Internet Security

Centos 7 Check If Firewall Is Running

Centos 7, a popular operating system, comes with a built-in firewall that ensures the security of your system by regulating incoming and outgoing network traffic. It is essential to regularly check if the firewall is running to protect your system from potential threats and unauthorized access. With the simple command options available, you can easily verify the status of the firewall and take necessary actions if it is not running.

The process of checking if the firewall is running on Centos 7 involves a historical perspective on the importance of firewall protection and its role in safeguarding computer systems. By running commands such as 'systemctl status firewalld' or 'firewall-cmd --state', you can quickly determine if the firewall is active and functioning properly. It is crucial to ensure that the firewall is running at all times to prevent security breaches and maintain the integrity of your system.



Centos 7 Check If Firewall Is Running

The Importance of Checking if Firewall Is Running in Centos 7

Firewall is a critical component of any operating system, including Centos 7. It acts as a barrier between your system and potential threats from unauthorized access or malicious activities. Ensuring that your firewall is running and properly configured is essential for maintaining the security and integrity of your Centos 7 system. In this article, we will explore different methods to check if the firewall is running on Centos 7.

Using the Command Line

The command line is a powerful tool for system administration, and it provides various commands to check the status of the firewall in Centos 7. One of the commonly used command line tools is systemctl, which allows you to manage and monitor system services, including the firewall.

To check if the firewall is running, open a terminal and execute the following command:

sudo systemctl status firewalld

If the firewall is running, you will see an output similar to the following:

firewalld.service - firewalld - dynamic firewall daemon

If the firewall is not running, the output will indicate that the service is inactive or not found.

Checking FirewallD Service

FirewallD is the default firewall management tool in Centos 7. To check if the FirewallD service is running, you can use the following command:

sudo systemctl is-active firewalld

This command will return active if the firewall service is running. If the output is inactive, it means that the firewall is not running.

Using the GUI Interface

If you prefer a graphical user interface (GUI) instead of the command line, Centos 7 provides a user-friendly firewall configuration tool called FirewallD.

To check if the firewall is running using the GUI interface, follow these steps:

  • Open the Activities menu and search for "Firewall."
  • Click on the "Firewall" icon to open the FirewallD configuration.
  • In the FirewallD configuration window, you will see the status of the firewall. If the firewall is running, it will be displayed as "Enabled." If it's not running, it will be displayed as "Disabled."

Using the GUI interface, you can also easily enable or disable the firewall, as well as configure specific rules and settings.

Checking Firewall Zones

FirewallD organizes network connections into different zones, each with its own set of rules. To check if the firewall zones are active, follow these steps:

  • Open the FirewallD configuration as mentioned above.
  • In the Zones tab, you will see a list of zones and their corresponding status. If a zone is active, it means that the firewall rules for that zone are in effect.

The active zones can vary depending on your system configuration. Commonly used zones include "Public," "Internal," and "DMZ."

Using the Log Files

Centos 7 logs various system events, including firewall-related activities, in log files located in the /var/log/ directory. By checking the log files, you can gather information about the firewall's status and any detected events.

To check the firewall's status using log files, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal and navigate to the log directory:

cd /var/log/

2. View the contents of the firewall-related log files using a text editor or a command-line tool. Some of the log files that contain firewall information include:

  • firewalld.log: Contains logs specific to the FirewallD service.
  • messages: Contains general system messages, including firewall-related events.
  • secure: Contains logs related to security events, including firewall activities.

Inspecting these log files can provide valuable insights into the firewall's status and any potential security incidents.

Checking Firewall Is Running in Centos 7

Checking if the firewall is running on Centos 7 is crucial for maintaining system security and protecting against unauthorized access. By using the command line, GUI interface, and log files, you can easily determine the firewall's status and take necessary actions to ensure the safety of your Centos 7 system.


Centos 7 Check If Firewall Is Running

How to Check if Firewall Is Running in CentOS 7

Firewall plays a crucial role in securing your system and network from unauthorized access. In CentOS 7, it is essential to ensure that the firewall is running to protect your server. To check if the firewall is active, you can follow these steps:

  • Open a terminal window on CentOS 7.
  • Run the command sudo systemctl status firewalld and press Enter.
  • If the firewall is running, the status will be displayed as "active".
  • If the firewall is not running, the status will be displayed as "inactive".

If the firewall is not running, it is recommended to start it by running the command sudo systemctl start firewalld. You can also enable the firewall to start automatically at system boot by using the command sudo systemctl enable firewalld.


### Key Takeaways:
  • The CentOS 7 firewall can be easily checked if it is running or not.
  • The "firewalld" service manages the firewall in CentOS 7.
  • You can check the status of the firewall by running the command "systemctl status firewalld".
  • If the firewall is running, the command will show the status as "active" or "running".
  • If the firewall is not running, the command will show the status as "inactive" or "dead".

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions about checking if the firewall is running on Centos 7:

1. How can I check if the firewall is running on Centos 7?

To check if the firewall is running on Centos 7, you can use the following command:

sudo systemctl status firewalld

If the firewall is running, you will see the status as "active" in the command output. If it is not running, the status will be "inactive" or "disabled".

2. Can I check the firewall status without using the command line?

Yes, you can check the firewall status on Centos 7 without using the command line. Simply follow these steps:

  • Go to "System" in the top menu and select "Administration".
  • Click on "Firewall" to open the firewall configuration.
  • If the firewall is running, you will see a green "Running" status. If it is not running, you will see a red "Stopped" status.

3. How can I enable the firewall if it is currently disabled?

If the firewall is currently disabled on Centos 7, you can enable it using the following command:

sudo systemctl enable firewalld

This will enable the firewall and set it to start automatically on system boot.

4. Is it possible to disable the firewall on Centos 7?

Yes, it is possible to disable the firewall on Centos 7. You can use the following command:

sudo systemctl disable firewalld

This will disable the firewall and prevent it from starting automatically on system boot.

5. How can I reload the firewall configuration on Centos 7?

If you make changes to the firewall configuration on Centos 7, you can reload the configuration using the following command:

sudo firewall-cmd --reload

This will apply the changes you made to the firewall configuration without restarting the firewall service.



In conclusion, checking if the firewall is running on CentOS 7 is an essential step to ensure the security of your system. By following the simple commands mentioned in this guide, you can quickly determine the status of your firewall and take necessary actions if needed.

Remember that the firewall acts as a barrier between your system and potential threats, protecting your sensitive data and preventing unauthorized access. Regularly checking the status of your firewall and keeping it up-to-date is crucial to maintain a secure environment for your CentOS 7 system.


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