Some help with broadcasts through a Linux system

[Christopher R. Hertel]

Here at the University, we disable directed broadcast on all routers. 
There are simply too many exploits opened up including (but not limited
to) Smurf amplification and NetBIOS name harvesting.

A very unpopular feature on an open network.

Chris -)-----

> Richard Sharpe <sharpe at ns.aus.com> wrote in SAMBA-TECHNICAL digest 870
> > with respect to directed broadcasts (subnet directed broadcasts), I have
> > now determined that Linux does not allow them.
> > 
> > The code is in linux/net/ipv4/ip_input.c.  All broadcasts are dropped when
> > it comes time to check forwarding.
> > 
> > I have a hacked up version that allows directed broadcasts that I will be
> > testing soon so I can check out remote announce stuff ...
> 
> 	The issue affects the documentation of remote
> 	announce, and at least remote browse sync,  
> 	several of which already warns that some folks
> 	don't allow directed broadcast: unless the
> 	Linux folks wish to fix this, we'd best
> 	warn that Linux, a heavily used system, doesn't
> 	permit this.
> 
> 	This will, in principle, affect all the Samba
> 	books, too, when they come up for update...
> 
> --dave
> -- 
> David Collier-Brown,  | Always do right. This will gratify some people
> 185 Ellerslie Ave.,   | and astonish the rest.        -- Mark Twain
> Willowdale, Ontario   | http://java.science.yorku.ca/~davecb
> Work: (905) 415-2849 Home: (416) 223-8968 Email: davecb at canada.sun.com
> 


-- 
             -- I have a shoehorn, the kind with teeth. --
                                  ---
Christopher R. Hertel -)-----                   University of Minnesota
crh at nts.umn.edu              Networking and Telecommunications Services