[tlug] Is having no "iptables" bad?

[Dave M G <martin@example.com>]

TLUG,

Apparently I'm going to go through some minor growing pains with my 
spiffy new kernel.

I just opened "Firestarter" (a firewall application, ICYDKA) to set some 
port rules, and it wouldn't start because it said:

"Failed to start the firewall
Your kernel does not support iptables.
Please check your network device settings and make sure your internet 
connection is active."

Well, my internet connection is active, so I used it to Google for what 
an iptable is. I found some tutorials, like this one:
http://iptables-tutorial.frozentux.net/iptables-tutorial.html#INTRODUCTION

And... um... it's complicated. Even a shorter description left me 
scratching my head:
"The iptables software component uses the hooks provided by netfilter to 
implement the firewall framework."

Hooks? Say what?

Is this another module I need to enable in my kernel like Josh showed me 
how to do with my IVTV modules?

Do I really need them? Firestarter thinks I do, but should I believe it?

--
Dave M G