feat: add native firewalld support (#1388)

## Summary

- Add native firewalld support for RHEL/Fedora/CentOS systems
- When firewalld is active, use `firewall-cmd --permanent` instead of
raw iptables
- Rules persist across `firewall-cmd --reload`
- Fall back to iptables when firewalld is not active
- Add `After=firewalld.service` to iptables systemd unit for safety

## Changes

**Install:** Detect firewalld, use `firewall-cmd` to add port,
masquerade, and rich rules. Fall back to iptables if inactive.

**Uninstall:** Detect which method was used and clean up accordingly.

**Tests:** Add `fedora-42-firewalld` CI test with firewalld enabled.

---

Closes https://github.com/angristan/openvpn-install/issues/356
Closes https://github.com/angristan/openvpn-install/pull/1200

.github/workflows/docker-test.yml

@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@ jobs:
               name: tls-auth
               sig: "3"
               key_file: tls-auth.key
+          # Test firewalld support on Fedora
+          - os:
+              name: fedora-42-firewalld
+              image: fedora:42
+              enable_firewalld: true
+            tls:
+              name: tls-crypt-v2
+              sig: "1"
+              key_file: tls-crypt-v2.key
 
     name: ${{ matrix.os.name }}
     steps:
@@ -103,6 +112,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           docker build \
             --build-arg BASE_IMAGE=${{ matrix.os.image }} \
+            --build-arg ENABLE_FIREWALLD=${{ matrix.os.enable_firewalld && 'y' || 'n' }} \
             -t openvpn-server \
             -f test/Dockerfile.server .
 

FAQ.md

@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ If your client is <2.3.3, remove `tls-version-min 1.2` from your `/etc/openvpn/s
 
 ---
 
-**Q:** What syctl and iptables changes are made by the script?
+**Q:** What sysctl and firewall changes are made by the script?
 
-**A:** Iptables rules are saved at `/etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh` and `/etc/iptables/rm-openvpn-rules.sh`. They are managed by the service `/etc/systemd/system/iptables-openvpn.service`
+**A:** If firewalld is active, the script uses `firewall-cmd --permanent` to configure port, masquerade, and rich rules. Otherwise, iptables rules are saved at `/etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh` and `/etc/iptables/rm-openvpn-rules.sh`, managed by `/etc/systemd/system/iptables-openvpn.service`.
 
 Sysctl options are at `/etc/sysctl.d/99-openvpn.conf`
 

README.md

@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ export CLIENTNUMBER="1"  # Revokes the first client in the list
 - Installs and configures a ready-to-use OpenVPN server
 - Certificate renewal for both client and server certificates
 - Uses [official OpenVPN repositories](https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/OpenvpnSoftwareRepos) when possible for the latest stable releases
-- Iptables rules and forwarding managed in a seamless way
+- Firewall rules and forwarding managed seamlessly (native firewalld support, iptables fallback)
-- If needed, the script can cleanly remove OpenVPN, including configuration and iptables rules
+- If needed, the script can cleanly remove OpenVPN, including configuration and firewall rules
 - Customisable encryption settings, enhanced default settings (see [Security and Encryption](#security-and-encryption) below)
 - OpenVPN 2.4 features, mainly encryption improvements (see [Security and Encryption](#security-and-encryption) below)
 - Variety of DNS resolvers to be pushed to the clients

openvpn-install.sh

@@ -1419,48 +1419,66 @@ verb 3" >>/etc/openvpn/server/server.conf
 		installUnbound
 	fi
 
-	# Add iptables rules in two scripts
+	# Configure firewall rules
 	log_info "Configuring firewall rules..."
-	run_cmd_fatal "Creating iptables directory" mkdir -p /etc/iptables
 
-	# Script to add rules
+	if systemctl is-active --quiet firewalld; then
-	echo "#!/bin/sh
+		# Use firewalld native commands for systems with firewalld active
+		log_info "firewalld detected, using firewall-cmd..."
+		run_cmd "Adding OpenVPN port to firewalld" firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port="$PORT/$PROTOCOL"
+		run_cmd "Adding masquerade to firewalld" firewall-cmd --permanent --add-masquerade
+
+		# Add rich rules for VPN traffic (source-based rules work reliably with dynamic tun0 interface)
+		run_cmd "Adding VPN subnet rule" firewall-cmd --permanent --add-rich-rule='rule family="ipv4" source address="10.8.0.0/24" accept'
+
+		if [[ $IPV6_SUPPORT == 'y' ]]; then
+			run_cmd "Adding IPv6 source rule" firewall-cmd --permanent --add-rich-rule='rule family="ipv6" source address="fd42:42:42:42::/112" accept'
+		fi
+
+		run_cmd "Reloading firewalld" firewall-cmd --reload
+	else
+		# Use iptables for systems without firewalld
+		run_cmd_fatal "Creating iptables directory" mkdir -p /etc/iptables
+
+		# Script to add rules
+		echo "#!/bin/sh
 iptables -t nat -I POSTROUTING 1 -s 10.8.0.0/24 -o $NIC -j MASQUERADE
 iptables -I INPUT 1 -i tun0 -j ACCEPT
 iptables -I FORWARD 1 -i $NIC -o tun0 -j ACCEPT
 iptables -I FORWARD 1 -i tun0 -o $NIC -j ACCEPT
 iptables -I INPUT 1 -i $NIC -p $PROTOCOL --dport $PORT -j ACCEPT" >/etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh
 
-	if [[ $IPV6_SUPPORT == 'y' ]]; then
+		if [[ $IPV6_SUPPORT == 'y' ]]; then
-		echo "ip6tables -t nat -I POSTROUTING 1 -s fd42:42:42:42::/112 -o $NIC -j MASQUERADE
+			echo "ip6tables -t nat -I POSTROUTING 1 -s fd42:42:42:42::/112 -o $NIC -j MASQUERADE
 ip6tables -I INPUT 1 -i tun0 -j ACCEPT
 ip6tables -I FORWARD 1 -i $NIC -o tun0 -j ACCEPT
 ip6tables -I FORWARD 1 -i tun0 -o $NIC -j ACCEPT
 ip6tables -I INPUT 1 -i $NIC -p $PROTOCOL --dport $PORT -j ACCEPT" >>/etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh
-	fi
+		fi
 
-	# Script to remove rules
+		# Script to remove rules
-	echo "#!/bin/sh
+		echo "#!/bin/sh
 iptables -t nat -D POSTROUTING -s 10.8.0.0/24 -o $NIC -j MASQUERADE
 iptables -D INPUT -i tun0 -j ACCEPT
 iptables -D FORWARD -i $NIC -o tun0 -j ACCEPT
 iptables -D FORWARD -i tun0 -o $NIC -j ACCEPT
 iptables -D INPUT -i $NIC -p $PROTOCOL --dport $PORT -j ACCEPT" >/etc/iptables/rm-openvpn-rules.sh
 
-	if [[ $IPV6_SUPPORT == 'y' ]]; then
+		if [[ $IPV6_SUPPORT == 'y' ]]; then
-		echo "ip6tables -t nat -D POSTROUTING -s fd42:42:42:42::/112 -o $NIC -j MASQUERADE
+			echo "ip6tables -t nat -D POSTROUTING -s fd42:42:42:42::/112 -o $NIC -j MASQUERADE
 ip6tables -D INPUT -i tun0 -j ACCEPT
 ip6tables -D FORWARD -i $NIC -o tun0 -j ACCEPT
 ip6tables -D FORWARD -i tun0 -o $NIC -j ACCEPT
 ip6tables -D INPUT -i $NIC -p $PROTOCOL --dport $PORT -j ACCEPT" >>/etc/iptables/rm-openvpn-rules.sh
-	fi
+		fi
 
-	run_cmd "Making add-openvpn-rules.sh executable" chmod +x /etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh
+		run_cmd "Making add-openvpn-rules.sh executable" chmod +x /etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh
-	run_cmd "Making rm-openvpn-rules.sh executable" chmod +x /etc/iptables/rm-openvpn-rules.sh
+		run_cmd "Making rm-openvpn-rules.sh executable" chmod +x /etc/iptables/rm-openvpn-rules.sh
 
-	# Handle the rules via a systemd script
+		# Handle the rules via a systemd script
-	echo "[Unit]
+		echo "[Unit]
 Description=iptables rules for OpenVPN
+After=firewalld.service
 Before=network-online.target
 Wants=network-online.target
 
@@ -1473,10 +1491,11 @@ RemainAfterExit=yes
 [Install]
 WantedBy=multi-user.target" >/etc/systemd/system/iptables-openvpn.service
 
-	# Enable service and apply rules
+		# Enable service and apply rules
-	run_cmd "Reloading systemd" systemctl daemon-reload
+		run_cmd "Reloading systemd" systemctl daemon-reload
-	run_cmd "Enabling iptables service" systemctl enable iptables-openvpn
+		run_cmd "Enabling iptables service" systemctl enable iptables-openvpn
-	run_cmd "Starting iptables service" systemctl start iptables-openvpn
+		run_cmd "Starting iptables service" systemctl start iptables-openvpn
+	fi
 
 	# If the server is behind a NAT, use the correct IP address for the clients to connect to
 	if [[ $ENDPOINT != "" ]]; then
@@ -2057,15 +2076,24 @@ function removeOpenVPN() {
 		# Remove customised service
 		run_cmd "Removing service file" rm -f /etc/systemd/system/openvpn-server@.service
 
-		# Remove the iptables rules related to the script
+		# Remove firewall rules
-		log_info "Removing iptables rules..."
+		log_info "Removing firewall rules..."
-		run_cmd "Stopping iptables service" systemctl stop iptables-openvpn
+		if systemctl is-active --quiet firewalld && firewall-cmd --list-ports | grep -q "$PORT/$PROTOCOL"; then
-		# Cleanup
+			# firewalld was used
-		run_cmd "Disabling iptables service" systemctl disable iptables-openvpn
+			run_cmd "Removing OpenVPN port from firewalld" firewall-cmd --permanent --remove-port="$PORT/$PROTOCOL"
-		run_cmd "Removing iptables service file" rm /etc/systemd/system/iptables-openvpn.service
+			run_cmd "Removing masquerade from firewalld" firewall-cmd --permanent --remove-masquerade
-		run_cmd "Reloading systemd" systemctl daemon-reload
+			run_cmd "Removing VPN subnet rule" firewall-cmd --permanent --remove-rich-rule='rule family="ipv4" source address="10.8.0.0/24" accept' 2>/dev/null || true
-		run_cmd "Removing iptables add script" rm /etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh
+			run_cmd "Removing IPv6 source rule" firewall-cmd --permanent --remove-rich-rule='rule family="ipv6" source address="fd42:42:42:42::/112" accept' 2>/dev/null || true
-		run_cmd "Removing iptables rm script" rm /etc/iptables/rm-openvpn-rules.sh
+			run_cmd "Reloading firewalld" firewall-cmd --reload
+		elif [[ -f /etc/systemd/system/iptables-openvpn.service ]]; then
+			# iptables was used
+			run_cmd "Stopping iptables service" systemctl stop iptables-openvpn
+			run_cmd "Disabling iptables service" systemctl disable iptables-openvpn
+			run_cmd "Removing iptables service file" rm /etc/systemd/system/iptables-openvpn.service
+			run_cmd "Reloading systemd" systemctl daemon-reload
+			run_cmd "Removing iptables add script" rm -f /etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh
+			run_cmd "Removing iptables rm script" rm -f /etc/iptables/rm-openvpn-rules.sh
+		fi
 
 		# SELinux
 		if hash sestatus 2>/dev/null; then

test/Dockerfile.server

@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ ARG BASE_IMAGE=ubuntu:24.04
 FROM ${BASE_IMAGE}
 
 ARG BASE_IMAGE
+# Set to "y" to install and enable firewalld for testing
+ARG ENABLE_FIREWALLD=n
 ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+ENV ENABLE_FIREWALLD=${ENABLE_FIREWALLD}
 
 # Install basic dependencies based on the OS
 # dnsutils/bind-utils provides dig for DNS testing with Unbound
@@ -16,10 +19,12 @@ RUN if command -v apt-get >/dev/null; then \
     elif command -v dnf >/dev/null; then \
         dnf install -y --allowerasing \
             iproute iptables curl procps-ng systemd tar gzip bind-utils \
+        && if [ "$ENABLE_FIREWALLD" = "y" ]; then dnf install -y firewalld; fi \
         && dnf clean all; \
     elif command -v yum >/dev/null; then \
         yum install -y \
             iproute iptables curl procps-ng systemd tar gzip bind-utils \
+        && if [ "$ENABLE_FIREWALLD" = "y" ]; then yum install -y firewalld; fi \
         && yum clean all; \
     elif command -v pacman >/dev/null; then \
         pacman -Syu --noconfirm \
@@ -31,6 +36,11 @@ RUN if command -v apt-get >/dev/null; then \
         && zypper clean -a; \
     fi
 
+# Enable firewalld if requested (must be done after systemd is available)
+RUN if [ "$ENABLE_FIREWALLD" = "y" ] && command -v firewall-cmd >/dev/null; then \
+        systemctl enable firewalld; \
+    fi
+
 # Create TUN device (will be mounted at runtime)
 RUN mkdir -p /dev/net
 

test/server-entrypoint.sh

@@ -77,15 +77,22 @@ fi
 # Verify all expected files were created
 echo "Verifying installation..."
 MISSING_FILES=0
-for f in \
+# Build list of required files
-	/etc/openvpn/server/server.conf \
+REQUIRED_FILES=(
-	/etc/openvpn/server/ca.crt \
+	/etc/openvpn/server/server.conf
-	/etc/openvpn/server/ca.key \
+	/etc/openvpn/server/ca.crt
-	"/etc/openvpn/server/$TLS_KEY_FILE" \
+	/etc/openvpn/server/ca.key
-	/etc/openvpn/server/crl.pem \
+	"/etc/openvpn/server/$TLS_KEY_FILE"
-	/etc/openvpn/server/easy-rsa/pki/ca.crt \
+	/etc/openvpn/server/crl.pem
-	/etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh \
+	/etc/openvpn/server/easy-rsa/pki/ca.crt
-	/root/testclient.ovpn; do
+	/root/testclient.ovpn
+)
+# Only check for iptables script if firewalld is not active
+if ! systemctl is-active --quiet firewalld; then
+	REQUIRED_FILES+=(/etc/iptables/add-openvpn-rules.sh)
+fi
+
+for f in "${REQUIRED_FILES[@]}"; do
 	if [ ! -f "$f" ]; then
 		echo "ERROR: Missing file: $f"
 		MISSING_FILES=$((MISSING_FILES + 1))
@@ -380,21 +387,58 @@ echo ""
 # Verify OpenVPN server (started by systemd via install script)
 echo "Verifying OpenVPN server..."
 
-# Verify iptables NAT rules exist (applied by iptables-openvpn service)
+# Verify firewall rules exist
-echo "Verifying iptables NAT rules..."
+echo "Verifying firewall rules..."
-for _ in $(seq 1 10); do
+if systemctl is-active --quiet firewalld; then
-	if iptables -t nat -L POSTROUTING -n | grep -q "10.8.0.0"; then
+	# firewalld is active - verify masquerade is enabled
-		echo "PASS: NAT POSTROUTING rule for 10.8.0.0/24 exists"
+	echo "firewalld detected, checking masquerade..."
-		break
+	for _ in $(seq 1 10); do
+		if firewall-cmd --query-masquerade 2>/dev/null; then
+			echo "PASS: firewalld masquerade is enabled"
+			break
+		fi
+		sleep 1
+	done
+	if ! firewall-cmd --query-masquerade 2>/dev/null; then
+		echo "FAIL: firewalld masquerade is not enabled"
+		echo "Current firewalld config:"
+		firewall-cmd --list-all 2>&1 || true
+		exit 1
+	fi
+	# Verify port is open
+	if firewall-cmd --list-ports | grep -q "1194/udp"; then
+		echo "PASS: OpenVPN port is open in firewalld"
+	else
+		echo "FAIL: OpenVPN port not found in firewalld"
+		firewall-cmd --list-ports
+		exit 1
+	fi
+	# Verify VPN subnet rich rule exists
+	if firewall-cmd --list-rich-rules | grep -q 'source address="10.8.0.0/24"'; then
+		echo "PASS: VPN subnet rich rule is configured"
+	else
+		echo "FAIL: VPN subnet rich rule not found in firewalld"
+		echo "Current rich rules:"
+		firewall-cmd --list-rich-rules
+		exit 1
+	fi
+else
+	# iptables mode - verify NAT rules
+	echo "iptables mode, checking NAT rules..."
+	for _ in $(seq 1 10); do
+		if iptables -t nat -L POSTROUTING -n | grep -q "10.8.0.0"; then
+			echo "PASS: NAT POSTROUTING rule for 10.8.0.0/24 exists"
+			break
+		fi
+		sleep 1
+	done
+	if ! iptables -t nat -L POSTROUTING -n | grep -q "10.8.0.0"; then
+		echo "FAIL: NAT POSTROUTING rule for 10.8.0.0/24 not found"
+		echo "Current NAT rules:"
+		iptables -t nat -L POSTROUTING -n -v
+		systemctl status iptables-openvpn 2>&1 || true
+		exit 1
 	fi
-	sleep 1
-done
-if ! iptables -t nat -L POSTROUTING -n | grep -q "10.8.0.0"; then
-	echo "FAIL: NAT POSTROUTING rule for 10.8.0.0/24 not found"
-	echo "Current NAT rules:"
-	iptables -t nat -L POSTROUTING -n -v
-	systemctl status iptables-openvpn 2>&1 || true
-	exit 1
 fi
 
 # Verify IP forwarding is enabled