Bourne shell script to check if iptable & ipfilter is running & if so add rules

The best is to patch config file ans completely reload iptables. That approach will make sure it persists on reboot.
Face the fact - you need two scripts, and there is no sane reason to use bourne shell when you have PERL on both platforms.

Ok, Perl or Korn scripts are fine too

For Linux, Can't we do something like:

service iptables status > /tmp/iptable.status
grep -i running  /tmp/iptable.status
if [ $? -eq 0 ]
  then
    iptables is running
  else
    iptables not running
fi

Ok how do we patch /etc/sysconfig/firewall   to
permit Tcp4120 from current server to  a.b.c.d  & e.f.g.h   and
permit Tcp4118 from a.b.c.d & e.f.g.h to the current server?

Pls provide exact command syntax

What about for Solaris x86  ipfilter?  What's the syntax?

So what's the exact command syntax to add to /etc/sysconfig/firewall to
permit tcp4120 outgoing &
permit tcp4118 incoming.

What's the syntax for Solaris x86  ipfilter?

It is anything iptables-save can make.

I'm not referring to iptables in Solaris but ipfilter as it's the default firewall in our Solaris 10 x86
VMs.

I'm referring to examples in links below but I'm still confused:
  http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23824_01/html/821-1453/ipfilter-admin-2.html
  http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23824_01/html/821-1453/eubbd.html


Q1:
So do I just add the following lines to the top (not the bottom, right? )  of /etc/ipf/ipf.conf  ?
  pass in log (quick) on "all_interfaces" proto tcp from 172.21.a.b to "all_interfaces" port = 4118 keep state
 pass out log (quick) on "all_interfaces" proto tcp from "all_interfaces"  to 172.21.a.b port = 4120 keep state

Q2:
What's the the purpose of "quick" in the above rules?  What's the difference if it's absent or
present?

Q3:
As our Solaris x86 VMs has about four interfaces, can someone substitute "all_interfaces" in the
above rules with actual global value: I reckon there must be an actual Solaris implementation
value that refers to "all interfaces";  if there's none, let me know so that I can repeat it four times
for all the four interfaces

Q4:
What's the purpose of "keep state"?  is it needed in my case?

Q5:
if ipf.conf is not present in /etc/ipf  folder, does this mean ipfilter (as given by 'svcs -a |grep -i ipfilter')
is offline?

Q6:
if it's offline & I just create the absent ipf.conf file anyway so that one day if ipfilter is onlined/used,
the rules will already be there?  If ipfilter is offline, no harm creating ipf.conf, right?
Did I miss out anything in my assumptions?

Ok, I'm dim;  kindly answer my questions Q1 to Q6 exactly esp Q1 & Q2 on the exact
syntax / commands to be entered.

The Oracle links are still too 'cryptic'/unfriendly to me

The oracle URL is either not clear or missing what does "keep state" mean
& it does not give an example of what's the term to use for "all_interfaces"

Alias for all interfaces is nothing.... i.e just dont filter packets by interface...