#Cisco firewall builder software#

the graphical interface is now more friendly to a small screen, such as a laptop's.a user can now open multiple data files at once in the GUI and move objects between them.netmasks can be entered as bit length everywhere.This also works for PF, where they produce rules in corresponding anchors, and Cisco IOS access lists where they create new extended access lists If a firewall object has several policy rulesets, they can be configured to produce iptables commands in the user-defined chains with the same names. Using a branching rule of this type, one can even use a block of rules that belong to one firewall to pass control in the policy of another. Each ruleset has a name and can be used in multiple rules by using the action 'Chain'. firewall objects can now have multiple policy and NAT rulesets.In the latter case Firewall Builder automatically splits them and generates separate correct IPv4 and IPv6 configurations Another option is to mix IPv4 and IPv6 objects in the same ruleset. an administrator can manually put IPv4 and IPv6 rules in separate rulesets and configure each ruleset to generate firewall configurations for the corresponding address family.Firewall Builder can generate an IPv6 configuration for iptables, pf and Cisco IOS access lists It adds several new object types, such as IPv6 address and IPv6 network. this version comes with support for IPv6.However, it comes with significant improvements and additions 'under the hood'. That's correct, v3.0 did not change a whole lot in the GUI. What are the improvements that make FWB3 a step forward from FWB2? Since the graphical interface of the program didn't change that much, I expect that the biggest changes are under the hood. Now, when one puts a major version out, a lot of improvements and changes are expected. MM: You recently released the third major version of FWB, and you are currently distributing the 3.0.3 release. We have had over 1,200 bug reports since the beginning. This does not include those who filed bug reports, since there are just too many of them. The Credits file currently lists about twenty people who contributed patches, translations, icons and other things at various times to the project. Some people submit patches using the SourceForge project page, some just send e-mail to me. Bug reports apart, how many people contributed to FWB?Īctually I try to maintain a list in the Credits file (which is part of the package), but it is a difficult task, since contributions come in different ways.

#Cisco firewall builder software#

MM: It often happens in free software projects that someone starts working on a project and publishes his work if the project is interesting enough, shortly after he starts getting bug reports, patches, code and contributions of all sorts (even money). I had been working a lot with Firewall-1 back then. At the same time, I wanted to develop something that could match the quality of the user interface of commercial products such as CheckPoint Firewall-1. The project started as many other Open Source projects do, from a realization that I needed a tool to help me configure a Linux firewall. I started the project in 1999, and our SourceForge project page was registered in 2000. MM: When did you start working on FWB, and why? All this together provided for an interesting mix of skills that allowed me to launch a project like Firewall Builder, which requires both good C++ knowledge and an in-depth understanding of network protocols, network security and operational procedures. Before then, I was involved in software development and ISP operation. I've been working in the network operations organizations of different companies in Silicon Valley since 1996.

You are the main author of Firewall Builder (FWB), but your name seldom appears even on the website So, just before we start diving deep in FWB, would you like to briefly introduce yourself? MM: Hi Vadim, and thanks for answering my questions. Now that the version 3.0 is out I had a catch-up interview with its creator, Vadim Kurland, and I discovered a number of new interesting features. About two years ago I published an article about Firewall Builder.