18.3.6. Listing Options

The default list command, iptables -L, provides a very basic overview of the default filter table's current chains. Additional options provide more information:
  • -v — Displays verbose output, such as the number of packets and bytes each chain has seen, the number of packets and bytes each rule has matched, and which interfaces apply to a particular rule.
  • -x — Expands numbers into their exact values. On a busy system, the number of packets and bytes seen by a particular chain or rule may be abbreviated using K (thousands), M (millions), and G (billions) at the end of the number. This option forces the full number to be displayed.
  • -n — Displays IP addresses and port numbers in numeric format, rather than the default hostname and network service format.
  • --line-numbers — Lists rules in each chain next to their numeric order in the chain. This option is useful when attempting to delete the specific rule in a chain or to locate where to insert a rule within a chain.
  • -t — Specifies a table name.