workaround for the restart command may fail in container (since fail2ban runs on the host)

internal/config/settings.go

@@ -191,6 +191,8 @@ func initializeFromJailFile() error {
 
 // initializeFail2banAction writes a custom action configuration for Fail2ban to use AlertCountries.
 func initializeFail2banAction() error {
+	DebugLog("----------------------------")
+	DebugLog("Running initial initializeFail2banAction()") // entry point
 	// Ensure the jail.local is configured correctly
 	if err := setupGeoCustomAction(); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Error setup GeoCustomAction in jail.local:", err)
@@ -205,6 +207,7 @@ func initializeFail2banAction() error {
 
 // setupGeoCustomAction checks and replaces the default action in jail.local with our from fail2ban-UI
 func setupGeoCustomAction() error {
+	DebugLog("Running initial setupGeoCustomAction()") // entry point
 	file, err := os.Open(jailFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		// Fallback: Copy default file if jail.local is not found
@@ -284,6 +287,7 @@ func copyFile(src, dst string) error {
 
 // ensureJailDConfig checks if the jail.d file exists and creates it if necessary
 func ensureJailDConfig() error {
+	DebugLog("Running initial ensureJailDConfig()") // entry point
 	// Check if the file already exists
 	if _, err := os.Stat(jailDFile); err == nil {
 		// File already exists, do nothing
@@ -310,6 +314,8 @@ action_mwlg = %(action_)s
 
 // writeFail2banAction creates or updates the action file with the AlertCountries.
 func writeFail2banAction() error {
+	DebugLog("Running initial writeFail2banAction()") // entry point
+	DebugLog("----------------------------")
 	// Define the Fail2Ban action file content
 	actionConfig := `[INCLUDES]
 
@@ -395,7 +401,7 @@ func saveSettings() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		DebugLog("Error writing to file: %v", err) // Debug
 	}
-	// Update the Fail2ban action file
+	// Write again the Fail2ban-UI action file (in the future not used anymore)
 	return writeFail2banAction()
 }
 
@@ -439,8 +445,6 @@ func UpdateSettings(new AppSettings) (AppSettings, error) {
 		old.Bantime != new.Bantime ||
 		old.Findtime != new.Findtime ||
 		//old.Maxretry != new.Maxretry ||
-		old.Destemail != new.Destemail ||
-		//old.Sender != new.Sender {
 		old.Maxretry != new.Maxretry {
 		new.RestartNeeded = true
 	} else {
@@ -448,11 +452,6 @@ func UpdateSettings(new AppSettings) (AppSettings, error) {
 		new.RestartNeeded = new.RestartNeeded || old.RestartNeeded
 	}
 
-	// Countries change? Currently also requires a reload
-	if !equalStringSlices(old.AlertCountries, new.AlertCountries) {
-		new.RestartNeeded = true
-	}
-
 	currentSettings = new
 	DebugLog("New settings applied: %v", currentSettings) // Log settings applied
 
@@ -464,19 +463,3 @@ func UpdateSettings(new AppSettings) (AppSettings, error) {
 	fmt.Println("Settings saved to file successfully") // Log save success
 	return currentSettings, nil
 }
-
-func equalStringSlices(a, b []string) bool {
-	if len(a) != len(b) {
-		return false
-	}
-	m := make(map[string]bool)
-	for _, x := range a {
-		m[x] = false
-	}
-	for _, x := range b {
-		if _, ok := m[x]; !ok {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
-}

internal/fail2ban/client.go

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package fail2ban
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -152,6 +153,11 @@ func ReloadFail2ban() error {
 
 // RestartFail2ban restarts the Fail2ban service.
 func RestartFail2ban() error {
+
+	// Check if running inside a container.
+	if _, container := os.LookupEnv("CONTAINER"); container {
+		return fmt.Errorf("restart not supported inside container; please restart fail2ban on the host")
+	}
 	cmd := "systemctl restart fail2ban"
 	out, err := execCommand(cmd)
 	if err != nil {

pkg/web/handlers.go

@@ -439,13 +439,22 @@ func RestartFail2banHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	//		return
 	//	}
 
-	// Then restart
+	// Attempt to restart the fail2ban service.
-	if err := fail2ban.RestartFail2ban(); err != nil {
+	restartErr := fail2ban.RestartFail2ban()
-		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
+	if restartErr != nil {
-		return
+		// Check if running inside a container.
+		if _, container := os.LookupEnv("CONTAINER"); container {
+			// In a container, the restart command may fail (since fail2ban runs on the host).
+			// Log the error and continue, so we can mark the restart as done.
+			log.Printf("Warning: restart failed inside container (expected behavior): %v", restartErr)
+		} else {
+			// On the host, a restart error is not acceptable.
+			c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": restartErr.Error()})
+			return
+		}
 	}
 
-	// We set restart done in config
+	// Only call MarkRestartDone if we either successfully restarted the service or we are in a container.
 	if err := config.MarkRestartDone(); err != nil {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
 		return