Written by Jacek Artymiak, a frequent contributor to ONLamp.com, Building Firewalls with OpenBSD and PF is the first and only print publication devoted solely to the subject of the pf packet filter used in OpenBSD, FreeBSD, and NetBSD operating systems. Topics covered include: firewall design, ruleset syntax, packet normalization (scrubbing), packet redirection (masquerading), packet filtering, bandwidth management (ALTQ), load balancing, and more. The author maintains a web site and a mailing list for the readers of his book.

OpenBSD’s stateful packet filter, PF, is the heart of the OpenBSD firewall. With more and more services placing high demands on bandwidth and an increasingly hostile Internet environment, no sysadmin can afford to be without PF expertise. The third edition of The Book of PF covers the most up-to-date developments in PF, including new content on IPv6, dual stack configurations, the “queues and priorities” traffic-shaping system, NAT and redirection, wireless networking, spam fighting, failover provisioning, logging, and more. You’ll also learn how to: * Create rule sets for all kinds of network traffic, whether crossing a simple LAN, hiding behind NAT, traversing DMZs, or spanning bridges or wider networks * Set up wireless networks with access points, and lock them down using authpf and special access restrictions * Maximize flexibility and service availability via CARP, relayd, and redirection * Build adaptive firewalls to proactively defend against attackers and spammers * Harness OpenBSD’s latest traffic-shaping system to keep your network responsive, and convert your existing ALTQ configurations to the new system * Stay in control of your traffic with monitoring and visualization tools (including NetFlow) The Book of PF is the essential guide to building a secure network with PF. With a little effort and this book, you’ll be well prepared to unlock PF’s full potential.

OpenBSD, the elegant, highly secure Unix-like operating system, is widely used as the basis for critical DNS servers, routers, firewalls, and more. This long-awaited second edition of Absolute OpenBSD maintains author Michael Lucas's trademark straightforward and practical approach that readers have enjoyed for years. You'll learn the intricacies of the platform, the technical details behind certain design decisions, and best practices, with bits of humor sprinkled throughout. This edition has been completely updated for OpenBSD 5.3, including new coverage of OpenBSD's boot system, security features like W^X and ProPolice, and advanced networking techniques. You'll learn how to: –Manage network traffic with VLANs, trunks, IPv6, and the PF packet filter –Make software management quick and effective using the ports and packages system –Give users only the access they need with groups, sudo, and chroots –Configure OpenBSD's secure implementations of SNMP, DHCP, NTP, hardware sensors, and more –Customize the installation and upgrade processes for your network and hardware, or build a custom OpenBSD release Whether you're a new user looking for a complete introduction to OpenBSD or an experienced sysadmin looking for a refresher, Absolute OpenBSD, 2nd Edition will give you everything you need to master the intricacies of the world's most secure operating system.

FreeBSD and OpenBSD are increasingly gaining traction in educational institutions, non-profits, and corporations worldwide because they provide significant security advantages over Linux. Although a lot can be said for the robustness, clean organization, and stability of the BSD operating systems, security is one of the main reasons system administrators use these two platforms.There are plenty of books to help you get a FreeBSD or OpenBSD system off the ground, and all of them touch on security to some extent, usually dedicating a chapter to the subject. But, as security is commonly named as the key concern for today's system administrators, a single chapter on the subject can't provide the depth of information you need to keep your systems secure.FreeBSD and OpenBSD are rife with security "building blocks" that you can put to use, and Mastering FreeBSD and OpenBSD Security shows you how. Both operating systems have kernel options and filesystem features that go well beyond traditional Unix permissions and controls. This power and flexibility is valuable, but the colossal range of possibilities need to be tackled one step at a time. This book walks you through the installation of a hardened operating system, the installation and configuration of critical services, and ongoing maintenance of your FreeBSD and OpenBSD systems.Using an application-specific approach that builds on your existing knowledge, the book provides sound technical information on FreeBSD and Open-BSD security with plenty of real-world examples to help you configure and deploy a secure system. By imparting a solid technical foundation as well as practical know-how, it enables administrators to push their server's security to the next level. Even administrators in other environments--like Linux and Solaris--can find useful paradigms to emulate.Written by security professionals with two decades of operating system experience, Mastering FreeBSD and OpenBSD Security features broad and deep explanations of how how to secure your most critical systems. Where other books on BSD systems help you achieve functionality, this book will help you more thoroughly secure your deployments.

Provides information on building networks with PF, covering such topics as creating a wireless access point, using tables and proactive defense against spammers, and setting up queries and traffic shaping with ALTQ.

"This book works in tandem with the OpenBSD's manual pages. As a result, it will help many users grow and get the most from the system."--Theo de Raadt, OpenBSD project leader. "The OpenBSD system intimidates many administrators who would benefit from using it. This book lets people start much higher up on the curve. Secure Architectures with OpenBSD not only presents the hows, but also shows some of the whys that only insiders know."--Mike Frantzen, NFR Security "Secure Architectures with OpenBSD explains all of the tasks an administrator has to know about to successfully maintain an OpenBSD server. It helps the reader save time by condensing the vast amount of information available in man pages into a compact form, reducing unneeded information, and explaining other things in much more detail and prose than a man page can afford."--Daniel Hartmeier, the OpenBSD Project "This book will become the de facto text for OpenBSD administration. Unix and BSD books abound, but none cover OpenBSD with the clarity and expertise of Palmer and Nazario. They explain the optimal way to configure and administer your OpenBSD machines, with a keen eye to security at all stages."--Brian Hatch, coauthor of Hacking Exposed Linux and Building Linux Virtual Private Networks Descended from BSD, OpenBSD is a popular choice for those who demand stability and security from their operating system. No code goes into OpenBSD without first undergoing a rigorous security check, making it a terrific choice for Web servers, VPNs, and firewalls. Secure Architectures with OpenBSD is the insider's guide to building secure systems using OpenBSD. Written by Brandon Palmer and Jose Nazario, this book is a how-to for system and network administrators who need to move to a more secure operating system and a reference for seasoned OpenBSD users who want to fully exploit every feature of the system. After getting readers started with OpenBSD, the authors explain system configuration and administration, then explore more exotic hardware and advanced topics. Every chapter of the book addresses the issue of security because security is integrated into almost every facet of OpenBSD. Examples appear throughout the book, and the authors provide source code and system details unavailable anywhere else. This goes well beyond the basics and gives readers information they will need long after they have installed the system. Key topic coverage includes: Installation and upgrade details Basic system usage in OpenBSD versus other Unix systems Third-party software via packages and the ports tree SMTP services in OpenBSD Web services with Apache Using OpenBSD as a firewall OpenBSD as a Kerberos V client and server Use of Ipsec Configuration and use of IPv6 Network intrusion detection Secure Architectures with OpenBSD takes you inside OpenBSD, giving you the insights and expertise no system manual can provide. The companion Web site tracks advances and changes made to the operating system, and it contains updates to the book and working code samples.

This edition offers both new and thoroughly updated hacks for Linux, Windows, OpenBSD, and Mac OS X servers that not only enable readers to secure TCP/IP-based services, but helps them implement a good deal of clever host-based security techniques as well.