In this post we will learn about how to backup and restore iptables on CentOS 7 and RHEL 7. The steps are still same as we have found in previous CentOS/RHEL versions.
For backup and restore process of iptables, you should be login with root user in system
Step 1 : To take iptables backup
iptables-save > iptables.bak
The iptables rules backup will be stored in file called iptables.bak (as given in above command. You can give any name to backup file)
Step 2 : To restore iptables
iptables-restore < iptables.bak
Restoring the iptables rules from backup file of iptables i.e iptables.bak which was created in Step 1
Given below is the reference from my system.(step by step)
With the help of iptables -nL command, you can list the iptables rule .
iptables -F will flush the iptables rules
[root@localhost ~]# iptables -nL Chain INPUT (policy ACCEPT) target prot opt source destination ACCEPT all -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 state RELATED,ESTABLISHED ACCEPT icmp -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 ACCEPT all -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 ACCEPT tcp -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 state NEW tcp dpt:22 REJECT all -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 reject-with icmp-host-prohibited Chain FORWARD (policy ACCEPT) target prot opt source destination REJECT all -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 reject-with icmp-host-prohibited Chain OUTPUT (policy ACCEPT) target prot opt source destination [root@localhost ~]# [root@localhost ~]# iptables-save > iptables.bak [root@localhost ~]# [root@localhost ~]# cat iptables.bak # Generated by iptables-save v1.4.21 on Sun Jul 27 06:38:43 2014 *filter :INPUT ACCEPT [0:0] :FORWARD ACCEPT [0:0] :OUTPUT ACCEPT [14313:864296] -A INPUT -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p icmp -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -i lo -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p tcp -m state --state NEW -m tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -j REJECT --reject-with icmp-host-prohibited -A FORWARD -j REJECT --reject-with icmp-host-prohibited COMMIT # Completed on Sun Jul 27 06:38:43 2014 [root@localhost ~]# [root@localhost ~]# iptables -F [root@localhost ~]# [root@localhost ~]# iptables-restore < iptables.bak [root@localhost ~]# [root@localhost ~]# iptables -nL Chain INPUT (policy ACCEPT) target prot opt source destination ACCEPT all -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 state RELATED,ESTABLISHED ACCEPT icmp -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 ACCEPT all -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 ACCEPT tcp -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 state NEW tcp dpt:22 REJECT all -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 reject-with icmp-host-prohibited Chain FORWARD (policy ACCEPT) target prot opt source destination REJECT all -- 0.0.0.0/0 0.0.0.0/0 reject-with icmp-host-prohibited Chain OUTPUT (policy ACCEPT) target prot opt source destination [root@localhost ~]#