[CentOS] Simple way to banish IP addresses ?

Hi,

I just set up a web server... and my bandwidth is being eaten by some 
chinese folks trying to brute-force-ssh their way into the machine.

Is there a simple way to banish either single IP addresses or, maybe 
even better, whole IP classes ? I know it's feasible with iptables, but 
is there something more easily configurable ?

Cheers,

Niki