3.7.4. Understanding Network Zones
Firewalls can be used to separate networks into different zones based on the level of trust the user has decided to place on the devices and traffic within that network. NetworkManager informs firewalld to which zone an interface belongs. An interface's assigned zone can be changed by NetworkManager or via the firewall-config tool which can open the relevant NetworkManager window for you.
The zone settings in /etc/firewalld/ are a range of preset settings which can be quickly applied to a network interface. They are listed here with a brief explanation:
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drop (immutable)
Any incoming network packets are dropped, there is no reply. Only outgoing network connections are possible.
block (immutable)
Any incoming network connections are rejected with an icmp-host-prohibited message for IPv4 and icmp6-adm-prohibited for IPv6. Only network connections initiated from within the system are possible.
public
For use in public areas. You do not trust the other computers on the network to not harm your computer. Only selected incoming connections are accepted.
external
For use on external networks with masquerading enabled especially for routers. You do not trust the other computers on the network to not harm your computer. Only selected incoming connections are accepted.
dmz
For computers in your demilitarized zone that are publicly-accessible with limited access to your internal network. Only selected incoming connections are accepted.
work
For use in work areas. You mostly trust the other computers on networks to not harm your computer. Only selected incoming connections are accepted.
home
For use in home areas. You mostly trust the other computers on networks to not harm your computer. Only selected incoming connections are accepted.
internal
For use on internal networks. You mostly trust the other computers on the networks to not harm your computer. Only selected incoming connections are accepted.
trusted (immutable)
All network connections are accepted.
It is possible to designate one of these zones to be the default zone. When interface connections are added to NetworkManager, they are assigned to the default zone. On installation, the default zone in firewalld is set to be the public zone.
