If you want to open or close a port for a Linux firewall you have to edit the rules in the iptables configuration. By default iptables firewall stores its configuration at /etc/sysconfig/iptables file. You need to edit this file and add rules to open port.

Here are the steps to open the port XY using the default visual editor vi:

Open port XY

Open flle /etc/sysconfig/iptables:

# vi /etc/sysconfig/iptables

Append rule as follows:

-A RH-Firewall-1-INPUT -m state --state NEW -m tcp -p tcp --dport XY -j ACCEPT

Save and close the file. Restart iptables:

# /etc/init.d/iptables restart

Verify that port is open

Run following command:

# netstat -tulpn | less

Make sure iptables is allowing port connections:

# iptables -L -n

For more information visit:

http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/howto-rhel-linux-open-port-using-iptables/