Fail2ban

Fail2ban is a neat open-source command-line tool that helps keep your system secure. It scans logs and can ban those pesky IP addresses that keep failing passwords. Best of all, it works on any GNU/Linux operating system!

Features of Fail2ban

This software is super customizable! You can set it up to check log files for specific patterns. If an IP address keeps hitting the same pattern too many times, Fail2ban will take action by executing commands. And if needed, it can even unban an IP address.

How Does It Work?

By default, it uses iptables to manage bans, but you can also use TCP Wrapper or other firewalls if you prefer. Plus, it handles log rotation and converts DNS hostnames to IPs. It sends email alerts when something happens and can work with multiple services like Apache, SSHD, VSFTPD, and more!

Getting Started with Fail2ban

After installing the Fail2ban package from your distribution's software repositories or downloading from Softpedia, you'll find three key commands available for you.

Installation Steps

If you want to use this software on your computer, start by downloading the latest version from Softpedia. Save the archive wherever you'd like and then unpack it using your favorite archive manager tool. Open a Linux Terminal app next.

The Installation Process

You’ll need to navigate to where you've extracted the files using the 'cd' command in Terminal. To install Fail2ban, run either 'python setup.py install' as root or 'sudo python setup.py install' as a privileged user. That’s all there is to it! Now you're ready to run 'fail2ban-server' to kick off the server and then 'fail2ban-client' to manage banned IP addresses.