Description of problem: The current system of using different software (iptables vs ip6tables) for different versions of the IP stack is broken. As the IPv6 transition moves ahead its unreasonable to expect the user to do the IP address parsing and decide to use the appropriate tool for the address. iptables should work like traceroute, ssh or all other applications supporting both protocol versions by default. How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. iptables -I INPUT -i eth0 -d fe80::/64 -j ACCEPT Actual results: iptables v1.4.21: invalid mask `64' specified Try `iptables -h' or 'iptables --help' for more information. Expected results: Rule is added.
A combined version will be available with nftables, which will be replacing the existing {ip,ip6,arp,eb}tables frameworks. There will be only one nft comamnd for all these frameworks together. For more information on nftables, please have a look at http://netfilter.org/projects/nftables/
Is that something we plan to switch on? (is it on working state?) If yes, let's close this bug when we have switched to nftables.
nftables is still in development and will most likely take some time still to get to into the working and stable state. There are different estimations from months to years. There will not be a lot of development in the old iptables code besides work on the compatibility layer for nftables. A development like creating a unified tool will most likely not be possible and happening as this would require big code changes and rearrangements.
This bug appears to have been reported against 'rawhide' during the Fedora 24 development cycle. Changing version to '24'. More information and reason for this action is here: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Fedora_Program_Management/HouseKeeping/Fedora24#Rawhide_Rebase
I am closing this as CANTFIX. The is not solvable with iptables. nft(ables) will provide it.