if i run iptables-save ... is it permanent? will the current iptables be saved forever even if system is rebooted?
thanks!

iptables-save just outputs your tables into a file.

If you want your tables to be permanent you have to put it in a script on startup or something similar.

here's one way:
1. create a file in "/etc/rc.d/" most ppl would use "rc.firewall".
2. edit "/etc/rc.d/rc.firewall" and enter your commands on startup.
3. edit "/etc/rc.d/rc.local" and at the very bottom add "/etc/rc.d/rc.firewall"
4. change the permission for "/etc/rc.d/rc.firewall" something like:
chmod u+c /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall.

and it should automatically run on startup.

hope this helps

thank you very much!
im using slackware 10...
do i really need to include /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall to my /etc/rc,d/rc.local to execute it on startup?

i thought every file in /etc/rc.d/ is executed on startup as long as they are executable by root.... now i know that i was wrong. hehehe thanks!

btw.. what is chmod u+c ?
i just tried that but it says:

chmod: invalid mode string: `u+c'

hmmmmmmmm

Probably was a fat finger slip from u+x .
I'm not sure what everyone else uses but I use chmod 755 /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall.