Testing internal MASQ client to external MASQ server connectivity

Linux IP Masquerade HOWTO
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# 5.7. Testing internal MASQ client to external MASQ server connectivity

- Step Seven: Testing internal MASQ client to external MASQ server connectivity

  From an internal MASQed computer, ping the IP address of the MASQ server's EXTERNAL TCP/IP address obtained in Step FIVE above. This address could be from your Ethernet, PPP, etc. interface which is ultimately the address connected to your ISP. This ping test will prove that Linux masquerading (ICMP Masquerading specifically) and IP forwarding is working.

  If everthing thing is working correctly, the output should look something like the following (hit Control-C to abort the ping):

      -------------------------------------
      masq-client# ping 12.13.14.15
      PING 12.13.14.15 (12.13.14.15): 56 data bytes
      64 bytes from 12.13.14.15: icmp_seq=0 ttl=255 time=0.8 ms
      64 bytes from 12.13.14.15: icmp_seq=1 ttl=255 time=0.4 ms
      64 bytes from 12.13.14.15: icmp_seq=2 ttl=255 time=0.4 ms
      64 bytes from 12.13.14.15: icmp_seq=3 ttl=255 time=0.5 ms
      ^C

      --- 12.13.14.15 ping statistics ---
      4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss
      round-trip min/avg/max = 0.4/0.5/0.8 ms
      -------------------------------------

  If this test doesn't work, first make sure that the "Default Gateway" on the MASQed PC is pointing to the IP address on the MASQ -SERVERs- INTERNAL NIC. Also double check that the /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall-* script was run without any errors. Just as a test, try re-running the /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall-* script now to see if it runs OK. Also, though most kernels support it by default, make sure that you enabled "ICMP Masquerading" in the kernel comfiguration and "IP Forwarding" in your /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall-* script.

  If you still can't get things to work, take a look at the output from the following commands run on the Linux MASQ SERVER:

  - "ifconfig" : Make sure the interface for your Internet connection (be it ppp0, eth0, etc.) is UP and you have the correct IP address for the Internet connection. An example of this output is shown in STEP FIVE above.

  - "netstat -rn" : Make sure your default gateway (the column with an IP address in the Gateway column) is set. An example of this output might look like:

        -------------------------------------
        masq-server# netstat -rn
        Kernel IP routing table
        Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags   MSS Window  irtt Iface
        192.168.0.1     0.0.0.0         255.255.255.255 UH        0 16384      0 eth1
        12.13.14.15     0.0.0.0         255.255.255.255 UH        0 16384      0 eth0
        12.13.14.0      0.0.0.0         255.255.255.0   U         0 0          0 eth0
        192.168.0.0     0.0.0.0         255.255.255.0   U         0 0          0 eth1
        127.0.0.0       0.0.0.0         255.0.0.0       U         0 16384      0 lo
        0.0.0.0         12.13.14.1      0.0.0.0         UG        0 16384      0 eth0
        -------------------------------------

    Notice the very LAST line that starts with 0.0.0.0? Notice that it also has an IP address in the "Gateway" field? You should specify an IP address for your specific setup in that field (this is typically done automatically when your Internet connection is enabled).

  - "cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward" : Make sure it says "1" so that Linux forwarding is enabled

  - Run the command "/sbin/ipchains -n -L" for 2.2.x users or "/sbin/ipfwadm -F -l" for 2.0.x users. Specifically, look for the FORWARDing section to make sure you have MASQ enabled. An example of an IPCHAINS output might look like for users using the SIMPLE rc.firewall-* ruleset:

        ------------------------------------
        .
        .
        Chain forward (policy REJECT):
        target     prot opt     source                destination           ports
        MASQ       all  ------  192.168.0.0/24       0.0.0.0/0             n/a
        ACCEPT     all  ----l-  0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0             n/a
        .
        .
        ------------------------------------

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