In this chapter we have provided a high-level overview of three scenarios in which IPCop may be deployed in roles that suit it, along with an analysis of the benefits and pitfalls of IPCop usage in these situations.
These three topologies will be used further on in the book as case studies for maintenance and deployment.
Topology one: A dual-homed firewall performing Network Address Translation for a few clients. This is an excellent drop-in replacement for a small SOHO router or Microsoft's Internet Connection firewall. It is more secure, more reliable, and more scalable than other solutions for similar situations.
This topology uses IPCop's NAT features, and can use Port Forwarding for external services access and the Intrusion Detection System for added network security.
Topology two: A DMZ firewall with a separate segment for externally facing services such as incoming mail. Typically used by a small or medium business who have outgrown a single-subnet network, this is a common stepping...