This article covers some useful CSF SSH Command Line Commands in a “cheat sheet” format.
csf -s
Start the firewall rules
root@server[~]#csf -s
csf -f
Flush/Stop firewall rules (note: lfd may restart csf)
root@server[~]#csf -f
csf -r
Restart the firewall rules
root@server[~]#csf -r
csf -a [IP.add.re.ss] [comment]
Allow an IP and add to /etc/csf/csf.allow
root@server[~]#csf -a 187.33.3.3 Home IP Address
csf -tr [IP.add.re.ss]
Remove an IP from the temporary IP ban or allow list.
root@server[~]#csf -tr 66.192.23.1
csf -tf
Flush all IPs from the temporary IP entries
root@server[~]#csf -tf
csf -d [IP.add.re.ss] [comment]
Deny an IP and add to /etc/csf/csf.deny
root@server[~]#csf -d 66.192.23.1 Blocked This Guy
csf -dr [IP.add.re.ss]
Unblock an IP and remove from /etc/csf/csf.deny
root@server[~]#csf -dr 66.192.23.1
csf -df
Remove and unblock all entries in /etc/csf/csf.deny
root@server[~]#csf -df
csf -g [IP.add.re.ss]
Search the iptables and ip6tables rules for a match (e.g. IP, CIDR, Port Number)
root@server[~]#csf -g 66.192.23.1
csf -t
Displays the current list of temporary allow and deny IP entries with their TTL and comment
root@server[~]#csf -t
Whitelisting an IP Address
In order to prevent specific IP from being blocked, even for a temporary deny, you need to list their IP address in the files csf.ignore and csf.allow. The first step is to enable IGNORE_ALLOW in csf.conf. The value for IGNORE_ALLOW will appear as “0″, you will need to adjust it to “1″ and restart csf and lfd.
This will allow lfd to reference csf.ignore. If you add an IP address to csf.ignore, the IP address will no longer be checked by lfd and failed login attempts will not trigger temporary denies.