iptables - why do I get "Table does not exist (do you need to insmod?)"

Question

I need to install some iptable ruels to block traffic that originates from a certain country, I found this script example on http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/block-entier-country-using-iptables/ it works great on another host I have but on this one (an embedded box) I get:

./iptable_rules.sh 
modprobe: module ip_tables not found in modules.dep
iptables v1.4.16.3: can't initialize iptables table `filter': Table does not exist (do you need to insmod?)
Perhaps iptables or your kernel needs to be upgraded.

Now upgrading the kernel due to the nature of the device, is not an option. Does anyone know a way I can get around this? This system running on kernel 3.2.34

Solution

You should be able to re-compile it using something to the similar commands.

make KERNEL_DIR=/usr/src/linux
make install KERNEL_DIR=/usr/src/linux

make dep
make bzIamge
make
make install
make modules

Source: iptables: Table does not exist (do you need to insmod?)

Comments

[Bytor]

Are you running the script (and thus iptables itself) as root or as a normal user? It will complain about many similar things if you are not running it as root.

[stdcerr]

@bytor I'm running it as root, must be something else...

[Gilles 'SO- stop being evil']

Do you have the kernel configuration? If so you can compile and load the requisite module (assuming module loading hasn't been disabled).

[neuron]

try lsmod | grep ip , what do you get ?

[stdcerr]

@neuron I get nothing: # lsmod |grep ip \n# , I have to see if I can dig the kernel configuration up, it's a busybox distribution I built way back when using Buildroot

[neuron]

modprobe ip_tables; modprobe ip_conntrack; modprobe iptable_filter; modprobe ipt_state. If the modules are not loaded after this then you will have to do as @Gilles said

[larsks]

It looks like iptables simply isn't available on your embedded device.

[neuron]

Try following this article