Newbie Question - about newbie user support

[Passive PROFITS]

Hi Max/All who responded to this post,

Thanks for this detailed help; just what I was looking
for on my first day!  Thanks all, won't tie up the
list thanking all who posted individually, but
'Thanks!'! ;)

I've just (I hope successfully) subbed to the UK
FreeBSD list.  Now I am aware of the use of
freeBSD-questions, if anyone can save me the couple of
weeks/month time lurking; how does one use the UK list
- is it for user support, fun, a bit of both, etc,
etc?  i.e. where does it fit into use, compared to the
questions list.  

As you can see, I'm trying to accelerate the way(s) in
which I can find my way around the FreeBSD/BSD
community here, without irritating a large number of
people (or well, hopefully not!!) ...

One point that came out from the replies I would be
interested to hear peoples thoughts on; using FreeBSD
as a firewall, when I don't really know my way around
the OS to start with.  Not forgetting (for even a
second!) that I'm basically new to Linux anyway, is
this really an issue?  I mean like, of course it would
be better for me to understand the OS of any 'puter
I'm using, but as the only OS I really have any (bad)
understanding of is Windows (and then despite, rather
than because of MS's efforts), surely I'm in about
exactly the same boat using/learning to use FreeBSD as
a firewall, as I am using Linux?

Maybe my earlier understanding was actually a
misunderstanding?  I was led to believe FreeBSD (BSD)
comes installed 'wrapped down' ... That I sort of have
to 'unlock' stuff that I want to use, as I go along. 
Thus, from where I am sat now, anyway, it would seem
that I may as well plough into trying to get my head
around FreeBSD as a firewall now, rather than stick
with Linux, of which I am just about equally ignorant!

FWIW, I am only experienced with putting together
firewalls in Ubuntu using a GUI (Firestarter).  I do
not seem to have come across problems using that combo
(IPtables? + Firestarter GUI).

Anyway - I can see the point you make, but can see no
way around it other than to not start to learn BSD ...
At some point I've got to get past the 'complete
idiot' stage, right?!  And today is as good as any
other!?!

Any thoughts appreciated!

Best,

PP


--- Max Laier <max at love2party.net> wrote:

> On Wednesday 26 March 2008 15:15:30 Passive PROFITS
> wrote:
> > Where/How to get started?!?
> 
> There is the very complete Handbook[1] which offers
> step by step 
> instruction for almost every common task.  A look at
> the FAQ[2] doesn't 
> hurt - esp. if something's seemingly strange.  The
> man pages that are 
> installed with the normal installation are
> *complete* and "man intro" 
> and "man apropos" should help to find the tools and
> documentation for 
> them.
> 
> You were also mentioning that you plan to setup a
> firewall.  There we are 
> spoiled for choice on FreeBSD.  The alternatives are
> IPFW, PF and IPF - 
> details in the handbook[3].  If you choose pf there
> are several very good 
> tutorials available online[4] and on the
> bookshelfs[5].
> 
> Obviously there are printed FreeBSD handbooks as
> well.  Esp. the newly 
> released Absolute FreeBSD 2nd. Edition[6] is very
> worth the money.
> 
> If you still have questions don't be afraid to ask
> on any FreeBSD list.  
> Just make sure you stick to the topic, provide
> adequate context and show 
> (at least a little) that you have done your
> homework.  You'll find that 
> the FreeBSD community in general is very helpful,
> even with very basic 
> questions.
> 
> Last but not least, you can check the user group
> listing[7] for people in 
> your area.
> 
>
[1]http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/
>
[2]http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/faq/
>
[3]http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/firewalls.html
> [4]http://www.bsdly.net/~peter/pf.html
>
[5]http://www.amazon.com/Book-PF-No-Nonsense-OpenBSD-Firewall/dp/1593271654/
>   
>
http://www.amazon.com/OpenBSD-PF-Packet-Filter-Book/dp/0979034205/
>   
>
http://www.amazon.com/Building-Firewalls-OpenBSD-PF-2nd/dp/8391665119/
>
[6]http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-FreeBSD-Complete-Guide-2nd/dp/1593271514/
> [7]http://www.freebsd.org/usergroups.html
> 
> -- 
> /"\  Best regards,                      |
> mlaier at freebsd.org
> \ /  Max Laier                          | ICQ
> #67774661
>  X   http://pf4freebsd.love2party.net/  |
> mlaier at EFnet
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