Firewalls and Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

Firewalls and Your VPS

IPtables is the firewall interface to the Netfilter packet filtering system used in the Linux 2.6 kernel. This is used by default in the VPS and is readily accessible from SSH using a command like:

iptables -A INPUT -s hostname -J DROP

You may notice when accessing the Virtuozzo Power Panel that there is a Virtuozzo Firewall that can be enabled. Do not enable the Virtuozzo Firewall. It will block you from accessing cPanel and WHM. The Virtuozzo firewall loads a set of pre-defined rules into iptables, and will disable the ports allowing access to cPanel.

Other Firewall Software

There are firewall software front-ends to iptables that are designed to make it easier to implement firewall rules (such as blocking hosts).

APF

Advanced Policy Firewall is commonly used, and replaces a command like

iptables -A INPUT -s hostname -J DROP with apf -d hostname

CSF

Configserver Security and Firewall is developed at ConfigServer Services, which offers third-party cPanel management, support, and development. Installation and configuration of these on your VPS is not supported by A Small Orange. If you elect to pursue firewall management, this will require a willingness to learn advanced server management.