really-necessary-these-days

You may want to look at shorewall, if you decide you need one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorewall
http://www.shorewall.net/shorewall_features.htm
http://www.shorewall.net/GettingStarted.html
http://wiki.debian.org/HowTo/shorewall
http://www.linux.org/article/view/shorewall-your-friendly-firewall-part-1-installation-and-basic-configuration-



When I had shorewall running the console was flooded with messages about
access attempts.

root@tal:~# less /etc/sysctl.conf
...
# Uncomment the following to stop low-level messages on console
#kernel.printk = 3 4 1 3
...

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Charles Kroeger

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Apr 23, 2013, 7:50:03 PM4/23/13
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On Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:20:02 +0200
Chris Bannister <cbann...@slingshot.co.nz> wrote:

> When I had shorewall running the console was flooded with messages about
> access attempts.

I like shorewall, lots of separate configurable files, or if you're lazy just run
it configured by way of example files that come with it. Shorewall won't stealth
your machine but announces that port 0 and 1 are closed..I think that's rather
stylish. Your machine is telling the Internet it's there, but you're not getting in.

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Richard Owlett

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Apr 24, 2013, 6:00:02 AM4/24/13
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Jochen Spieker wrote:
> [snip]
>
> But I still don't completely understand your situation. You said you are
> on dialup and want to prevent unnecessary traffic. Can't you just
> disable auto-dialling? Which specific programs use the network without
> your consent?
>

Auto dialing has been disabled for years ;)

Adobe Reader wants to update itself and I haven't found a
way to disable it. If view pdf with it when I also happen be
connected it just barges in and consumes my bandwidth.



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Ralf Mardorf

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Apr 24, 2013, 6:20:01 AM4/24/13
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A little bit OT:

On Wed, 2013-04-24 at 04:49 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
> Adobe Reader

Why not using document viewer, aka Evince or something else? I'm not
against proprietary software, drivers etc., but I'm using Linux for good
reasons and I don't know why I should install any software from Adobe.
Flash 11.2 is outdated, current version is 11.7 and even Firfox already
does play many flash stuff without a plugin. Adobe reader easily can be
replaced. IIRC somebody once mentioned an option that might be not
available by Evince, but IIRC by some other FLOSS app.

Is there a reason to use Adobe Reader?



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Jochen Spieker

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Apr 24, 2013, 6:20:02 AM4/24/13
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Richard Owlett:
>
> Adobe Reader wants to update itself and I haven't found a way to
> disable it. If view pdf with it when I also happen be connected it
> just barges in and consumes my bandwidth.

http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/disable-automatic-updates-acrobat-reader.html
:)

But I understand a global solution for all applications would be
preferrable.

J.
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Richard Owlett

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Apr 24, 2013, 6:30:01 AM4/24/13
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Chris Bannister wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 09:28:17AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> I will be using email, Usenet, browser and occasionally file
>> downloading.
>> Nothing on my system should look/act like a server.
>> I want all programs to access the internet after explicitly asking
>> for permission.
>> The response to the request may be:
>> No
>> Always YES
>> Ask each occurrence
>
> Are you sure you are "looking" at this in the right way? e.g. :
> http://www.perlmonks.org/?node_id=542341

I wasn't specifying "how" but "end result".
Rephrased "A program shall not unexpectedly communicate with
outside world."
Thankyou. I've browsed but not read in detail yet.

>
> You may want to look at shorewall, if you decide you need one.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorewall
> http://www.shorewall.net/shorewall_features.htm
> http://www.shorewall.net/GettingStarted.html
> http://wiki.debian.org/HowTo/shorewall
> http://www.linux.org/article/view/shorewall-your-friendly-firewall-part-1-installation-and-basic-configuration-
>
>
>
> When I had shorewall running the console was flooded with messages about
> access attempts.
>
> root@tal:~# less /etc/sysctl.conf
> ...
> # Uncomment the following to stop low-level messages on console
> #kernel.printk = 3 4 1 3
> ...
>


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Richard Owlett

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Apr 24, 2013, 6:50:01 AM4/24/13
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Ralf Mardorf wrote:
> A little bit OT:
>
> On Wed, 2013-04-24 at 04:49 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> Adobe Reader
>
> Why not using document viewer, aka Evince or something else? I'm not
> against proprietary software, drivers etc., but I'm using Linux for good
> reasons and I don't know why I should install any software from Adobe.
> Flash 11.2 is outdated, current version is 11.7 and even Firfox already
> does play many flash stuff without a plugin. Adobe reader easily can be
> replaced. IIRC somebody once mentioned an option that might be not
> available by Evince, but IIRC by some other FLOSS app.
>
> Is there a reason to use Adobe Reader?

One thing perhaps wasn't clear. I was referring to my
Windows experience. I'm using an _older_ copy of Ghostview
as my primary viewer and occasionally I need an Adobe
feature. I have been holding off selecting a new viewer
until I complete my move to Debian.



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Richard Owlett

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Apr 24, 2013, 7:20:02 AM4/24/13
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Jochen Spieker wrote:
> Richard Owlett:
>>
>> Adobe Reader wants to update itself and I haven't found a way to
>> disable it. If view pdf with it when I also happen be connected it
>> just barges in and consumes my bandwidth.
>
> http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/disable-automatic-updates-acrobat-reader.html
> :)
>

BUT there be gotcha.
I've the free version of 9.00. Listed option to disable
updating not available.

> But I understand a global solution for all applications would be
> preferrable.
>
> J.
>


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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 24, 2013, 7:40:01 AM4/24/13
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On Wednesday 24 April 2013 12:13:07 Richard Owlett wrote:
> I've the free version of 9.00. Listed option to disable
> updating not available.

I have never noticed my free version of 9 updating itself. :-/

Lisi


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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 24, 2013, 11:20:02 AM4/24/13
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On Wednesday 24 April 2013 12:13:07 Richard Owlett wrote:
> I've the free version of 9.00. Listed option to disable
> updating not available.

The Linux version of 9 (I have 9.5.4) has nothing at all of any kind about
updating. So far as I can see it is not an option. Are you sure that you
are not thinking of Windows? You do appear to confuse them sometimes.

You might find things simpler if you stopped trying to replicate your Windows
set-up in Linux. If Windows is exactly what you want, then use Windows.

Why not get something like "Linux for Dummies" or "The Debian Bible" and do
some basic reading? Linux for Dummies is not entirely accurate, but it is
quite a good starting off point to get an overall view.

Lisi


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Charles Kroeger

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Apr 25, 2013, 12:00:02 PM4/25/13
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On Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:40:01 +0200
Lisi Reisz <lisi....@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have never noticed my free version of 9 updating itself. :-/

That's good, it won't. If you occasionally try:

#apt-get autoremove

you will probably see it is trying to rid itself of 'acroread' files. If you want
to upgrade Adobe reader you have to go and get the Debs from Adobe and
install them with dpkg:

# dpkg -i AdbeRdr9.5.4-1_i386linux_enu.deb (no x86_64 version available)

Since Linux seems to be the Adobe stepchild to the windows combine it is
only at the modest version of 9x..but works ok for me. This latest verson seems to
work without the Debian files so that's probably good. At any rate I let apt-get
remove them and Adobe reader still lives.

I don't particularly like having to use Adobe Reader but I got really fed up with
trying to print something from xpdf and went over to the beast.

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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 25, 2013, 12:10:03 PM4/25/13
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On Thursday 25 April 2013 16:48:53 Charles Kroeger wrote:
> > I have never noticed my free version of 9 updating itself. :-/
>
> That's good, it won't. If you occasionally try:

Thanks for the reply, Charles!

I am quite happy with things as they are, for now. The OP was worried about
his copy of Acrobat Reader 9 on Linux updating itself automatically and
consuming his bandwidth.

I think the possibility of his Linux AR updating itself automatically is
vanishingly remote, and that he is probably muddling Windows up with Linux,
but I am not in a position to state categorically that AR in Linux _never_
updates itself! Hence my more guarded statement.

I imagine that he is trying to solve in Linux (unnecessarily) a problem he has
in Windows. That seems to be his whole approach.

Lisi


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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 25, 2013, 12:30:02 PM4/25/13
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On Wednesday 24 April 2013 11:40:17 Richard Owlett wrote:
> One thing perhaps wasn't clear. I was referring to my
> Windows experience

Sorry, Richard. :-( I didn't take in that you had actually _said_ that.

You simply can't use your Windows experience to predict the problems that you
will have in Linux. They are different. If you really want to use Linux, I
think that you would do better just to take the plunge.

You are trying to solve problems which simply don't arise in Linux, so do not
need solving in Linux.

Lisi


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Richard Owlett

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Apr 25, 2013, 12:40:02 PM4/25/13
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Lisi Reisz wrote:
> On Wednesday 24 April 2013 11:40:17 Richard Owlett wrote:
>> One thing perhaps wasn't clear. I was referring to my
>> Windows experience
>
> Sorry, Richard. :-( I didn't take in that you had actually _said_ that.
>
> You simply can't use your Windows experience to predict the problems that you
> will have in Linux. They are different. If you really want to use Linux, I
> think that you would do better just to take the plunge.

<chuckle>
I just have a different mindset than others. I've been known
to not only read instruction manuals, but to read them
before unpacking a new gadget.

People have been telling me to just "take the plunge" for
almost three years.
I think I'm happier for having looked for shoals first.
I've enjoyed the learning experience I've had.
I think I've said before "if retirement isn't for learning
something new, what use is it" ;)

>
> You are trying to solve problems which simply don't arise in Linux, so do not
> need solving in Linux.
>
> Lisi
>
>


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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 25, 2013, 3:50:02 PM4/25/13
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On Thursday 25 April 2013 17:39:14 Richard Owlett wrote:
> I think I'm happier for having looked for shoals first.

Looking for shoals is one thing. But you are creating them.

And I always read manuals first. It isn't that unusual. ;-)

Lisi


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Charles Kroeger

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Apr 26, 2013, 11:20:01 PM4/26/13
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On Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:10:03 +0200
Lisi Reisz <lisi....@gmail.com> wrote:

> That seems to be his whole approach.

Holistic maybe ☺

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Richard Owlett

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Apr 27, 2013, 8:20:01 AM4/27/13
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Charles Kroeger wrote:
> On Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:10:03 +0200
> Lisi Reisz <lisi....@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> That seems to be his whole approach.
>
> Holistic maybe ☺
>

Yes, with a additional complication of keeping in mind
requirements of different sets of machines.
Requirements of Set A conflict with requirements of Set C.



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Jhon Edison Castañeda Lozano

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Apr 27, 2013, 8:50:01 AM4/27/13
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Hi!,


Explained this quite practical examples.

The problem is that this in Spanish, but nothing that google translator can not fix.

Greetings.


Jhon Castañeda.

2013/4/27 Richard Owlett <row...@cloud85.net>
Charles Kroeger wrote:
On Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:10:03 +0200
Lisi Reisz <lisi....@gmail.com> wrote:

That seems to be his whole approach.

Holistic maybe  ☺


Yes, with a additional complication of keeping in mind requirements of different sets of machines.
Requirements of Set A conflict with requirements of Set C.




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Richard Owlett

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Apr 27, 2013, 9:20:02 AM4/27/13
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Jhon Edison Castañeda Lozano wrote:
> Hi!,
>
> Read this documents
> http://www.pello.info/filez/firewall/iptables.html or this
> http://www.pello.info/filez/IPTABLES_en_21_segundos.html
>
> Explained this quite practical examples.
>
> The problem is that this in Spanish, but nothing that google
> translator can not fix.
>
> Greetings.
>
>
> Jhon Castañeda.
>

Thank you.
Where there are problems with Google's translation, there
are enough keywords and concepts to do a Google search.



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Andrei POPESCU

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Apr 28, 2013, 5:00:02 AM4/28/13
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On Ma, 23 apr 13, 10:06:18, Richard Owlett wrote:
> Dan Ritter wrote:
> >
> >By the way, you have an unusually brusque way of stating
> >conditions rather than asking questions, which comes across as
> >slightly rude.
>
> Apologies, I've just been chastised by relatives and friends for
> going in the other direction.
> I was trying to make clear I want only minimal connectivity.

You probably already know this, but...
http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Kind regards,
Andrei
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Richard Owlett

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Apr 28, 2013, 9:00:02 AM4/28/13
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Andrei POPESCU wrote:
> On Ma, 23 apr 13, 10:06:18, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> Dan Ritter wrote:
>>>
>>> By the way, you have an unusually brusque way of stating
>>> conditions rather than asking questions, which comes across as
>>> slightly rude.
>>
>> Apologies, I've just been chastised by relatives and friends for
>> going in the other direction.
>> I was trying to make clear I want only minimal connectivity.
>
> You probably already know this, but...
> http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> Kind regards,
> Andrei
>

I don't believe I've seen that particular FAQ before, but
have read others addressing the same issue.

Part of the problem is when there is a clash of recommended
practices.
"Volume is not precision"
"Describe the goal, not the step"
"Describe the research you did to try and understand the
problem before you asked the question."

Part of the problem is that *nix is not an ideal fit to what
I wish to accomplish [Its multi-user/tasking nature seems to
create as many problems as it solves]. However Linux
(specifically the Debian flavor) offers the breadth of tools
and user acceptance required. A similar problem is described
in "How different is Ubuntu from Debian?"
{http://wiki.debian.org/FAQsFromDebianUser ;}


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Lisi Reisz

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Apr 28, 2013, 11:10:03 AM4/28/13
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On Sunday 28 April 2013 13:57:02 Richard Owlett wrote:
> Andrei POPESCU wrote:
> > On Ma, 23 apr 13, 10:06:18, Richard Owlett wrote:
> >> Dan Ritter wrote:
> >>> By the way, you have an unusually brusque way of stating
> >>> conditions rather than asking questions, which comes across as
> >>> slightly rude.
> >>
> >> Apologies, I've just been chastised by relatives and friends for
> >> going in the other direction.
> >> I was trying to make clear I want only minimal connectivity.
> >
> > You probably already know this, but...
> > http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

> I don't believe I've seen that particular FAQ before, but
> have read others addressing the same issue.
>
> Part of the problem is when there is a clash of recommended
> practices.
> "Volume is not precision"
> "Describe the goal, not the step"
> "Describe the research you did to try and understand the
> problem before you asked the question."
>
> Part of the problem is that *nix is not an ideal fit to what
> I wish to accomplish

What do you wish to accomplish?

Lisi

> [Its multi-user/tasking nature seems to
> create as many problems as it solves]. However Linux
> (specifically the Debian flavor) offers the breadth of tools
> and user acceptance required. A similar problem is described
> in "How different is Ubuntu from Debian?"
> {http://wiki.debian.org/FAQsFromDebianUser ;}


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