[SOLVED ]Turn Firewall Off

[DaveAmour]

I was able to SSH to my system and after tinkering with the firewall I can no longer do so

I want to turn my firewall off to confirm this

How do I do that?

Thanks

[sickpig]

I want to turn my firewall off to confirm this

How do you know that it is turned on?

[DaveAmour]

Good question

I am assuming it is turned on as I was able to SSH every day since I installed it and I was able to ping.

I only installed a week ago.

Then I was trying to setup VNC and my connection was being refused so I tried to open up the ports and couldn't get this to work but now I cannot ping or SSH either.

I am a very new Linux user - just a few days and have no idea what I'm doing

[sickpig]

By default firewall is off. So unless you have it turned it on it should be off.

so I tried to open up the ports

How?

[DaveAmour]

I installed a couple of graphical firewall apps and tinkered with them.

I assumed they interfaced with the underlying FW but really have no idea what I am doing.

One was called Firewall Builder and one was just called Firewall

[sickpig]

I assumed they interfaced with the underlying FW but really have no idea what I am doing.

Why assume and take the risk?

You can consult https://manpages.debian.org/buster/iptables/iptables.8.en.html for a detailed howto.
Though iptables will soon be replaced by nftables as per https://wiki.debian.org/nftables

You can use

Code: Select all

iptables -L

To check the current policy and blockages

[DaveAmour]

Why assume and take the risk?

Because this is on an old pc with no data on or port forwarding to it and I have to take the risk otherwise how do I learn to do things?

[sickpig]

how do I learn to do things?

The efficient way is to make an effort to try and understand how things work.

And one of the other ways I suppose is to blindly go ahead without any knowledge

I assumed they interfaced with the underlying FW but really have no idea what I am doing.

[DaveAmour]

It feels like this could descend into an argument about my learning style and find your comments a little insulting and condescending

I don't want that

If you can help me further great, if not then thanks for your help so far

[sunrat]

Ignore the piggie, it forgets it was a beginner once.
Basically you don't need a firewall in Linux unless you're running a server open to the internet. Just purge whatever packages you installed.

[DaveAmour]

Thanks sunrat

I'm only a beginner in Linux

To put this in context

Installed Debian
SSH and ping worked
Tried to install VNC, not sure if I did that right
VNC connections being refused
Tried to add a firewall rule. I assumed the connections were being blocked by a firewall and that SSH was open by default
SSH and ping stopped working
Uninstalled the 2 firewall apps I added
Rebooted
SSH and ping still not working
Also on the Debian box I was able to see my windows box but now cannot

All I am trying to do now is get SSH and eventually VNC working

[DaveAmour]

Ok SSH and ping working now!

[DaveAmour]

What is the correct protocol for closing questions?

[Head_on_a_Stick]

You explain how you fixed things then edit the thread title and prepend [SOLVED]. And remember to thank sickpig and sunrat for taking the time to help you.

[sickpig]

It feels like this could descend into an argument about my learning style and find your comments a little insulting and condescending

Well if its only a little then its ok. Also check http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=47078 I do not suppose you have done a single thing mentioned in that.

Ignore the piggie, it forgets it was a beginner once.

But I still am Ever the learner.