The difference between iptable and nftables

Iptables and nftables are two powerful network security tools used in Linux systems. While they have similar functionality, there are some key differences between them that you should be aware of. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between iptables and nftables, including their features, performance, and usage scenarios.

Iptables is a traditional network firewall tool used in Linux systems to filter and control incoming and outgoing network traffic. It has been around for many years and is widely used in production environments. Iptables uses a table-based approach to manage network rules, with each rule being defined in a separate table. The tables are organized into chains, which allow you to specify the order in which rules are applied.

Here's an example of how to use iptables to block incoming traffic on port 80:

bash
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP

This command adds a rule to the INPUT chain that drops all incoming TCP traffic on port 80.

Nftables, on the other hand, is a newer network security tool that was introduced in Linux kernel version 4.13. It uses a more modern and efficient approach to managing network rules, with each rule being defined as a single entity rather than a table. Nftables also supports advanced features such as flow-based filtering and stateful inspection, which can improve performance and security.

Here's an example of how to use nftables to block incoming traffic on port 80:

bash
nftables -t mangle -A PREROUTING -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP

This command adds a rule to the PREROUTING chain that drops all incoming TCP traffic on port 80.

One of the main differences between iptables and nftables is their performance. Nftables is designed to be faster and more efficient than iptables, with better support for modern network architectures such as virtualization and containerization. This is because nftables uses a more modern data structure and algorithm for managing rules, which allows it to process traffic more quickly and efficiently.

Another difference between iptables and nftables is their usage scenarios. Iptables is primarily used in traditional network security environments, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. It is also commonly used in virtualization and containerization environments to manage network traffic between VMs or containers.

Nftables, on the other hand, is designed for modern network architectures that require advanced features such as flow-based filtering and stateful inspection. It is particularly well-suited for use in cloud environments, where large amounts of traffic need to be processed quickly and efficiently.

In addition to their performance and usage scenarios, iptables and nftables also have some differences in terms of their features and capabilities. For example, iptables supports a wider range of protocols and ports than nftables, which is why it is still widely used in traditional network security environments. Nftables, on the other hand, has better support for modern network architectures such as virtualization and containerization.

Here's an example of how to use iptables to allow incoming traffic on port 80 from a specific IP address:

bash
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.1.100 -j ACCEPT

This command adds a rule to the INPUT chain that allows incoming TCP traffic on port 80 from the IP address 192.168.1.100.

Here's an example of how to use nftables to allow incoming traffic on port 80 from a specific IP address:

bash
nftables -t mangle -A PREROUTING -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.1.100 -j ACCEPT

This command adds a rule to the PREROUTING chain that allows incoming TCP traffic on port 80 from the IP address 192.168.1.100.

In conclusion, iptables and nftables are two powerful network security tools with some key differences