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
Sometimes, copying rules from websites introduces "non-printing characters" that confuse the parser.
If you are porting a config from FreeBSD to OpenBSD (or vice versa), be aware of the "OS drift." FreeBSD’s PF often includes features like
If you manage multiple servers via configuration management tools (like Ansible or Puppet), include a validation step ( pfctl -nf ) within your deployment pipeline to test the configuration against the target system's binary version before deployment. To help find the exact syntax causing your issue, tell me: pf configuration incompatible with pf program version
: Ensure all parts of the upgrade were installed. On FreeBSD, this often requires running freebsd-update install multiple times.
utility of your operating system. Unlike some software that maintains decades of backward compatibility, PF developers often prune or "clean up" syntax to improve performance or readability. The Major Fork
Output example:
The syntax is perfect, confirming that the issue is entirely a binary/kernel compatibility mismatch rather than a text formatting issue inside your rule file. Step 5: The Last Resort – Rebuilding the PF Module
Your configuration file contains syntax errors or features that your current version of pfctl does not support (such as outdated queueing syntax like ALTQ on newer OpenBSD setups). You will need to comment out the offending lines and modernize the rules.
A less common but equally disruptive cause is mixing source builds with package management. When you manually update the kernel from source but use pkg_add to manage userland tools, you risk introducing an incompatibility. This is particularly dangerous on production systems where a firewall failure can have immediate security implications. If this command works but loading the rules
Check if pf is compiled statically or loaded as a dynamic module. kldstat | grep pf Use code with caution.
To resolve the "pf configuration incompatible with pf program version" error, follow these steps: