Re: FTP/DNAT Issue

Russel
Sun, 17 Dec 2006 08:00:45 -0000

Jon wrote:
>I''m happy to see that our decision to discontinue Shorewall in
future
>builds wasn''t in error.  I think I''ve been quite civil
even to the point of
>being apologetic. You are being just plain rude, Tom.

This is quite an interesting statement.

First, Shorewall has some of the best documentation I have ever seen. There
are somewhere around 100 well-written and organized FAQs. There is a huge
mailing list archive where nearly every question has been asked and answered
at least a dozen times. There are numerous links to other websites with vast
amounts of networking information. Honestly, approximately 90% of what I
know about networking was learnt by either reading Shorewall''s
documentation
or reading articles that its documentation links to.

In addition to making great documentation, the Shorewall team has made
asking for help extremely easy. They have an easy-to-follow flowchart that
will tell you exactly what to do if you need help. There are simple commands
for dumping all the information you will need to submit with any problem
report, and when they receive a request for help, they are some of the most
responsive people I have ever seen. Sadly, most problem reports are missing
required information or have inaccurate descriptions.

I would like to point out that Tom answered Jon''s question on a
Saturday
evening, approximately 36 hours after the original (incomplete/inaccurate)
request for help was received:

>What you need is:
>
>FTP/ACCEPT   net    $FW
>FTP/ACCEPT   loc     $FW (assuming that you have a local interface).
>
>-Tom

I marvel at Tom''s level of support. Most problem reports follow this
pattern:
1. User submits vague description of problem.
2. Tom promptly replies with a few questions and/or a request for the
information http://shorewall.net/support.htm#Guidelines.
3. The user provides follow-up (usually takes a day or so).
4. Tom has an answer.

I''ve seen bug fixes released within minutes on the weekend. Try and get
that
from anyone else.

Perhaps the most revealing insight into Tom''s dedication to the good of
humanity is found at http://shorewall.net/shorewall_index.htm#Donations. Tom
doesn''t even accept donations for Shorewall. If you use it and like it,
donate to the Alzheimer''s Association or the Starlight
Children''s
Foundation.

>From the bottom of my heart; thank you, Tom. If you are ever in the Boise,
ID area, dinner is on me.

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.18/586 - Release Date: 12/13/2006
6:13 PM