Not particularly packets of this type, but e.g. to put a rate-limit on incoming NEW connections, in order to help prevent a DoS attack on, say, a webserver or mailhub. It would be nice if the limit module was adaptive, and only flagged ips which were exceeding the rate, otherwise it seems to me that the same effect as a DoS attack can be achieved simply by sending packets at a sufficient rate to trigger the limit cut-off, which would then block *all* packets until the flow reduced. Even with a seperate rule for each server, all NEW connections to that server would still be blocked if the limit was exceeded. Cheers, T. >> I was thinking about just this the other night, and is seems to me that >> such a rule should be rejecting stuff which exceeds the rate limit rather >> than accepting stuff which doesnt exceed it, since the -j ACCEPT will mean >> that any subsequent rules in a FORWARD table wont be tested. >> >> Something like >> >> iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp --tcp-flags SYN,ACK,FIN,RST RST -m limit ! limit >> 1/s -j DROP > >Why do people want to ACCEPT any packets of this type at all? If a packet >is part of an ESTABLISHED connection then it is going to pass through your >FORWARD chain on the connection tracking rule; if a packet is not part of an >ESTABLISHED connection, then it's either a valid new connection (in which >case you ACCEPT it), or else it isn't (in which case you don't ACCEPT it). > >I can't quite see why you would want to accept even a slow rate of such >>packets. > >Regards, > >Antony. -- This email is intended for the use of the individual addressee(s) named above and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive persons with low self-esteem, no sense of humour, or irrational religious beliefs. If you have received this email in error, you are required to shred it immediately, add some nutmeg, three egg whites and a dessertspoonful of caster sugar. _ Whisk until soft peaks form, then place in a warm oven for 40 minutes. _ Remove promptly and let stand for 2 hours before adding some decorative kiwi fruit and cream. _ Then notify me immediately by return email and eat the original message. Please reply to the list; please don't CC me. ----- End of forwarded message from Antony Stone -----