How to block all incoming request through one network interface?

Question

Saying I have a linux server as a router from LAN to WAN. I don't want any incoming WAN request for safety issue. So how should I block all the incoming request through the WAN interface, but doesn't limit the LAN users' normal internet activity?

Which application should I use? (iptables?). Which service will be interrupted if I shut up all incoming traffic?

Solution 1

If you really want to block all incoming traffic from the WAN (or Internet), you can simply add a rule like the the following:

$ iptables -A INPUT -i eth0 -j DROP

assuming eth0 is the WAN interface. This is enough to block all incoming traffic. However, you need to allow all related/established connections to be able to request some service from the WAN/Internet. So, you need a rule like:

$ iptables -A INPUT -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT

Of course the ACCEPT rule should be added before the DROP rule. Doing so will prevent you from hosting any service within your network.

Solution 2

iptables -A FORWARD -i eth0 -j DROP

Will not block incoming traffic. You should add rule on INPUT chain, e.g.:

iptables -A INPUT -i eth0 -j DROP

Comments

[steveyang]

What do you mean by the last sentence "Doing so will you prevent you from hosting any service within your network"? What if I do want to provide service for my LAN user?

[shrawani karpe]

I think what Khaled meant was that your server won't be able to proivde any services to the outside like FTP, HTTP, etc.

[Khaled]

@hydroparadise: yes, that's right. Any connection from outside will be blocked.

[Dan Lenski]

This is incorrect and Kranthi Guttikonda's answer is right. You need to add the DROP rule on the INPUT chain, not the FORWARD chain.