ebtables-translate - Linux

Overview

ebtables-translate is a powerful command-line tool used to convert/translate ebtables rules into various formats, enabling flexible network filtering and inspection. It’s particularly useful for interfacing with other security tools, kernel modules, or frameworks that utilize different ebtables syntax.

Syntax

ebtables-translate [OPTIONS]... <INPUT_FORMAT> <OUTPUT_FORMAT> <INPUT_FILE> <OUTPUT_FILE>

Options/Flags

  • -h, –help: Display usage information and exit.
  • -V, –version: Output version information and exit.
  • -e, –ext: Only apply external (user-defined) ebtables extensions.
  • -s, –stats: Translate the statistics of the rules as well.
  • -c, –compat: Perform backward-compatible translation, preserving unsupported features.
  • -i, –ignore-errors: Continue translation even if errors occur.
  • -f, –force-output: Overwrite the output file if it already exists.

Examples

Example 1: Translate ebtables rules into XML format:

ebtables-translate binary xml /path/to/input.ebt /path/to/output.xml

Example 2: Convert XML rules back into ebtables syntax:

ebtables-translate xml binary /path/to/input.xml /path/to/output.ebt

Example 3: Extract statistics from ebtables rules:

ebtables-translate binary json /path/to/input.ebt /path/to/output.json -s

Common Issues

  • Missing dependencies: Ensure you have the "libebtables" library installed.
  • Invalid syntax: Verify that the input and output formats are correct and supported.
  • Permission denied: Make sure you have write permissions for the output file.

Integration

ebtables-translate can be integrated with other security tools, such as:

  • iptables for filtering and routing at the IP tables level.
  • nftables for advanced packet filtering and traffic management.
  • netfilterqueue for direct access to network packets.

Related Commands

  • ebtables: The main ebtables command for managing filter tables.
  • iptables: A similar tool for managing firewall rules at the IP layer.
  • nftables: A more modern alternative to iptables and ebtables with enhanced features.