IPCop is a Linux distribution that is designed with the specific purpose of acting as a firewall/gateway to improve your security. It is loaded with features to accomplish this, yet IPCop does this in as straight forward a way as I can imagine. OK, now what the heck can you do with this you may be asking. The answer is simple. In fact, the IPCop FAQ says it best:

IPCop lets you take an old PC and convert it into an appliance that will.

1. Secure your home network from the internet.
2. Improve the performance of web browsers (by keeping frequently used information)

Te get IPCop working, all you need is an old(or new) PC, a few supported network cards, and a switch if you plan on protecting more than one PC with it. It supports some wireless configurations as well. The ISO is only around a 40MB download, and once you boot from it, it is very easy to install and configure.

The main configuration is done from an intuitive web interface. You simply go to a specific web address, log in, and you are greeted with a host of options to set it up. There are some samples of the interface at the IPCop site. From this interface you can configure openings to your PC for gaming or file sharing, logging of security events, set up Snort for added security, monitor traffic and hardware statistics, and a horde of other settings.

Security updates are as simple as downloading a small file, then using the IPCop web interface to install the update. After this, you may have to reboot the machine. Backing up your configuration is just as simple. You can choose to save the configuration to a floppy stored in the IPCop computer itself, or downloading a backup to your PC.

This could also be a good option for people who are looking into learning Linux administration. Since it is so easy to install on an old PC, darn near anyone could do it. Once installed, configure SSH access, log in via SSH and start learning with any number of information sites on the internet. Since it is open source, everything is available for you to examine and learn from.

I’ve been using IPCop for years to take care of my home network. It is one of those things that works so well that you forget it is even there. It just works. IPCop is, IMHO, one of those gems that is produced by an enthusiastic and professional open source community.