Episode 37 — Linux Networking: Interfaces, iptables, and nftables
This episode dives into how Linux handles network connectivity and control. You’ll learn how interfaces are configured, how IP addresses and routes are assigned, and how tools like ip, ifconfig, and netstat reveal the system’s communication footprint. We explain how Linux treats network stacks as modular components—making it easier to instrument, filter, and troubleshoot. The discussion introduces iptables and its successor nftables, showing how these frameworks enforce firewall policies directly within the kernel.
Listeners will see how each rule chain—input, forward, output—defines traffic flow, and how policies can block, allow, or log based on matching conditions. The episode explores persistence through configuration files and service scripts, and demonstrates how to validate policies safely in production. Through clear analogies to commercial firewalls and exam-style reasoning, you’ll learn to interpret how Linux manages packets, identify common misconfigurations, and reason about security consequences of network rules. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
