Re: iptables-1.8.12 systemctl errors- BLFS 13.0

"rhubarbpieguy" ([email protected] via blfs-support Mailing List) <[email protected]> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:22:18 -0500
Newsgroups gmane.linux.lfs.beyond.support
Message-ID <[email protected]>
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On 4/13/26 4:50 PM, Bruce Dubbs ([email protected] via blfs-support 
Mailing List) wrote:
> On 4/13/26 4:17 PM, rhubarbpieguy ([email protected] via 
> blfs-support Mailing List) wrote:
>>
>> On 4/12/26 8:51 PM, Bruce Dubbs ([email protected] via 
>> blfs-support Mailing List) wrote:
>>> On 4/12/26 4:16 PM, rhubarbpieguy ([email protected] via 
>>> blfs-support Mailing List) wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I see the following systemctl iptables errors:
>>>>
>>>> × iptables.service - Load Iptables Rules
>>>>       Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/iptables.service; 
>>>> enabled; preset: enabled)
>>>>       Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Fri 2026-04-10 
>>>> 12:20:25 CDT; 11min ago
>>>>   Invocation: ba482abfd6a947f793bc2c161eca712a
>>>>      Process: 351 ExecStart=/etc/systemd/scripts/iptables 
>>>> (code=exited, status=3)
>>>>     Mem peak: 5.3M
>>>>          CPU: 35ms
>>>>
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[373]: Perhaps iptables or your kernel 
>>>> needs to be upgraded.
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[380]: modprobe: ERROR: could not 
>>>> insert 'ip_tables': Exec format error
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[375]: iptables v1.8.12 (legacy): can't 
>>>> initialize iptables table `filter': Table does not exist (do you 
>>>> need to insmod?)
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[375]: Perhaps iptables or your kernel 
>>>> needs to be upgraded.
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[383]: modprobe: ERROR: could not 
>>>> insert 'ip_tables': Exec format error
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[381]: iptables v1.8.12 (legacy): can't 
>>>> initialize iptables table `filter': Table does not exist (do you 
>>>> need to insmod?)
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[381]: Perhaps iptables or your kernel 
>>>> needs to be upgraded.
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs systemd[1]: iptables.service: Control process 
>>>> exited, code=exited, status=3/NOTIMPLEMENTED
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs systemd[1]: iptables.service: Failed with 
>>>> result 'exit-code'.
>>>> Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs systemd[1]: Failed to start Load Iptables Rules.
>>>>
>>>> I compiled iptables-1.8.12 and built all kernel options (including 
>>>> legacy) shown in the documentation.  I'm using the Personal 
>>>> Firewall and see the /etc/systemd/ scripts/ iptables script.
>>>
>>> Did you build the kernel options as modules or did you build them 
>>> into the kernel?
>>> You have two modprobe errors.  If you built modules, did you do the 
>>> kernel 'modules_install' command?  If you built the modules into the 
>>> kernel then you need to remove/comment out the modprobe commands in 
>>> the /etc/systemd/scripts/iptables file.
>>>
>>>   -- Bruce
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> I ran make modules_install and /lib/modules ... is populated.  I have 
>> the following lines in /etc/systemd/scripts/iptables:
>>
>> #modprobe nf_conntrack
>> modprobe xt_LOG
>>
>> My .config shows:
>>
>> CONFIG_NET=y
>> CONFIG_NETFILTER=y
>> CONFIG_NETFILTER_ADVANCED=y
>> CONFIG_NF_CONNTRACK=y
>> CONFIG_NETFILTER_XTABLES=y
>> CONFIG_NETFILTER_XTABLES_LEGACY=y
>> CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_LOG=m
>> CONFIG_IP_NF_IPTABLES=y
>> CONFIG_IP_NF_NAT=m
>>
>> And in addition to the errors shown with 'systemctl status 
>> iptables.service -l' I see unknown symbol errors with journalctl:
>>
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[357]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[359]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[361]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[363]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[365]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[367]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[369]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[371]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[373]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[379]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>> Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[382]: modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 
>> 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
>>
>> I should mention I believe iptables is working as I test with a 3rd 
>> party site and the test passes.
>
> If iptables is working you can just check with 'sudo iptables -L'
>
> In that case we need to figure out what is going on with systemd. In 
> sysV what we are doing is just running a script at 
> /etc/rc.d/rc.iptables.  In systemd it should just be running the same 
> script located at /etc/systemd/scripts/iptables
>
> The systemd service file should be:
>
> $ cat ./system/iptables.service
> [Unit]
> Description=Load Iptables Rules
> ConditionFileIsExecutable=/etc/systemd/scripts/iptables
> After=network.target
>
> [Service]
> Type=forking
> ExecStart=/etc/systemd/scripts/iptables
> TimeoutSec=0
> RemainAfterExit=yes
>
> [Install]
> WantedBy=multi-user.target
>
> So really it should just be running that script.
>
>   -- Bruce
>
>
I have a clarification as I was quite unclear.  Iptables is working on 
my old box with 12.4-699 using the same iptables and kernel options.  I 
was trying to identify variables but did nothing but muddy the waters.  
Iptables is not working with 13.0 on my new box.  But I don't mean to 
imply there's a problem with 13.0.  I'm sure the problem is something 
I've done wrong.

I see the same output you listed for /usr/lib/systemd/iptables.service.

'iptables -L shows:

modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, 
or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
iptables v1.8.12 (legacy): can't initialize iptables table `filter': 
Table does not exist (do you need to insmod?)
Perhaps iptables or your kernel needs to be upgraded.

As I see unknown xt_ symbols and module references I thought I'd try 
building Netfilter xtables support as a module.  It's probably nothing 
but I noticed I have no such option although the documentation says 
otherwise.

The documentation lists: <*/M> Netfilter Xtables support (required for 
ip_tables).  However, my menuconfig lists:  -*- Netfilter Xtables 
support (required for ip_tables).



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    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/13/26 4:50 PM, Bruce Dubbs (<a
        class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated moz-txt-link-freetext"
        href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
      via blfs-support Mailing List) wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
      cite="mid:[email protected]">On
      4/13/26 4:17 PM, rhubarbpieguy (<a
        class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated moz-txt-link-freetext"
        href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
      via blfs-support Mailing List) wrote: <br>
      <blockquote type="cite"> <br>
        On 4/12/26 8:51 PM, Bruce Dubbs (<a
          class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated moz-txt-link-freetext"
          href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
        via blfs-support Mailing List) wrote: <br>
        <blockquote type="cite">On 4/12/26 4:16 PM, rhubarbpieguy (<a
            class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated moz-txt-link-freetext"
            href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
          via blfs-support Mailing List) wrote: <br>
          <blockquote type="cite"> <br>
            I see the following systemctl iptables errors: <br>
            <br>
            × iptables.service - Load Iptables Rules <br>
                  Loaded: loaded
            (/usr/lib/systemd/system/iptables.service; enabled; preset:
            enabled) <br>
                  Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Fri
            2026-04-10 12:20:25 CDT; 11min ago <br>
              Invocation: ba482abfd6a947f793bc2c161eca712a <br>
                 Process: 351 ExecStart=/etc/systemd/scripts/iptables
            (code=exited, status=3) <br>
                Mem peak: 5.3M <br>
                     CPU: 35ms <br>
            <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[373]: Perhaps iptables or your
            kernel needs to be upgraded. <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[380]: modprobe: ERROR: could
            not insert 'ip_tables': Exec format error <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[375]: iptables v1.8.12
            (legacy): can't initialize iptables table `filter': Table
            does not exist (do you need to insmod?) <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[375]: Perhaps iptables or your
            kernel needs to be upgraded. <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[383]: modprobe: ERROR: could
            not insert 'ip_tables': Exec format error <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[381]: iptables v1.8.12
            (legacy): can't initialize iptables table `filter': Table
            does not exist (do you need to insmod?) <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs iptables[381]: Perhaps iptables or your
            kernel needs to be upgraded. <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs systemd[1]: iptables.service: Control
            process exited, code=exited, status=3/NOTIMPLEMENTED <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs systemd[1]: iptables.service: Failed
            with result 'exit-code'. <br>
            Apr 10 12:20:25 lfs systemd[1]: Failed to start Load
            Iptables Rules. <br>
            <br>
            I compiled iptables-1.8.12 and built all kernel options
            (including legacy) shown in the documentation.  I'm using
            the Personal Firewall and see the /etc/systemd/ scripts/
            iptables script. <br>
          </blockquote>
          <br>
          Did you build the kernel options as modules or did you build
          them into the kernel? <br>
          You have two modprobe errors.  If you built modules, did you
          do the kernel 'modules_install' command?  If you built the
          modules into the kernel then you need to remove/comment out
          the modprobe commands in the /etc/systemd/scripts/iptables
          file. <br>
          <br>
            -- Bruce <br>
          <br>
          <br>
          <br>
        </blockquote>
        I ran make modules_install and /lib/modules ... is populated.  I
        have the following lines in /etc/systemd/scripts/iptables: <br>
        <br>
        #modprobe nf_conntrack <br>
        modprobe xt_LOG <br>
        <br>
        My .config shows: <br>
        <br>
        CONFIG_NET=y <br>
        CONFIG_NETFILTER=y <br>
        CONFIG_NETFILTER_ADVANCED=y <br>
        CONFIG_NF_CONNTRACK=y <br>
        CONFIG_NETFILTER_XTABLES=y <br>
        CONFIG_NETFILTER_XTABLES_LEGACY=y <br>
        CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_LOG=m <br>
        CONFIG_IP_NF_IPTABLES=y <br>
        CONFIG_IP_NF_NAT=m <br>
        <br>
        And in addition to the errors shown with 'systemctl status
        iptables.service -l' I see unknown symbol errors with
        journalctl: <br>
        <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[357]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[359]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[361]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[363]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[365]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[367]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[369]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[371]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[373]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[379]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        Apr 13 15:47:08 lfs iptables[382]: modprobe: ERROR: could not
        insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in module, or unknown
        parameter (see dmesg) <br>
        <br>
        I should mention I believe iptables is working as I test with a
        3rd party site and the test passes. <br>
      </blockquote>
      <br>
      If iptables is working you can just check with 'sudo iptables -L'
      <br>
      <br>
      In that case we need to figure out what is going on with systemd. 
      In sysV what we are doing is just running a script at
      /etc/rc.d/rc.iptables.  In systemd it should just be running the
      same script located at /etc/systemd/scripts/iptables <br>
      <br>
      The systemd service file should be: <br>
      <br>
      $ cat ./system/iptables.service <br>
      [Unit] <br>
      Description=Load Iptables Rules <br>
      ConditionFileIsExecutable=/etc/systemd/scripts/iptables <br>
      After=network.target <br>
      <br>
      [Service] <br>
      Type=forking <br>
      ExecStart=/etc/systemd/scripts/iptables <br>
      TimeoutSec=0 <br>
      RemainAfterExit=yes <br>
      <br>
      [Install] <br>
      WantedBy=multi-user.target <br>
      <br>
      So really it should just be running that script. <br>
      <br>
        -- Bruce <br>
      <br>
      <br>
    </blockquote>
    <p>I have a clarification as I was quite unclear.  Iptables is
      working on my old box with 12.4-699 using the same iptables and
      kernel options.  I was trying to identify variables but did
      nothing but muddy the waters.  Iptables is not working with 13.0
      on my new box.  But I don't mean to imply there's a problem with
      13.0.  I'm sure the problem is something I've done wrong.</p>
    <p>I see the same output you listed for
      /usr/lib/systemd/iptables.service.</p>
    <p>'iptables -L shows:</p>
    <p>modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'ip_tables': Unknown symbol in
      module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)<br>
      iptables v1.8.12 (legacy): can't initialize iptables table
      `filter': Table does not exist (do you need to insmod?)<br>
      Perhaps iptables or your kernel needs to be upgraded.</p>
    <p>As I see unknown xt_ symbols and module references I thought I'd
      try building Netfilter xtables support as a module.  It's probably
      nothing but I noticed I have no such option although the
      documentation says otherwise.</p>
    <p>The documentation lists: &lt;*/M&gt; Netfilter Xtables support
      (required for ip_tables).  However, my menuconfig lists:  -*-
      Netfilter Xtables support (required for ip_tables).</p>
    <p><br>
    </p>
    <p>
      <style type="text/css">pre { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Liberation Mono", monospace; background: transparent }p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; background: transparent }</style></p>
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