RedHat 9 Firewall Install Checklist Available?

Obviously, I'm a Linux newbe. Ive purchased 3 excellant book on Linux,
focussing on RedHat 9 security, but they are all more like reference
material. They want me to learn everything about Linux and TCP/IP
security before I start out, and do not include a simple step-by-step
checklist to install a firewall.

My hope is to build a firewall using iptables with remote administration
from a windows (XP Pro) client. Nothing else (no other services) should
be on the firewall computer, except for logging. I can add more later,
as I find the need and learn more.

Is there a simple checklist somewhere on the net? I'm sure that I would
not be the only person to benefit from this.