i saved my iptables settings using /sbin/service iptables save.. and now i have a 'failed' come up on boot up in regards to iptables..

my internet works fine as i have my ipforwarding and firewall stuff saved in another start up file.. but i would like to get rid of the settings in iptables-restore.. just to make sure it won't screw things up later..

also how do you update your search file database.. as i've added a number of new files and i'd like to be able to find them when i search for them.. i know there's a thread about this somewhere.. but i couldn't find it..

thanks..

the service in /etc/init.d/iptables looks for the file /etc/sysconfig/iptables
this file is a iptables-save file, you can create it and replace it at will.
if this file doesn't exist then the service will not start. This way you can start your own service that loads your rules from another script file.


updatedb will update the files locate database...
when you work at night and sudenly you start to ear your hard disk spinning like crazy, if you look for the running processes with 'top' you'll see updatedb at the top!

To keep the script from running (so you don't get the failed message) you can always remove the executable permission on the iptables script in /etc/init.d

ex - chmod 644 /etc/init.d/iptables

... well, thats can lead to problems later, when you want it to run and don't remmember to change its permissions...
I'd prefer to delete the file /etc/sysconfig/iptables, if this data file doesn't exist the service /etc/init.d/iptables doesn't start. You can check this by looking at the /etc/init.d/iptables script, at the top it checks for the /etc/sysconfig/iptables file.

That is definitely something to consider for a newbie. For me, I run Linux on my laptop and am constantly 'showing off' Linux to Windows clients and collegues. The last thing I would want them to see is a [FAILED] message.

yep, we all must do good publicity of linux!

sweet. thanks a lot.. the updatedb ran at some point as it finds all the new things i installed... but it's good to know how to it when i want to..

i mv the iptables.save file.. and i will see if the error comes up next time i reboot.. if the fail message comes up again. i will try you other solutions..

thanks

If you have a big disk the updatedb can take long time. The best is to run it often via cron in the periods you are not using your PC (at noon, at night...)

Normaly if you don't have /etc/sysconfig/iptables you don't have any message at all from the /etc/init.d/iptables service. My current gateway to the internet (at home) is a linux RH and I disabled the default firewall service this way, I already had an older scripts with all my stuff inside.
Greets
Pedro