pfctl: /etc/pf.conf: line 1: pf configuration incompatible with pf program version kernel: pf: DIOCXRULES: Inappropriate ioctl for device
If this command works but loading the rules fails with the version error, the issue is definitely a kernel/binary mismatch. Getting Started - OpenBSD PF
The pf configuration incompatible with pf program version error is rarely a broken config file; it is usually a cry for help from an out-of-sync system. Aligning your userland utilities with your running kernel version via a clean reboot or system update will resolve the conflict in most scenarios.
If the binary itself is incompatible, you must ensure both the kernel and world (userland) are on the same version.
If this value differs from pfctl -V , you have a mismatch.
To avoid encountering the "pf configuration incompatible with pf program version" error in the future:
Or on some systems:
You can test your configuration file for syntax errors without attempting to load it into the kernel by using: pfctl -nf /etc/pf.conf Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
/sbin/pfctl -f /etc/pf.conf
The most common cause is a partial or interrupted system upgrade. When upgrading to a newer version of FreeBSD or OpenBSD, the operating system binary files ( /sbin/pfctl ) may be updated before the running kernel is replaced and rebooted, or vice versa. If the kernel expects a specific structure for rule compilation and the utility provides an older or newer format, the handshake fails. 2. Discrepancies Between Userland and Kernel
cp /usr/src/sys/net/pfvar.h /usr/include/net