Restricting NNTP AccessLinux Network Administrators GuidePrevChapter 22. NNTP and thenntpd DaemonNextRestricting NNTP Access Access to NNTP resources is governed by the file nntp_access in /etc/news. Lines in this file describe the access rights granted to foreign hosts. Each line has the following format: site read|xfer|both|no post|no [!exceptgroups]If a client connects to the NNTP port, nntpd attempts to obtain the host's fully qualified domain name from its IP address using reverse lookup. The client's hostname and IP address are checked against the site field of each entry in the order in which they appear in the file. Matches may be either partial or exact. If an entry matches exactly, it applies; if the match is partial, it applies only if there is no other match following it that is at least as good. site may be specified in one of the following ways: HostnameThis is a fully qualified domain name of a host. If this matches the client's canonical hostname literally, the entry applies, and all following entries are ignored.IP addressThis is an IP address in dotted quad notation. If the client's IP address matches this, the entry applies, and all following entries are ignored.Domain nameThis is a domain name, specified as *.domain. If the client's hostname matches the domain name, the entry matches.Network nameThis is the name of a network as specified in /etc/networks. If the network number of the client's IP address matches the network number associated with the network name, the entry matches.DefaultThe string default matches any client.Entries with a more general site specification should be specified earlier, because any matches will be overridden by later, more exact matches.The second and third fields describe the access rights granted to the client. The second field details the permissions to retrieve news by pulling (read), and transmit news by pushing (xfer). A value of both enables both; no denies access altogether. The third field grants the client the right to post articles, i.e., deliver articles with incomplete header information, which is completed by the news software. If the second field contains no, the third field is ignored.The fourth field is optional and contains a comma-separated list of groups to which the client is denied access.This is a sample nntp_access file: # # by default, anyone may transfer news, but not read or post default xfer no # # public.vbrew.com offers public access via modem. We allow # them to read and post to any but the local.* groups public.vbrew.com read post !local # # all other hosts at the brewery may read and post *.vbrew.com read postPrevHomeNextInstalling the NNTP ServerUpNNTP Authorization