The KMyFirewall Handbook

This handbook is the manual for KMyFirewall, an IPTables based firewall configuration tool for the KDE Desktop Environment. It explains the two rule editors, the IPTables concepts behind them, and the plugin framework used by the application.

How to read this handbook

If you have never worked with IPTables, read Just a bit of theory first. If you already know IPTables, go straight to Using KMyFirewall or the Getting started page.

Table of contents

1. Introduction

• Introduction
• A note about expectations
• Features

2. Just a bit of theory

• What a firewall can do
• A note about security in general
• IPTables basics: rules, chains and tables

3. IPTables usage

• IPTables usage
• Append, insert and delete
• Defining options
• Targets

4. Filtering and manipulation of packets

• Filtering and manipulation of packets
• Checking for the protocol
• Incoming and outgoing interface
• Source MAC
• Limit matches
• Stateful packet filtering
• Type of service

5. Using KMyFirewall

• Overview of the graphical interfaces
• Getting started

6. Developer guide

• The KMyFirewall plugin framework
• Rule option and target option plugins

7. Credits and license

• Credits and license

Appendix A. Installation

• Installation
• Requirements
• Compilation and installation

Related material

The application is built for the KDE Desktop Environment and generates rules for IPTables. The project also keeps a feature overview and a download page outside the handbook.

Further reading: the KDE project at KDE.org and the IPTables project at IPTables.org.

KDE: https://www.kde.org/
IPTables: https://www.iptables.org/