'service iptables save' command is not working in RHEL7 while it worked on RHEL6. Is there any other method to save the current iptables rules?

Environment

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
• iptables

Issue

• When I execute the service iptables save command on my RHEL7 node, it says the following :-

[root@rhel7]# service iptables save
The service command supports only basic LSB actions (start, stop, restart, try-restart, reload, force-reload, status). For other actions, please try to use systemctl.

• I would like to save the current iptables rules to some file. Whats the easiest way?

Resolution

• Execute the below command :-

[root@rhel7]# yum install iptables-services

• Now save the current iptables rules, the rules will be saved in /etc/sysconfig/iptables :-

[root@rhel7]# service iptables save

• If it is desired to reload OR restart the iptables after modifying any rule , one may execute the below command :-

[root@rhel7]# service iptables restart
Redirecting to /bin/systemctl restart  iptables.service

Diagnostic Steps

• Below is the realtime illustration :-

[root@rhel7]# service iptables save
The service command supports only basic LSB actions (start, stop, restart, try-restart, reload, force-reload, status). For other actions, please try to use systemctl.

[root@rhel7]# yum install iptables-services
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, subscription-manager
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package iptables-services.x86_64 0:1.4.21-13.el7 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

=========================================================================================================
 Package                                 Arch                         Version                              Repository                                    Size
=========================================================================================================
Installing:
 iptables-services                       x86_64                       1.4.21-13.el7                        rhel-7-server-eus-rpms                        49 k

Transaction Summary
=========================================================================================================
Install  1 Package

Total download size: 49 k
Installed size: 23 k
Is this ok [y/d/N]: y
Downloading packages:
iptables-services-1.4.21-13.el7.x86_64.rpm                                                                                             |  49 kB  00:00:02     
Running transaction check
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded
Running transaction
  Installing : iptables-services-1.4.21-13.el7.x86_64                                                                                                     1/1 
  Verifying  : iptables-services-1.4.21-13.el7.x86_64                                                                                                     1/1 

Installed:
  iptables-services.x86_64 0:1.4.21-13.el7                                                                                                                    

Complete!
[root@rhel7]# service iptables save
iptables: Saving firewall rules to /etc/sysconfig/iptables:[  OK  ]

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