iptables-xml

iptables-xml [OPTIONS]
Common usage patterns:
iptables-save | iptables-xml [OPTIONS] > rules.xml
iptables-xml [OPTIONS] < rules.xml | iptables-restore

-v, --verbose
    Enable verbose output. This provides more detailed information during the conversion process, which can be useful for debugging.

-h, --help
    Display a brief help message explaining the command's usage and options.

iptables-xml is a utility program within the iptables firewall suite designed to facilitate the conversion of firewall rulesets between their internal binary representation and a structured XML format. It acts as an intermediary, working in conjunction with iptables-save to export the current ruleset from the kernel into XML, and with iptables-restore to import rules from an XML file back into the kernel. This XML representation provides a more structured and machine-readable format compared to the traditional plain-text output of iptables-save.

The primary uses for iptables-xml include backing up firewall configurations, version controlling rulesets, programmatically generating or modifying firewall rules, and simplifying the deployment of complex firewall policies. It supports both IPv4 rules via iptables-xml and IPv6 rules via its counterpart, ip6tables-xml. By piping data between the save/restore commands and iptables-xml, administrators can easily manage firewall rules in a format amenable to scripting and automated processing.

iptables-xml does not directly interact with the kernel. It requires the presence and proper functioning of iptables-save and iptables-restore (or their ip6tables counterparts) to perform its conversions. The XML format generated by iptables-xml is specific to the iptables project and may not be universally compatible with generic XML parsers without understanding its schema. It acts as a conversion utility, not a standalone firewall management tool. Ensure that the XML file you are restoring from is trusted, as malformed or malicious XML could potentially create undesired firewall rules.

To save the current IPv4 firewall ruleset to an XML file:
iptables-save | iptables-xml > my_rules_ipv4.xml

To restore an IPv4 firewall ruleset from an XML file:
iptables-xml < my_rules_ipv4.xml | iptables-restore

To save the current IPv6 firewall ruleset to an XML file:
ip6tables-save | ip6tables-xml > my_rules_ipv6.xml

To restore an IPv6 firewall ruleset from an XML file:
ip6tables-xml < my_rules_ipv6.xml | ip6tables-restore

iptables-xml is specifically designed for IPv4 rules. For managing IPv6 firewall rulesets in XML format, you must use its companion command, ip6tables-xml. Both commands function identically but operate on their respective IP protocol versions.

iptables-xml has been a long-standing component of the Netfilter/iptables project, designed to provide a structured, programmatic interface to firewall rulesets beyond plain text. Its development paralleled the growth of automated system administration and the need for more robust methods of managing complex firewall configurations, enabling easier backup, restoration, and version control of rules. It represents an early effort to introduce machine-readable formats for system configurations, serving a similar purpose for firewall rules.

iptables(8), ip6tables(8), iptables-save(8), iptables-restore(8), ip6tables-save(8), ip6tables-restore(8), netfilter(7)