A host model acts as a gatekeeper for networked computers, accepting or rejecting data packets. IP addresses are used to send packets to specific hosts. Strong host models require more validation than weak models, which can improve network connectivity but make it easier for hackers. Some systems use an “rp_filter” option to increase security.
A host model is somewhat like a gatekeeper that stands at the “door” of a networked computer and determines whether to accept or reject data packets. Information is sent along computer networks in packets, which are small pieces of data that filter across the network connection to their destination destinations. Like letters sent to specific homes, packets moving across the Internet are sent to specific host addresses. These addresses consist of a series of numbers that follow a convention called Internet Protocol (IP) address format.
Most major operating systems use built-in host models. As successive versions of these operating systems were developed and released, programmers switched to favoring what are known as “strong” host models over older versions, known as “weak” host models, which came first. The two differ in the degree of validation they require of data packets before accepting them.
In the weak host model, the gatekeeper will accept any packet sent to the computer’s specific IP address, regardless of the network interface through which it was received. In other words, it will gladly accept all packets addressed to your computer, regardless of their delivery method. Using a weak host model can improve network connectivity; makes it easier to deliver specific packages. On the other hand, though, it makes it easier for hackers to exploit the system, since they don’t need to provide as much specificity to receive their packets.
The strong host model strengthens security by only accepting packets sent to the specific IP address on the network interface where the packet is received. This means that the host model will only accept packets if they are specifically addressed not just to the computer’s IP address, but to a specific path to the computer’s IP address. This increases the level of security for the network system, but has a corresponding weakening effect on overall network connectivity, as it becomes more complicated to move packets to a specific computer.
Some systems don’t offer the ability to activate a strong host model. Instead of that, you can enable a “rp_filter” option to increase network security over the weak base model. This provides origin validation for all incoming packets. This allows the system to trace all packets back to their “return IP addresses” to confirm that the data is, indeed, legitimate.
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