Re: Firewall on server itself

["Michael P" <michael () techiesplace com>]

> I am trying to set up a secure web server which will already be
> protected by a dedicated harware firewall.  The hardware firewall will
> be configured to protect the web server as well other computers on the
> network.  The web server will be running Red Hat 9.0.  Is there any
> reason to install and configure firewall software such as IPTables on
> the web server itself? Are there any advantaqes or disadvantages to
> having two firewalls set up this way?

I can think of a couple of advantages:

1) Do you trust your users?  What if someone BEHIND the hardware firewall
decides to get cute and try to mess with your web server?

2) What if your hardware firewall has an exploitable condition allowing
people to bypass it?

Defense in depth isn't a bad thing.

Michael



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