This effects 2 Ubuntu Mate 16.04.4 installs. One is on a laptop and the other is on a miniboard-computer, the Odroid-C2. Some time ago I noticed that after each reboot I was unable to ssh into my laptop nor my Odroid, this perplexed me as I haven't changed any iptables / UFW firewall rules. Internet works, as in the browser connects just fine, but other programs which rely on open ports such as ssh, ftp server and others can't function until I reload ufw I am guessing that a network or a kernel update some time ago, maybe 4-5 weeks ? has caused this issue. Is there a way to automate this command upon restart, either before or after the login name/password screen as sometimes I like to start up one of my Ubuntu installs and just use ssh without logging in via gui.

/path/to/ufw reload
in /etc/rc.local

or iptables-persistent ??

http://bit.ly/2jJsQoI

iptables-persistent I have tried to install many times but failed, I will try the first suggestion and report back Thank you for your reply.
It did work, but after a 3 minute delay. Is that normal, rc.local kicks in a few minutes after login?

I wouldn't say minutes.
immediately after sysinit or whatever.
When the services have all had their chance to start,
/etc/r.local is last.
Runs at System-level

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/IptablesHowTo
How many rules you have? It could be "busy" if here are many.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UFW

Yeah you're correct, I am able to ssh after I log in using the port I assigned to my ssh server. Also other applications which require ports to be opened work as well.

glad t worked out!