Ubuntu – How to fix the iptables error message “unable to initialize table ‘filter’”

9.10iptablesserver

When I try to use iptables command on one of my Rackspace cloud server, I'm getting the following error.

In an attempt to apply iptables rules with iptables-apply -t 120 /etc/iptables.rules and iptables-restore < /etc/iptables.rules I got the next error:

FATAL: Could not load /lib/modules/2.6.32.4-rscloud/modules.dep: No such file or directory
iptables-restore v1.4.4: iptables-restore: unable to initialize table 'filter'

Error occurred at line: 2
Try `iptables-restore -h' or 'iptables-restore --help' for more information.

How do I fix this?

EDIT 1:

uname -r :

2.6.32.4-rscloud

modprobe /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/iptable_filter.ko :

FATAL: Could not load /lib/modules/2.6.32.4-rscloud/modules.dep: No such file or directory

ls /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/ :

ls: cannot access /lib/modules/2.6.32.4-rscloud/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/: No such file or directory

EDIT 2:

apt-cache search linux-image-* :

alsa-base - ALSA driver configuration files
linux-image-2.6.31-14-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-14-server - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-14-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-302-ec2 - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-9-rt - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on Ingo Molnar's full real time preemption patch
linux-image-rt - Rt Linux kernel image
rt2400-source - source for rt2400 wireless network driver
rt2500-source - source for rt2500 wireless network driver
rt2570-source - source for rt2570 wireless network driver
linux-image - Generic Linux kernel image.
linux-image-2.6.31-15-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-15-server - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-15-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-16-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-16-server - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-16-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-17-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-17-server - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-17-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-19-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-19-server - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-19-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-20-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-20-server - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-20-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-21-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-21-server - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-21-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-304-ec2 - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-305-ec2 - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-306-ec2 - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-ec2 - Linux kernel image for ec2 machines
linux-image-generic - Generic Linux kernel image
linux-image-server - Linux kernel image on Server Equipment.
linux-image-virtual - Linux kernel image for virtual machines
linux-image-2.6.31-22-generic - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-22-server - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-22-virtual - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64
linux-image-2.6.31-307-ec2 - Linux kernel image for version 2.6.31 on x86/x86_64

Best Answer

You need to load a kernel module for enabling the filter table. Run the next command as root:

modprobe /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/iptable_filter.ko

(uname -r gives the current kernel version)

For a list of available modules for iptables, list the directory containing iptables modules:

ls /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/

To get information on all modules:

modinfo /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/*.ko
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