I cannot get the built in Firewall to work on a G4 iBook while allowing Internet access. I recently obtained this iBook second hand as a reconditioned item. It has OSX 10.5.8. Apart from this it is a very neat and convenient laptop unit.
We have Internet and telephone land line access from Shaw Cable. The Internet cable from the cable modem is normally plugged in to our two year old iMac. I occasionally swap the cable to the IBook to use Software Update, update the clock, etc. On the iMac the Firewall is set at “Set access for specific services and applications.” Safari and Skype are the only two applications showing in the window below. This works fine on the iMac, which also has OSX 10.5.8.
If I duplicate this setting on the iBook it will not connect to the Internet either through the cable or through the Airport which I tried at a nearby hotel. It will also not connect if the Firewall is set at “Allow only essential services.” The iBook will only connect to the Internet if the Firewall is set at “Allow all incoming connections,” effectively making the firewall useless.
I would like to know how I may obtain the protection of the firewall on the iBook while connecting to the Internet. I will appreciate any advice.
It sounds like you may need to setup your sharing settings as well.
You'll find the instructions in the Security Help window:
"Using the Firewall pane of Security preferences
You can use the personal firewall in Mac OS X to prevent unwanted connections from the Internet or other networks.
Sharing services can connect through the firewall when they are turned on in Sharing preferences. To prevent connections to these incoming services you must turn off the service in Sharing preferences. "
I was going to mention the same thing until I re-read the OP message and it doesn't appear that they are using a router and I'm not sure if their particular Shaw cable modem has any firewall protection already built-in and/or enabled.
Thanks for the suggestions. The problem has not been solved.
I put the iBook in front of the iMac and compared the Sharing settings, as well as doing the same again for the Network and Security settings. All are identical on the two machines. As before, the iMac will connect to the Internet while the firewall is in place but the iBook will not. Presumably these particular settings are not the problem. It must be somewhere else.
The iBook is connected to the Internet through our Shaw Cable access only for obtaining updates. There is no hardware firewall on our Shaw equipment as far as I know. I did run the problem by Shaw's support. They were unable to solve it and did not mention any hardware firewall. Restarting the cable modem was all they asked me to do with their equipment.
The primary use for the iBook, once we get it working properly, will be connecting to the Internet from hotels, restaurants, truck stops, airports, libraries, book stores, colleges and other places that have free wireless connections. The built in firewall should be active.
The iBook will only connect to the Internet when the firewall is set to "Allow all incoming connections," effectively making the firewall useless. The built-in "help", the owner's manual and Apple's support site provide no answer. An email to Apple was ignored.
Just another thought, this topic reminds me of the almost 'must have' "BrickHouse" for firewall setup for Mac OS X some 8-10± years ago which seems to have been renamed as "Flying Buttress".
But I'm not recommending one use it as it doesn't seem to have been updated since 2005 and no mention of any 10.5.x support and besides, it was overpriced then and still is.
But you might want to try your Google search for 'test internet firewall connection' and try some of the sites.
Try going to System Prefs:Security:Firewall:click on advanced settings (might have to click on the lock icon so as to be able to make changes). In advanced settings make sure that Enabling Stealth Mode is NOT checked.
I don't mean to retread old ground, but a quick call to Shaw got me a person who said that yes, all the Shaw modems have hardware firewalls on them.
So just try turning off the software firewall. That's why it ships off by default.
Sorry, but it seems that is erroneous information and I also asked the Shaw tech this morning as an additional question when our shaw connection within a small local area went kaput.
The "normal" Shaw supplied wired Motorola SURFboard modems do NOT have any firewall capabilities which seems to be confirmed at the Motorola support site.
I was curious as if they did, and/or how were the settings to be set or configured if it was even available.
Any of the special "wireless" Shaw supplied modems are of course a different matter and some have firewall capabilities but often only via and for wireless use.
If you have other accurate and confirmed data to the contrary, please let us know.
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