Every IT system requires protection. Online servers, like home computers, can be targeted for cyberattacks. You'll need a technique to keep hackers and other unauthorized traffic out. This is when firewalls come into play. In a nutshell, what is a firewall? It stands between a computer and the "outside world". Technically, a firewall is a piece of software or hardware that blocks unauthorized network access. It examines incoming and outgoing traffic using a set of rules to detect and prevent threats.
Linux runs over 75% of the world's servers; these solutions are critical for providing safe access to users and end consumers. Let's begin with a definition of Linux to better comprehend the fundamentals of a Linux firewall. Linux is the most widely used and well-known open-source operating system. Linux is an operating system that lies below all other software on a computer, accepting requests from other applications and transmitting them to the hardware. A Linux firewall is a solution or service that controls, protects, and restricts network traffic flowing into and out of a Linux-based environment.
In this article, we are going to introduce the top 10 Linux firewalls.
- Zenarmor
- Endian Firewall
- Gufw Firewall
- IPFire
- Shorewall
- Vuurmuur
- VyOS
- Smoothwall Express
- Arista Edge Threat Management (ETM) (previously Untangle NG Firewall)
- Nebero Systems Linux Firewall
What are the key features of Linux firewalls?
Linux firewalls offer an array of essential features for network security and management. These features include packet filtering, stateful inspection, access control lists, Network Address Translation (NAT), logging and reporting, intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS), VPN support, user authentication, content and application filtering, port forwarding, Quality of Service (QoS), high availability, customizability, and an open-source nature.
In this section, we will delve into each of these features, providing concise definitions and explanations to help you understand their significance in safeguarding your network.
Packet filtering capabilities: All Linux firewalls have packet filtering capabilities, which allow them to inspect and filter data packets based on predefined rules.
Stateful inspection and connection tracking: Most Linux firewalls have stateful inspection and connection tracking capabilities, which allow them to monitor and track the state of network connections and apply rules accordingly.
Access control lists (ACLs): All Linux firewalls have access control lists (ACLs), which allow administrators to define rules for allowing or denying network traffic based on various criteria.
Network Address Translation (NAT): Most Linux firewalls have Network Address Translation (NAT) capabilities, which allow them to translate private IP addresses to public IP addresses and vice versa.
Logging and reporting tools: All Linux firewalls have logging and reporting tools, which allow administrators to monitor and analyze network traffic and security events.
Intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS): Some Linux firewalls have intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS) capabilities, which allow them to detect and prevent malicious network traffic.
VPN support (SSL, IPsec, etc.): Most Linux firewalls have VPN support, which allows them to establish secure connections between remote networks.
User authentication and access control: Some Linux firewalls have user authentication and access control capabilities, which allow administrators to control access to network resources based on user identity.
Content filtering and application layer filtering: Some Linux firewalls have content filtering and application layer filtering capabilities, which allow administrators to block or allow network traffic based on the content or application being used.
Port forwarding and QoS: Most Linux firewalls have port forwarding and Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities, which allow administrators to prioritize network traffic and optimize network performance.
High availability and failover options: Some Linux firewalls have high availability and failover options, which allow them to provide uninterrupted network connectivity in the event of a failure.
Customizability and extensibility: All Linux firewalls are highly customizable and extensible, which allows administrators to tailor them to their specific needs and integrate them with other tools and systems.
Open-source nature: All Linux firewalls are open-source, which means that their source code is freely available and can be modified and distributed by anyone. This allows for greater transparency, security, and community support.
Let's now explore each of these Linux firewalls individually, taking a closer look at how they align with the features mentioned above
1. Zenarmor
Zenarmor, formerly Sensei, is a simple-to-install plugin that converts an open-source firewall into a Next-Generation Firewall. For open-source firewalls, Zenarmor provides cutting-edge, next-generation firewall features that aren't currently accessible in solutions like OPNsense and pfSense® software. Zenarmor Release 1.8 has supported pfSense® since March 2021. The FreeBSD operating system underpins the pfSense® operating system. In this case, the Zenarmor FreeBSD 12 package for the pfSense® software 2.5.x release series can be used. Zenarmor is a robust and cost-effective firewall that includes features like Application Control, Network Analytics, and TLS Inspection, among others.
Figure 1. Zenarmor
Zenarmor wants its product to function in any networking environment that processes Layer 3-4 traffic, whether it's a container, cloud, virtual, or bare-metal deployment (firewalls, switches, UTMs). As of September 2023, the platforms supported include;
OPNsense® (OPNsense 19.x - 23.x, fully integrated into the OPNsense WebUI)
FreeBSD® (FreeBSD 11,12,13)
Ubuntu Linux (Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, 20.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS)
CentOS Linux (Centos 7, 8)
Debian Linux (Debian 10, 11)
pfSense ® software (pfSense ® software 2.5.x-2.6.x)
AlmaLinux (AlmaLinux 1)
Rocky Linux (Rocky Linux 9)
RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL 8.5-9)
Amazon Linux (Amazon Linux 2)
To put it another way, Zenarmor gives IT managers a variety of platform options to choose from, based on their hardware, technical backgrounds, and budgets. They can choose the operating system and hardware for their firewall that best suits their demands.
The primary features of Zenarmor are listed below:
Cloud Threat Intelligence
Application Control
Web Filtering
Real-time auto-blocking of recent malware/phishing outbreaks.
User-friendly web and application categorization system with a massive and up-to-date database.
Centralized Cloud management is a very useful and appealing feature for security administrators who have a large number of firewalls to manage.
Rich reporting and analytics which provides network visibility.
User-based and device-based filtering is very useful for managing schools and campus networks.
Time-scheduled policies are an extremely useful feature, particularly for managing internet bandwidth.
Zenarmor is a next-generation firewall (NGFW) that provides a comprehensive set of security features to protect your network from attack. It is designed to be easy to use and manage, and it can be deployed on a variety of platforms, including on-premises, cloud, and virtualized environments.
Here are some of the key benefits of using Zenarmor:
Comprehensive security: Zenarmor provides a wide range of security features, including packet filtering, intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS), application control, web filtering, and malware protection. This helps to protect your network from a variety of threats, including known and unknown malware, zero-day attacks, and denial-of-service attacks.
Easy to use and manage: Zenarmor is designed to be easy to use and manage, even for users with limited IT experience. It has a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of documentation. This makes it easy to deploy and configure Zenarmor, and to monitor and manage its security features.
Scalable: Zenarmor can be scaled to meet the needs of small businesses and large enterprises alike. It can be deployed on a variety of platforms, including on-premises, cloud, and virtualized environments. This makes it a flexible and versatile NGFW solution that can be used to protect networks of all sizes.
Affordable: Zenarmor is a cost-effective NGFW solution. It offers a variety of subscription plans to meet the needs of different budgets. This makes it a good choice for organizations of all sizes that are looking for a comprehensive and affordable NGFW solution.
Zenarmor offers seamless integration with various tools and platforms, enhancing its functionality and providing a comprehensive security solution.
Some of the key integrations of Zenarmor include:
ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana): Zenarmor can be easily integrated with your remote ELK stack, allowing you to stream all reporting data from your Zenarmor instances and analyze it using the powerful ELK tools.
Open Source Firewalls: Zenarmor can be installed on open source firewalls, empowering them with next-generation firewall features to combat modern-day cyber attacks. This integration helps in enhancing the security capabilities of your existing firewall infrastructure.
Microsoft Active Directory: Zenarmor can further integrate with Microsoft Active Directory, enabling seamless user authentication and access control for your network resources.
OPNsense, FreeBSD, and pfSense: Zenarmor is fully integrated into these popular firewall platforms, providing users with a wide range of deployment options and compatibility with different network environments.
Wazuh Integration: integrating Zenarmor with Wazuh SIEM can help improve your network security posture by providing centralized monitoring, real-time correlation and context, granular active responses, customizable rules and alerts, and compliance reporting
Zenarmor offers a free 15-day trial of its Business Edition firewall, which includes all of its features. To sign up for a free trial, simply create an account on the Zenarmor website and provide your contact information. Once your account is activated, you will be given a license key that you can use to activate Zenarmor on your network.
After the free trial expires, you will need to purchase a subscription to continue using Zenarmor. Zenarmor offers a variety of subscription plans, depending on the size of your network and the features you require. Subscription prices start at $9.99 per month for a 100 devices.
Zenarmor also offers custom pricing for larger networks and organizations with specific requirements.
To learn more about Zenarmor's subscription pricing, please visit the Zenarmor website or contact a Zenarmor sales representative.
2. Endian Firewall Community (EFW)
Endian Firewall Community (EFW) is a turn-key Linux-based security software application for the home that can turn any underutilized hardware device into a fully functional Unified Threat Management (UTM) system. Endian Community was created with the goal of making security easy and assisting in the protection of home networks via the use of open-source software.
Figure 2. Endian Firewall CE dashboard
In the context of network security and management, the following services are available through Endian, providing a robust set of options for safeguarding and optimizing your network:
A Powerful Firewall: Protect your network against Internet risks while allowing proper access to internal and external resources.
VPN (SSL & IPSec): Give your staff remote access and link numerous offices with our easy and secure VPN connection.
Email Security: Spam, phishing, and other dangerous email should all be removed from your network. Protect your company against all of the current email dangers.
Antivirus: Detects and prevents infections in both web and email traffic at the gateway. Protect your network from the most recent Internet attacks.
Intrusion Prevention (IPS): A robust shield that analyzes traffic flows to defend your network from internal and external attacks.
Multi-WAN (Wide Area Network) (with Failover): Connecting several Internet connections to your network will make it more dependable. It's possible to use it in a basic failover arrangement or all at once.
Quality of Service (QoS): Take control of your network bandwidth use and prioritize business-critical apps such as VoIP, web, and email.
Centralized Management: Endian Management Center (EMC) give opportunities to manage your Endian Appliances centrally.
Reporting: View real-time and historical information for all of your critical network traffic, including web use reports for the day, week, and month.
You can deploy Endian on 3 different environments:
Appliance Hardware: From branch offices and industrial facilities to big networks, a comprehensive variety of specially built gadgets that integrate with UTM software for security demands.
Virtual: VMware, Xen/XenServer, Hyper-V, and KVM are examples of virtual appliances.
Appliance Software: You may transform your gear into an Endian UTM appliance with full functionality.
Endian Firewall Community offers essential email and web security services, harnessing the capabilities of prominent open-source applications. This robust solution ensures a solid defense for your network against online threats. Additionally, EndianOS UTM boasts seamless integration with the Endian Network, allowing for centralized and secure access to all Endian appliances. This integration streamlines network management and enhances overall security, providing a comprehensive approach to safeguarding your digital infrastructure
Endian Firewall Community is a free and open-source Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution that can be used to protect home networks and small businesses. It offers a wide range of features, including packet filtering, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, and malware protection. Endian Firewall Community is easy to use and manage, and it can be deployed on a variety of platforms, including on-premises, cloud, and virtualized environments.
EndianOS UTM is a commercial UTM product that is designed for enterprise use. It offers a more comprehensive set of features than Endian Firewall Community, including advanced application control, content filtering, and reporting capabilities. EndianOS UTM is also more scalable and can be deployed on larger networks.
The cost of EndianOS UTM pricing is available upon request. However, it is generally more expensive than Endian Firewall Community, which is free and open-source.
Endian Firewall Community is a free and open-source UTM solution, so it does not come with official technical support. However, there is a large and active community of users and developers who can provide support on the Endian Firewall Community forums.
3. Gufw Firewall
UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is an easy-to-use firewall with a lot of features for most users. It's an interface for iptables, which is the traditional (and more difficult to master) technique of configuring network rules. GUFW is a graphical management tool for Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW).
You must have the Universe repository enabled in order to install Gufw. Use Synaptic or run the following comand from terminal to install:
sudo apt-get install gufw
Figure 3. GUFW
note
You may also find more information about UFW on the following articles written by Sunny Valley Networks:
How to Set Up a Firewall with UFW on Ubuntu
How to Set Up a Firewall with UFW on Debian
Let's briefly discuss the advantages and drawbacks of GUFW, following our in-depth exploration of its features.
Here are some notable benefits:of GUFW :
Ease of use: Gufw is very easy to use, even for users with limited technical expertise. It has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to configure and manage firewall settings.
Support for common tasks: Gufw supports a wide range of common firewall tasks, such as opening and closing ports, creating and managing firewall rules, and blocking specific applications or websites.
Integration with GNOME: Gufw is tightly integrated with the GNOME desktop environment, which makes it easy to access and manage firewall settings from the GNOME System Settings application.
GUFW is free and open source software. There are no licensing fees or other costs associated with using GUFW.
Here are some drawbacks of GUFW :
Limited program configurations: Gufw does not offer a wide range of program configurations. For example, it is not possible to create custom firewall rules based on IP addresses or protocols.
Lack of advanced features: Gufw lacks some advanced features that are found in other firewall applications, such as intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS) and web filtering.
Potential issues with compatibility: Gufw may not be compatible with all applications and operating systems. It is important to check the Gufw compatibility list before using it.
4. IPFire
IPFire is a fortified open-source Linux distribution with a firewall and router as its primary function. Configuration is done using a web-based administration portal. For any individual or company network, the IPFire Linux Firewall is one of the best and most effective open-source firewalls available. Read our Best Open Source Firewalls article for more information on IPFire.
Some of the main features of IPFire can be listed as;
Security: IPFire's main goal is to keep you safe. The firewall engine and Intrusion Detection System are simple to set up and prevent intruders from entering into your network. To control risks inside the network and have unique configuration for the individual needs of each segment of the network, the network is separated into several zones with distinct security rules such as a LAN and DMZ in the default setup.
Firewall: IPFire is based on Netfilter, the Linux packet filtering framework, and uses a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall. It filters packets quickly and has throughputs in the tens of gigabits per second range.
IPS/IDS: The Intrusion Detection System (IDS) of IPFire analyzes network traffic to look for exploits, data leaks, and other suspicious behaviour. Alerts are raised when an attacker is detected, and the attacker is instantly blocked.
VPN: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) use an encrypted link to connect remote sites like data centers, branch offices, or outsourced infrastructure. IPFire enables employees to operate remotely as if they were in the office, giving them quick and secure access to the resources they require.
Add-ons: It may be extended using add-ons, which are deployed using IPFire's proprietary package management system, Pakfire, to give more capabilities.
Administrators can use add-ons as command-line tools, or they can be used to enhance the system's capabilities.
Here are some of the add-ons as command-line tools for IPFire :
Turning IPFire into a Wireless Access Point
Tools for Monitoring and System Health Management
Backup, File and Print Services
Running a Tor node
Proxies and Relays for various protocols
Figure 4. IPFire
If you think about why I should use ipfire, you can look at some advantages listed below.
Simple to Use: IPFire's cutting-edge firewall makes even the most complicated business networks simple to handle.
Designed Security: Whether you're a little business or a huge corporation, IPFire was built with the objective of offering excellent security while staying modular and versatile. You can rest certain that IPFire will keep your network safe from a variety of security threats.
Package Management System: With a single click, PakFire, IPFire's integrated packet management system, can update the whole system. It's a quicker and more efficient way to apply patches, bug fixes, and feature updates to IPFire, making it more effective and secure.
Improved Performance: IPFire performs well on embedded software and has been shown to deliver greater performance and operate equally on a variety of applications.
Simple Installation: IPFire installation takes less than half an hour, and the expert features are quite simple to use.
Open Source: IPFire is free software distributed under the GNU General Public License. It has a big development community that is always trying to make it better.
IPFire offers a variety of deployment options, including:
IPFire can be installed on a virtual machine (VM) running on a hypervisor such as VMware ESXi or Microsoft Hyper-V.
Cloud-based deployments: IPFire can also be deployed in the cloud, such as on Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure
IPFire is a GNU General Public License (GPL)-compliant open-source firewall system. This implies that you may use, modify, and share IPFire for free. IPFire has no licensing fees or other expenditures related to it.
However, there may be some costs connected with employing IPFire, such as hardware. IPFire is compatible with a wide range of hardware platforms, including dedicated firewall appliances, virtual machines, and cloud servers. The cost of hardware will vary based on the organization's unique needs.
IPFire integrates well with a variety of other network security tools and supports industry-standard protocols for integration.
IPFire also supports a variety of industry-standard protocols for integration, such as:
Syslog: IPFire can send syslog messages to a remote syslog server for centralized logging and analysis.
SNMP: IPFire can be monitored and managed using SNMP.
IPsec: IPFire supports IPsec VPNs, which can be used to create secure tunnels between IPFire and other devices.
OpenVPN: IPFire supports OpenVPN, which can be used to create secure VPN tunnels between IPFire and other devices.
You may find more information about how you can install IPFire firewall on the IPFire Installation Tutorial written by Sunny Valley Networks.
5. Shorewall
The Shoreline Firewall, sometimes known as "Shorewall," is a high-level Netfilter configuration tool. Shorewall can be installed on a standalone GNU/Linux system, a specialized firewall system, or a multi-function gateway/router/server. Shorewall is mostly utilized in network installations because of its capacity to deal with "zones" such as the DMZ or a "net" zone. Each zone would therefore have its own set of restrictions, making it simple to have looser standards on the workplace intranet while clamping down on Internet traffic.
You could wish to construct a secret internal network that only specified machines can access, a guest network that everyone can access, a network devoted to production machines, and a network that can be accessed from computers outside your Local Area Network, for example (LAN). This is simple to accomplish with Shorewall.
Features of Shorewall 5.0 are listed below:
For stateful packet filtering, it employs Netfilter's connection tracking capabilities.
It's suitable for a wide range of router, firewall, and gateway applications.
Administrates the firewall from a centralized location.
It is possible to blacklist specific IP addresses and subnetworks.
Support for VPN Tunnels based on IPsec, GRE, IPIP, and OpenVPN, Clients and servers that use the PPTP protocol
Support for traffic shaping and control.
Address Verification for Media Access Control (MAC) is available
Traffic Accounting
Support for bridges and firewalls
IPv6 Support (Shorewall 5.0.6 and after) works with a variety of virtualization solutions, including KVM, Xen, Linux-Vserver, OpenVZ, VirtualBox, LXC, and Docker (Shorewall 5.0.6 and later).
Shorewall is free software, which means you can share and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2, or (at your choice) any subsequent version issued by the Free Software Foundation.
Shorewall is a powerful and flexible firewall solution that offers a number of advantages, including:
Ease of configuration: Shorewall is relatively easy to configure, even for users with limited experience with firewalls. It provides a simple and intuitive syntax for defining firewall rules, and there are a number of resources available to help users get started, such as documentation, tutorials, and community support.
Flexibility: Shorewall is a very flexible firewall solution that can be adapted to meet the needs of a wide range of networks. It supports a variety of network topologies and protocols, and it can be integrated with other security tools and services.
Shorewall is a good choice for users who want a powerful and flexible firewall solution. However, it is important to be aware of the learning curve and complexity involved in using Shorewall.
Shorewall is a good choice for users who need a firewall solution that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of their network. Shorewall supports a variety of network topologies and protocols, and it can be integrated with other security tools and services.
Deployment options for Shorewall, including hardware requirements, virtualization support, and cloud deployment options can be listed below.
Standalone GNU/Linux systems: Shorewall can be installed on any standalone GNU/Linux system. The hardware requirements for a standalone Shorewall deployment are relatively modest, but will vary depending on the specific distribution and configuration being used.
Specialized firewall systems: Shorewall can also be installed on specialized firewall systems, such as hardware appliances or virtual machines.
Multi-function gateway/router/servers: Shorewall can also be installed on multi-function gateway/router/servers. These systems typically provide a variety of network services, including routing, firewall protection, and NAT. Shorewall can be used to manage the firewall functionality of these systems.
Shorewall uses Netfilter's connection tracking capabilities for stateful packet filtering, which allows it to process traffic more efficiently.
Shorewall can be integrated with a syslog server to centralize and analyze Shorewall logs. This can help organizations to identify and respond to security threats more quickly and effectively.
6. Vuurmuur
Vuurmuur is a firewall manager for Linux that is built on top of iptables. It offers an easy-to-learn setup that supports both simple and sophisticated settings. The setup may be fully customized using a Ncurses GUI, which enables safe remote administration through SSH or on the console.
Vuurmuur is a powerful firewall manager for Linux. It works with iptables on Linux.
Vuurmuur offers a variety of Administration features, including:
no iptables knowledge required
human readable rules syntax
IPv6
traffic shaping
Ncurses GUI, no X required.
port forwarding is made very simple
easy to setup in with NAT
secure default policy
entirely manageable through ssh and from the console (including from windows using PuTTY)
scriptable for integration with other tools
can produce a bash firewall script
anti-spoofing features
killing of unwanted connections
supports working with Suricata IPS using NFQUEUE or NFLOG
Vuurmuur offers a variety of monitoring features, including:
real-time log viewing
real-time connection viewing
filtering in log viewing and connection viewing
basic traffic volume accounting
searching through old log files
Vuurmuur also offers a variety of accounting features, including::
audit logging: all changes are logged
logging of new connections and bad packets
traffic volume accounting
Figure 5. Vuurmuur timeline
The disadvantage of this Linux Firewall is that not been updated since 2019
7. VyOS
VyOS is an enterprise-grade router platform that is completely open-source. VyOS began in 2013 as a community fork of the defunct Vyatta Core project, with the intention.
VyOS is a unified management interface that brings together the GNU/Linux operating system with a variety of open networking tools. It has a command-line interface similar to hardware routers, as well as an HTTP API and configurable scripting libraries of upholding free and open-source software ideals.
Figure 6. VyOS Dashboard
VyOS operates on a variety of virtualization systems, including KVM, Xen, Citrix XenServer, VirtualBox, VMware, and Microsoft Hyper-V, in addition to bare-metal x86-64 servers, with paravirtual drivers included in the images for the greatest performance.
Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform all provide it.
Features of VyOS are as follows:
BGP (IPv4 and IPv6), OSPF (v2 and v3), RIP and RIPng, policy-based routing are some routing features
VPN, IPsec, VTI, VXLAN, L2TPv3, L2TP/IPsec and PPTP servers, tunnel interfaces (GRE, IPIP, SIT), OpenVPN in client, server, or site-to-site mode, WireGuard is the VPN features of VyOS
As Firewall feature; Stateful firewalls, zone-based firewall, all types of source and destination NAT
Network services like DHCP and DHCPv6 server and relay, IPv6 RA, DNS forwarding, TFTP server, web proxy, PPPoE access concentrator, NetFlow/sFlow sensor, QoS are available.
VRRP for IPv4 and IPv6, ability to execute custom health checks and transition scripts; ECMP, stateful load balancing as High availability solution
External configuration backup tools are no longer necessary thanks to built-in versioning and archiving.
Fully open-source; anybody may audit, make customized images, and contribute to the codebase and build a toolchain.
8. Smoothwall Express
Smoothwall is a collection of Internet security technologies that protect your users and network from external threats. Smoothwall Express is a Linux-based firewall solution. There is no need to install a separate operating system because Smoothwall includes a hardened subset of the GNU/Linux operating system. Smoothwall is designed for ease of use, with a web-based GUI that requires no prior knowledge of Linux to install or use.
Smoothwall is a private software firm based in the United Kingdom that specializes in web content filtering, safeguarding, and internet security solutions, as well as maintaining the SmoothWall open source project.
Smoothwall started out as Smoothwall GPL, an open-source version that could be freely redistributed. Smoothwall LTD began selling a proprietary version in November 2001, which was released in August 2000. Smoothwall Express is still accessible today (latest release V3.1 in 2014), but the main Smoothwall solution is now paid for and used by millions of people across the world in both the public and private sectors. Smoothwall's filtering and security solutions are mostly sold to educational institutions and corporations.
Its developers announced on August 5, 2021, that they have agreed to sell their Smoothwall investment to Australian security firm Family Zone Cyber Safety for 75.5 million Pound Sterling ($142 million cash consideration). The transaction was concluded on August 17, 2021, with the deferred remainder of the sale price of 10.5 million Pound Sterling paid on September 1, 2021.
9. Arista Edge Threat Management( previously Untangle) NG Firewall Complete
Arista ETM (Untangle) is NGFW/UTM software that includes features such as web content and spam filtering, malware scanning, VPN connectivity, multi-WAN failover, and more.
Untangle is now part of Arista Networks, a provider of cloud networking solutions. Arista acquired Untangle in 2022 in order to expand its portfolio of security solutions and to provide customers with a more integrated approach to network security.
Untangle NG Firewall is a powerful NGFW/UTM solution from Arista Networks that offers a wide range of security features, including:
Firewall
Intrusion prevention system (IPS)
Content filtering
Web filtering
Anti-virus
Anti-spam
VPN
Bandwidth management
The Untangle NG Firewall platform is intended to function similarly to an app store. Applications, like apps on a smartphone, are modules that add functionality to the NG Firewall platform. NG Firewall's robust, versatile Integrated Rules EngineTM allows all of the programs to function together, even when each app has a distinct role, such as filtering spam or preventing virus infections.
Arista Networks' Untangle NG has two options Free and Paid.Free features are a set of features that are offered to users without any charge. They are typically the most basic features of a product
The free features of Arista Networks' Untangle NG Firewall include:
Ad Blocker
Captive Portal
Firewall
Intrusion Prevention
OpenVPN
Phish Blocker
Reports
Web Monitor
The Paid features of Arista Networks' Untangle NG Firewall include:
Application Control
Bandwidth Control
Directory Connector
IPsec VPN
Policy Manager
Spam Blocker
SSL Inspector
Virus Blocker
WAN Balancer
WAN Failover
Web Cache
Web Filter
Figure 6. Untangle Appliances
Untangle appliances are plug-and-play, with options ranging from silent, small-footprint desktop devices to 2U rackmount servers appropriate for the data center.
Untangle Command Center is a cloud-based centralized management system that lets you manage your Next-Generation Firewall deployments from any web browser.
Arista’s NG Firewall offers multiple deployment options to meet diverse network security needs:
Hardware Appliances: Dedicated appliances with pre-installed NG Firewall for easy deployment, suitable for branch offices and headquarters.
Configure Your Own Hardware: Flexibility to run NG Firewall on existing or purpose-built hardware, provided minimum requirements are met.
Virtual Appliance: NG Firewall can be deployed as a virtual appliance on VMware ESX or ESXi, leveraging existing virtualization infrastructure.
Public Cloud: Deploy NG Firewall in AWS or Microsoft Azure for secure, reliable network protection, connecting both headquarters and remote locations.
These options allow organizations to choose the most fitting deployment method based on their infrastructure and requirements.
Some insights into the advantages and potential limitations of using Untangle:
Multi-layered protection that can be readily scaled to meet your network security requirements.
Comprehensive, real-time administration of all network-protected devices.
Network performance has been improved from the gateway to the network edge.
In-depth reporting to ensure full compliance and regulatory compliance.
Untangle NG Firewall can be slightly overwhelming for beginners
Although Arista focuses on small and medium-sized organizations, its NG Firewall Complete may be utilized in a variety of scenarios. These can range from tiny family companies (up to 12 people) to large multinationals and governments (unlimited persons).
NG Firewall Complete provides its customers with a comprehensive number of specialized apps that are included in the bundle, as well as extra ones if required. It enables intrusion prevention, management, and monitoring across all apps, devices, and events on the network, regardless of size.
Alternatively, some of the featured programs and features may be purchased as standalone versions or in smaller bundles. This is useful for a company that does not require the provider's whole service.
Arista's an on-staff system and network administrators provide live, US-based technical assistance. The Edge Threat Management tools and their application by our diversified client base are well-understood by the support team.
Edge Threat Management Professional Services are provided by Untangle's skilled U.S.-based technical services team to assist with NG Firewall and Micro Edge installation and setup requirements.
Live Support is available to assist you by phone or email. Monday through Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. In addition, through user forums, the community, including engineers, Untangle also offers documentation in the form of a knowledge base.
NG Firewall Complete starts at $20/month and includes a subscription to the entire Untangle app library. This includes a three-year membership ($720 for the duration) and up to 12 licensed devices. The price rises with the number of necessary licenses and the length of the subscription. A yearly subscription(opens in a new tab) covering up to 100 devices, for example, would cost $1,890, or $157.5 each month.
NG Firewall Complete can be operated on your hardware, in the public cloud, or as a Virtual Appliance. However, it may also be used in conjunction with an Untangle SD-WAN Router (opens in a new tab) to extend security protocols to branch offices and obtain a comprehensive network overview from the Command Center. NG Firewall appliances range in price from $299 (corresponding to a monthly payment of $14) to $3,499, depending on the client's unique needs.
10. Nebero Systems Linux Firewall
Nebero UTM is a multi-faceted threat management solution that is designed on Linux to ensure network security. Nebero combines numerous security products into an one package, including a next-generation firewall, web application firewall, intrusion prevention and detection system, bandwidth management, web filtering, secure VPN, gateway anti-virus, and anti-spam.
Features of Nebero UTM are as follows:
Next Generation Firewall Protection
Web Filtering
Intrusion Prevention and Detection System
Bandwidth Management
Web Application Firewall
Reporting & Analytics
Secure Virtual Private Network
Benefits of Nebero UTM are as follows::
Reduces operating expenses and eliminates network security threats.
At many levels, multi-dimensional protection is provided.
For a variety of network security requirements, a single package is available.
Failover can be used to combine several Internet connections.
Data logging for forensic purposes.
Monitoring in Real Time (Bandwidth usage, URLs, On-line users, Connections).
Set up the mail server, FTP server, and file server.
Thin Client support and logs.
Integrate with Active Directory/LDAP/SSO (Google, Facebook, etc.) authentication services.
High Availability (HA) Cluster deployment.
In a virtualized environment, use UTM.
Data leak protection and DR/BCP mechanisms are built-in.
Allows for the adoption of a Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) policy
Product license with an unlimited number of users
Figure 7. Nebero Firewall features
Prices change from the range $1,055 to $4,690 as of the date of writing this article.
Which Firewall is Most Commonly Used on Linux?
The most widely used command-line-based firewall is Iptables/Netfilter. It is the initial line of defense for the security of a Linux server. It's used by many system administrators to fine-tune their systems. Within the kernel, it filters packets in the network stack.
What is the Default Firewall for Linux?
In Linux, there is a built-in firewall called iptables. It is a user-friendly program that allows you to configure the tables offered by the Linux kernel firewall. The default firewall installed with Red Hat, CentOS, Fedora Linux, and other distributions is iptables. For different protocols, separate modules and programs are needed, such as iptables for IPv4, ip6tables for IPv6, and so on.
Here are the IPTables commands you'll need to set up a firewall on your server as a brief.
How to list the current rules of iptables:
sudo iptables -LHow to change the default policy:
sudo iptables -P Chain_name Action_to_be_takenExample:
sudo iptables -P FORWARD DROPHow to clear/flush all the rules
sudo iptables -FHow to append a rule at the end of the chain:
sudo iptables -AHow to append a rule at the start of the chain:
sudo iptables -IHow to implement a ACCEPT rule:-
sudo iptables -A/-I chain_name -s source_ip -j action_to_takeExample:
iptables -A INPUT -s 192.168.1.3 -j ACCEPTHow to implement a DROP rule:-
sudo iptables -A/-I chain_name -s source_ip -j action_to_takeExample:
iptables -A INPUT -s 192.168.1.3 -j DROPHow to Implement rules on specific ports/protocols:-
sudo iptables -A/-I chain_name -s source_ip -p protocol_name --dport port_number -j Action_to_takeExample:
sudo iptables -I INPUT -s 192.168.1.3 -p tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPTHow to delete a rule:-
sudo iptables -D chain_name rule_numberExample:
sudo iptables -D INPUT 1How to save the configuration:-
sudo invoke-rc.d iptables-persistent save
Is It Easy to Install a Firewall on Linux?
The short answer is YES. How?
A firewall is a computer component that prevents specific network traffic from entering or leaving your computer.
There are two basic types of firewalls:
Hardware firewall refers to the physical equipment that is solely used to safeguard your network (and the computers on your network).
Software firewall is an individual computer subsystems that solely safeguard the hosting machine.
A mix of the two is required for networks to function.
On the software side, your desktop computer has a software firewall installed. An uncomplicated Firewall is one such firewall that can be installed and used on a variety of Linux distributions (including Ubuntu and its variants) (UFW). Simple Firewall is exactly what it says on the tin. It's a simple utility that makes controlling network traffic blocking and permitting a breeze. UFW is a command-line-only utility that does an excellent job of securing your Linux system.
If you discover that UFW isn't installed, you can install a firewall on Linux just by using the following command.
sudo apt-get install ufw -y
Which package is required for the installation of a Linux firewall?
Iptables is almost always included with any Linux distribution. If you don't have it on your Linux server, you can simply retrieve the iptables package to update/install it.
You may find more information about how to install iptables package on Best Open Source Firewalls article written by Sunny Valley Networks.
