Below is a basic template for setting up IPTables on a Linux box :
Create LOGDROP CHAIN. Add LOG and DROP to chain.
iptables -N LOGDROP iptables -A LOGDROP -j LOG --log-level 6 iptables -A LOGDROP -j DROP
Create input and output policies
iptables --policy INPUT DROP iptables --policy OUTPUT DROP
Add inbound rules
iptables -A INPUT -m state --state ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT iptables -A INPUT -p icmp --icmp-type echo-request -j ACCEPT iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport ssh -j ACCEPT iptables -A INPUT -j LOGDROP
Add outbound rules
iptables -A OUTPUT -m state --state ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT iptables -A OUTPUT -p icmp --icmp-type echo-request -j ACCEPT iptables -A OUTPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT iptables -A OUTPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT iptables -A OUTPUT -p udp --dport 53 -j ACCEPT iptables -A OUTPUT -p udp -d [syslog server ip] --dport 514 -j ACCEPT iptables -A OUTPUT -o lo -j ACCEPT iptables -A OUTPUT -j LOGDROP
Save Config
iptables-save
Rick Donato is a Network Automation Architect/Evangelist and the founder of Packet Coders.
Latest posts by Rick Donato (see all)
- NETCONF & YANG: Automate Network Configs via Python - April 2, 2026
- Palo Alto – How to Configure Your Next-Generation Firewall - April 2, 2026
- How to Harden Linux SSH: Keys, Fail2ban & Ciphers - March 1, 2026
Want to become a Linux expert ?
Here is our hand-picked selection of the best courses you can find online:
Linux Mastery course
Linux Administration Bootcamp
and our recommended certification practice exams:
Delta Practice Tests