ferm vs Shorewall

Struggling to choose between ferm and Shorewall? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

ferm is a Network & Admin solution with tags like firewall, iptables, network-security.

It boasts features such as Configuration using simple configuration files instead of iptables commands, Automated firewall rule management, Support for IPv4 and IPv6, Rulesets to organize firewall policies, Variables for reuse and simplification, Built-in templates for common configurations, Dry-run mode to test rules before applying, Import/export rules to share configurations and pros including Simplifies iptables firewall configuration, Powerful automation capabilities, Good for managing complex firewall policies, Active development and maintenance.

On the other hand, Shorewall is a Network & Admin product tagged with firewall, netfilter, linux.

Its standout features include Firewall configuration tool for Linux, Provides command-line interface and configuration files, Sets up Netfilter rules, interfaces, zones and other firewall components, Supports IPv4 and IPv6, Ruleset/policy based firewall, Stateful inspection firewall, and it shines with pros like Open source and free, Widely used and well supported, Powerful access control and traffic shaping, Simplifies firewall configuration, Lightweight and fast.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

ferm

ferm

ferm is a command line firewall manager tool for iptables. It allows users to easily configure iptables firewall rules using simple configuration files instead of complex iptables commands. It helps manage complex firewall policies in a simplified and automated way.

Categories:
firewall iptables network-security

Ferm Features

  1. Configuration using simple configuration files instead of iptables commands
  2. Automated firewall rule management
  3. Support for IPv4 and IPv6
  4. Rulesets to organize firewall policies
  5. Variables for reuse and simplification
  6. Built-in templates for common configurations
  7. Dry-run mode to test rules before applying
  8. Import/export rules to share configurations

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Simplifies iptables firewall configuration

Powerful automation capabilities

Good for managing complex firewall policies

Active development and maintenance

Cons

Less flexibility compared to raw iptables

Steeper learning curve than basic iptables

Requires some knowledge of iptables concepts

Limited debugging capabilities


Shorewall

Shorewall

Shorewall is an open source firewall configuration tool for Linux operating systems. It provides a command-line interface and configuration files to easily set up Netfilter rules, interfaces, zones, and other common firewall components.

Categories:
firewall netfilter linux

Shorewall Features

  1. Firewall configuration tool for Linux
  2. Provides command-line interface and configuration files
  3. Sets up Netfilter rules, interfaces, zones and other firewall components
  4. Supports IPv4 and IPv6
  5. Ruleset/policy based firewall
  6. Stateful inspection firewall

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free

Widely used and well supported

Powerful access control and traffic shaping

Simplifies firewall configuration

Lightweight and fast

Cons

Steep learning curve

Complex configuration

Not intuitive or user friendly

Limited GUI options

Dependency on Netfilter/iptables