Comodo Firewall - Help for Users written by Users! Volume 1, 2, 3

[Guest]

[Quill]

OD, I have the relevant information for 2.4 (Reg Keys, Folders etc) but I'm waiting for the final version of 3 before I do an uninstall/install.

Eeek! a Comodo Bible (has visions of ponderous 1200 page tomes)

MediaWiki sounds good to me, most people will be familiar with it via Wikipedia.

Ok everyone, it seems like it's the thumbs up for a 'split' manual/Bible, so any contributions in the ToC arena need to take this into consideration. I assume it's going to be something like this:

Introduction
Comodo (insert name here) for absolute beginners  
Further explorations of CFP...
Taking CFP to the Max...

Or something like that



 

 

[AOwL]

I agree that the 2.4 ---> 3.0 is kept separate and in help forum.

I don't know about 3 books...
I think a 2 books would be enough... (-"the missing manual")
First book "-for beginners" or "-quick start" or something
The second book "-for advanced users", "-in depth guide" or something. (or Beyond... gibran...? )

Why?
I think it will be a lot of "double" work with the medium and advanced users guide.
Beginners will use the simple guide to install and do the basic settings and learn a bit about firewalls.
The medium users won't look in the beginners guide because they already know that, and if they want to know more, they will look in the "-in depth" guide.
The advanced user will look in.. ok that's obvious...
Now, probably there will be some beginners that want to know more, but it is necessary to have a medium guide for that? Can't the -in depth guide span from medium to advanced? If you are that interested, you will probably be prepared to spend some time learning the firewall.

This way, the amount of (unnecessary) work will be reduced I think.
Ok, that was just my opinion.

About Melih's suggestion on tasks (- how can I get my P2P program to work?) I agree. In the beginners book it could be placed (last) after the guide on installing and basic settings.

[Quill]

I understand your point of view AOwl, and in some ways I agree with you. However, I see the first part as teaching the novice user how to 'set and forget'. In the second part we take them into the realm of basic rule creation. In third part we really give the low down on everything. registey, COM...

[Devil may cry]

Hi all

I would love to help in anyway i can and for me the best way for me to help would to be the "guinnie pig" for the reading side..i.e if i being a "dummie" so to speak, if i can understand what you guys are collating, then i think allmost all novices will.

p.s i think using the word "dummie" is not a wise choice imo, it can be taken by others as almost puting down the person, i know it is not put in that text, but you know you will get those people out there who will see it in that way and think its a travisty....??

Anyway if i can help proof reading then let me know, also PICTURES and SCREENSHOTS are high on my list when i try to learn something new.

Jamie

[kander]

Ok, with at least one of the two Project Coordinators giving a green light for MediaWiki, I think it would be wise to go ahead and get a copy of MediaWiki running somewhere. Melih, can you arrange this?

As for the split in Two or Three books: I'm ambivalent on this - something can be said for both options, and there are things against both. From my point of view most of the effort it takes to go from two to three books is one-time work - you can just copy all the 'framework' pages from one book and adapt them. The content is where the real rub is, but I think the amount of work for that would stay the same.. just spread out over more books. My greatest concern is that in a three-book layout, the middle book would be 'not quite it' on both ends on the spectrum - for example, building rules is greatly aided by understanding the intricacies of certain applications, which seems to be more appropriate for book three.

Oh, and welcome Jamie - I'm sure we'll be able to make use of your offer in a few days (weeks, possibly) time, to make sure we're on the right track and provide intended audience input. Glad to have you with us! Your wish for screenshots has been noted

--K

[xiuhcoatl]

Edit: Strike that
I had mentioned it to Melih once in PM Early On, with no reply. It might have been over looked in in reading and replying to to the other portions of the message I will remind him.  If I don't recieve a reply I will take it as a no.

OD

PS he could be concerned this will hinder progress on the book.

Ok, with at least one of the two Project Coordinators giving a green light for MediaWiki, I think it would be wise to go ahead and get a copy of MediaWiki running somewhere. Melih, can you arrange this?

As for the split in Two or Three books: I'm ambivalent on this - something can be said for both options, and there are things against both. From my point of view most of the effort it takes to go from two to three books is one-time work - you can just copy all the 'framework' pages from one book and adapt them. The content is where the real rub is, but I think the amount of work for that would stay the same.. just spread out over more books. My greatest concern is that in a three-book layout, the middle book would be 'not quite it' on both ends on the spectrum - for example, building rules is greatly aided by understanding the intricacies of certain applications, which seems to be more appropriate for book three.

Oh, and welcome Jamie - I'm sure we'll be able to make use of your offer in a few days (weeks, possibly) time, to make sure we're on the right track and provide intended audience input. Glad to have you with us! Your wish for screenshots has been noted

--K

[Melih]

I had mentioned it to Melih once in PM Early On, with no reply. It might have been over looked in in reading and replying to to the other portions of the message I will remind him.  If I don't recieve a reply I will take it as a no.

OD

PS he could be concerned this will hinder progress on the book.

Sorry OD.
whats the question that I missed so that i can answer pls?
thanks
Melih

[Japo]

The three separate documents look like a good idea. Will we dummies get to see the work in progress and give some feedback before the final version?

[xiuhcoatl]

I have 4 questions

1) What do think of having your web admins create a Wiki for CFP3
           The only reason I could think of not to would be if you think it will detract from the writing of the book
 
2) I tried to create a child Board for this topic, I guess I do not have sufficent rights. 
 Could you do this for us  Possibly even a registered user only section like the Betas
Either Under Comodo Firewall or where ever you think is best.  Both Toggie and myself think it could be a good Idea

I would like to be able to pin topics and sort for example
Overall Index or TOC
  Book 1
   Chapter 1
  Book 2
Who knows exactly
I would like to start this ASAP

3) is another question for legal
      is it necessary for contributers to sign a agreement releasing rights to their material
      or is it sufficient to post a GPL statement on the header of the child board.
      All post in this Child bord are under the GPL and as such are property of ........
      I don't know how to write it this should be easy for your legal
      I think they could be public property or Comodo property, I am not sure which, if posted in the forum but I
      am not sure about Word Docs attached or shared to create this.  I think they could be private IP Especialy
      if not shared directly through the public forum

     Again this a question for your  legal


4) Do you have an answer on the title the I think at least Panic, Toggie and myself are a litle shy of "for dummies"


OD

     

Sorry OD.
whats the question that I missed so that i can answer pls?
thanks
Melih

[xiuhcoatl]

You will at least get to see The general conversation posted in the forums

Could be this gets developed 99.9% in the forums We have not worked out the document sharing part yet.

OD

The three separate documents look like a good idea. Will we dummies get to see the work in progress and give some feedback before the final version?

[xiuhcoatl]

I think the way we'll go is to develop 3 books
The first being reletively easier reading the second two being successively more technical and if we want to later we will combine the last 2 books into parts 1 & 2 of the same book


OD

I understand your point of view AOwl, and in some ways I agree with you. However, I see the first part as teaching the novice user how to 'set and forget'. In the second part we take them into the realm of basic rule creation. In third part we really give the low down on everything. registey, COM...

[xiuhcoatl]

Edit: in Blue
My apologies Melih
I thought I had put this in a PM I guess I was wrong On review of my PMs I could not find it

the question should have been
What do think of having your web admins create a Wiki for CFP3
           The only reason I could think of not to would be if you think it will detract from the writing of the book
I think Toggie is in agreement on this but the decision is up to you.  I don't know who brought it up first I thought it was Toggie Could have been LM. It is not important

 

OD

I had mentioned it to Melih once in PM Early On, with no reply. It might have been over looked in in reading and replying to to the other portions of the message I will remind him.  If I don't recieve a reply I will take it as a no.

OD

PS he could be concerned this will hinder progress on the book.

[Melih]

Edit: in Blue
My apologies Melih
I thought I had put this in a PM I guess I was wrong On review of my PMs I could not find it

the question should have been
What do think of having your web admins create a Wiki for CFP3
           The only reason I could think of not to would be if you think it will detract from the writing of the book
I think Toggie is in agreement on this but the decision is up to you.  I don't know who brought it up first I thought it was Toggie Could have been LM. It is not important

 

OD

our guys are creating the wiki. should be up by wed/thu..

thanks
Melih

[xiuhcoatl]

Here is my TOC
 
Attached is an editable Word doument at can be marked up and saved. It includes Kader's Toggies and My Own TOC.  I am sure this is still a work in progress But i think we will have a TOC for the first book soon.
The second and third parts or books I am sure will be more interesting but I think this need to be written first

Togie and/or Kader and or others Please review and post your Opinons and repost the doc with mark ups
I will rereview it also.

We need to get the TOC for book one done so we start to send out sections for editing



Comodo (insert name here) for absolute beginners
Is this the Best name for book 1
Maybe
Comodo (insert name here) for recent converts  Other Ideas
TOC
1.   Introduction
1.1.   Intended audience
1.1.1.   People with little Back ground with firewalls
1.1.2.   People looking to review basic features in CFP
1.2.   Conventions
1.3.   New Terms you may see in this book (even though we may use these terms in the first book we need to use the term and give an explanation of the term when used.  This is so if some one starts with this book they do not expect the “castle and the mote” explanation in the 2nd and 3rd Book)
2.   The Internet
2.1.   Connecting to the Internet
2.2.   Security concerns
2.3.   Solutions(this is just basically a list with a short description of each)
2.3.1.   Firewalls   (Use the Castle analogy Here if desired)
2.3.2.   AV (Other Castle anaogy?)
2.3.3.   Software and OS Updates (maybe a different castle Analogy)
2.3.4.   Others types of security
2.3.5.   Layered Security(by Melih)
3.   A Very Short History of Firewalls
3.1.   Dedicated hardware
3.2.   What about my router? (Note: Section explaining thar relying on just a router is a Bad Idea)
3.3.   Software
3.3.1.   Advantages and Disadvantages to Software Firewalls
3.3.2.   Windows Firewall (Note: Get out the sledgehammer and let the bashing begin?)
3.3.3.   Types of Firewall (Note: Begin with simple IP blockers such as PeerGuardian on one end, end with CFP V3 at the other end of the spectrum)
3.3.4.   Why CFP
3.3.5.    Other options to CFP
4.   CFPSetup
4.1.   Types Of setups (some one will need to go through set up several times Or we need lots of input from different users on the options and the rules they create This could be to many different types of setups We may need to create a couple Basic setups for simple users. We will need to explore this with next release (RC or Final)
4.1.1.    Type 1 Basic No LAN
4.1.1.1.   Why Would I chose this setup
4.1.1.2.   Snapshots of Dialogs
4.1.1.3.   
4.1.2.    Type 2 With LAN
4.1.3.    Type 3 is there a basic game setup what changes need to be Made (possibly this belongs in book 2)
4.1.4.   What oher basic setups can there be
4.1.4.1.   Menus and options
4.2.   Miscelaneous
4.2.1.   CFP2.X and CFP.3.x Whats the difference
4.2.2.   Whats hips
4.2.3.   Alerts
4.2.3.1.   What are they and why do I get them
4.2.3.2.   Types of alerts
4.2.3.3.   How do I respond
4.2.4.   
4.3.   What you will find in CFP (each section needs Screenshots and Quick Explanations if descriptions is in the Screen shoot only give a Description of the Route to the screen shot(Details in book 2))This can be used in book 2 as well
4.3.1.   Summery screen
4.3.1.1.   System status
4.3.1.2.   Network Defense
4.3.1.2.1.   Intrusion Attempt (oh my god what is this?)
4.3.1.2.2.   Firewall security levels (We need to decide what we need to cover here)
4.3.1.2.3.   Inbound and Outbound Connections
4.3.1.3.   Proactive Defense
4.3.1.3.1.   Suspicious attempts (oh my god what is this?)
4.3.1.3.2.   D+ security Level (We need to decide what we need to cover here)
4.3.1.3.3.   
4.3.2.   Firewall Screen
4.3.2.1.   Common Tasks (Only give details on 2 or 3 necessary areas let the screen shot do most of the work  What these are needs to be discussed)
4.3.2.1.1.   Screen shot
4.3.2.1.2.   Area 1
4.3.2.1.3.   Area 2
4.3.2.1.4.   Possibly area 3
4.3.2.2.   Advanced ((Screen shot)Covered In book 2)Only Briefly touch on Network Security Policy
4.3.2.2.1.   Network Security Policy
4.3.2.2.1.1.   Screenshot
4.3.2.2.1.2.   Description of Global Rules
4.3.2.2.1.3.   Description of Network Rule
4.3.2.2.1.4.   Basic intro into Firewall rules ,What are they & what do they do (a detailed explanation of writing rules is available in Book 2)
4.3.2.2.2.   Other areas Let the screenshot explain and a note “for more details see book 2”
4.3.3.   D+
4.3.3.1.   Common Tasks (Only give details on 2 or 3 necessary areas let the screen shot do most of the work  What these are needs to be discussed)
4.3.3.1.1.   Screenshot
4.3.3.1.2.   Pending files(do we discuss this in the first book)
4.3.3.1.2.1.   What are these
4.3.3.1.2.2.   What to do with them
Purge, (Then What remember this is for Novices)
4.3.3.1.3.   Area 2
4.3.3.1.4.   Possibly area 3
4.3.3.1.5.   Other areas covered in book 2
4.3.3.2.   Basic intro into D+ & D+ rules ,What are they & What do they do (a detaied explanation of writing or editing rules is available in Book 2)
4.3.3.3.   Miscellaneous (Only give details on 2 or 3 necessary areas let the screen shot do most of the work)
4.3.3.3.1.   Screenshot
4.3.3.3.2.   Check For Updates
4.3.3.3.3.   Browse support Forums
4.3.3.3.4.   Help
4.3.3.3.5.   Other areas covered in book 2
4.3.4.   
4.3.4.1.   

Book 2 Further explorations of CFP...
Book 3 Taking CFP to the Max...

[xiuhcoatl]

Wiki for Comodo Firewall
are we going to Create a book also or stop there?

I am good either way we can put the book together from the wiki
This way people would have a downloadable manual that is complete

sometimes a wiki can be a bit difficult to navagate depending especially for newbies

What ya'lls thoughts?

OD
 

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