Linux serverNETWORK ADMINISTRATIONS

How to Save iptables Rules in CentOS 7

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Summary: Learn how to persist iptables rules in CentOS 7 to ensure they are automatically applied upon system reboot. Follow these steps to save your firewall configuration effectively.

In CentOS 7, iptables is a common tool for managing firewall rules. However, any rules you apply using iptables will not persist across system reboots by default. To ensure your firewall rules are automatically applied upon system restart, you need to save them. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Apply iptables Rules
Before saving your iptables rules, make sure you have configured your firewall rules using the iptables command or by editing the /etc/sysconfig/iptables file directly.

For example, you might have added rules to allow SSH connections, HTTP traffic, or any other services you want to permit or block.

Step 2: Install the iptables Service
If the iptables-services package is not already installed, you can install it using the following command:

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Step 3: Save iptables Rules
Once you have configured your firewall rules, you can save them using the iptables-save command. This command dumps the current iptables rules to stdout.

To save the rules to the /etc/sysconfig/iptables file, use the following command:

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Step 4: Restart the iptables Service
After saving the rules, you need to restart the iptables service to apply the changes:

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Step 5: Verify Saved Rules
To verify that your iptables rules have been successfully saved and applied, you can use the iptables -L command to list the current rules:

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This command will display the current iptables rules, confirming that your saved rules are being applied.

Step 6: Enable iptables Service (Optional)
If the iptables service is not already enabled to start at boot, you can enable it using the following command:

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Conclusion
By following these steps, you can save your iptables rules in CentOS 7, ensuring that your firewall configuration persists across system reboots. This helps maintain security and consistency in your server environment.

Remember to review and update your firewall rules regularly to adapt to changing security requirements and configurations.

source

centos 7