Build your own firewall using SuSE Linux: A mechanics guide.

There are several hundred competing router and firewall solutions available today on the market. Different types are available that are considered low end for the home user and high end for corporate networks and everything else in between. Services and throughput requirements may differ between these different networks but in regards to security is there any difference? Today the security requirements could be different but tomorrow the security implementations and methods may be the same. Let's assume for today we need a low cost yet highly functional router and firewall combination for a small office or medium sized business that offers Internet services such as email to its small network of employees and web services such as a web server serving web pages to its customers. The following paper describes the different tools that can be used in setting up an appropriate router and firewall combination using Linux that offers the necessary functionality and security to its users as well as the means to monitor it by an administrator. What follows is not a how-to but an outline to take 'reasonable care' following due diligence in providing network security in an environment that requires it.