NAME

       iptables-optimizer  -  optimize  iptables filter-chains in kernel depending on their usage
       counters

SYNOPSIS

       iptables-optimizer [-a] [-c] [-h] [-v[v]] [-w]

DESCRIPTION

       iptables-optimizer is used to sort iptables-rules in  relation  to  the  values  of  their
       packet-counters. And of course, administrators artwork is untouched.  Sorting only happens
       in consecutive blocks of accept or drop statements, never across their borders.  Therefore
       these blocks are called partitions and so they behave.

       iptables-optimizer  is  shipped  in  three files, a shell wrapper, functions to be sourced
       from it and a python exec. The sourced functions were neccessary because of  testing  them
       with  shunit2,  thanks to Karen Ward for this wonderful tool. The wrapper is my tribute to
       the changing function of python subprocess in different default python versions over  some
       Debian releases.

       It runs in four steps, working directory is /var/run, id=0 is neccessary:

       1.)  /var/cache/iptables-optimizer/auto-apply  is  checked for read and exec flags. If so,
       the file is used as input on running  iptables-restore,  afterwards  it  is  renamed.  The
       renaming  follows  up  a simple datetime strategy, this action is logged as well. Thats my
       way of firing new rules into the machine.  They are copied using scp and after that marked
       as executable with chmod through ssh.

       2)  iptables-save -t filter -c > iptables-optimizer-save-output 2>iptables-optimizer-save-
       errors

       3)   iptables_optimizer.py    iptables-optimizer-save-output    >iptables-optimizer-output
       2>iptables-optimizer-partitions

       4)  iptables-restore  [  -c  ]  iptables-optimizer-output  >iptables-optimizer-restore-out
       2>iptables-optimizer-restore-err

       Of course, you might want to run it by cron every now and then.

OPTIONS

       -a     If  given,  it   prevents   the   iptables-optimizer   from   handling   the   file
              /var/cache/iptables-optimizer/auto-apply

       -c     This  option  will  prevent  iptables-optimizer  to  reset  paket/byte  counters on
              restoring the tables, i.e these counters will be reloaded with  the  sorted  rules.
              Intention  is  to support long term debugging sessions, because the position of the
              rules to be obeyed will be more stable.

       -h     Shows a brief help message about valid optional arguments and exits 1

       -v     Verbose logging, i.e. reporting the steps and the number of rules. If given  twice,
              the number of moves and the partitions as well.

       -w     reports INPUT and OUTPUT chain only, useful on non forwarding machines.

FILES

       /var/cache/iptables-optimizer  keeps  all  the  new  rulesets,  incomig  new auto-apply is
       renamed to f.e.  auto-apply-20140818-091958 and kept there. Feel free to  clean  up  these
       files or keep them as you like it.


       /var/run keeps the temporary files, their names all are beginning with iptables-optimizer-

LOG

       The  handling  of an executable file auto-apply is reported always. At least start and end
       of every program run is reported via syslog. Single verbose flag shows the three steps and
       the corresponding number of iptables commands. Two verbose flags additionally will show up
       the count of moves and the partitions of the chains.

EXIT STATUS

       iptables-optimizer usually returns a value of 0. Accidentially in case of error,  f.e.  if
       the iptables-restore fails, it returns the triggering error.

COMPATIBILITY

       iptables-optimizer  should  be compatible to any iptables implementations out in the wild.
       If not, keep me informed, thanks. I'll do my very best.

HISTORY

       iptables-optimizer has grown from first ideas over some  more  than  two  years  and  many
       errors to a productive state. First tries to use subproces within the python soon led into
       problems using different python versions on different debian releases. So these tasks were
       done on shell level, python testing and shell testing improved the solution.

SEE ALSO

       iptables(8) iptables-save(8) iptables-restore(8)

LICENSE

       GNU General Public License version 3 or any newer version applies to iptables-optimizer.

AUTHOR

       Johannes  Hubertz  <johannes@hubertz.de>  wrote this in 2012 - 2016.  Anytime comments are
       welcome.