All of the suggestions are graciously accepted, however, I was actually asking what I was doing wrong with iptables, and why, with the rules I put in place, someone was still able to connect to my machine. I understand there might be better ways, but if I don't understand what I did wrong last time, how am I going to figure out how to deny all, then allow selected, ehrn I can't seem to allow all and deny selected. There must be a misunderstanding on my part about how iptables are supposed to work. -chuck -- ACCEL Services, Inc.| Specialists in Gravity, Magnetics | (713)993-0671 ph. | and Integrated Interpretation | (713)993-0608 fax 448 W. 19th St. #325| Since 1992 | (713)306-5794 cell Houston, TX, 77008 | Chuck Campbell | campbell at accelinc.com | President & Senior Geoscientist | "Integration means more than having all the maps at the same scale!"