XP Firewall

[Guest]

Hi
I have a home newtwork and i connect four computers together using a "dsl gateway router". One of my computers runs Xp and i wish to use XP's firewall but when i enable the firewall i am unable to connect to the other computers and my printer is attached to one of these computers. Thus i am unable to print my work if the firewall is enabled. Can you help me find a way to these computers with my XP firewall enabled?

yours gratefully Brian

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi
I have a home newtwork and i connect four computers together using a "dsl gateway router". One of my computers runs Xp and i wish to use XP's firewall but when i enable the firewall i am unable to connect to the other computers and my printer is attached to one of these computers. Thus i am unable to print my work if the firewall is enabled. Can you help me find a way to these computers with my XP firewall enabled?

yours gratefully Brian

By design, XP's Internet Connection Firewall blocks file and printer
sharing. To enable file and printer sharing through the firewall on a
local area network connection, open the following ports: TCP 139, TCP
445, UDP 137, UDP 138. This Microsoft Knowledge Base article has
details:

How to Manually Open Ports in Internet Connection Firewall in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=308127

The "Windows Firewall" in the upcoming Windows XP Service Pack 2 makes
it easier -- it has an explicit option to enable file and printer
sharing through the firewall

NOTE: Don't open any ports on a network connection that connects
directly to the Internet. That would let anyone on the Internet into
your computer. Only open ports on a local area network connection to
your own computers.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I think a better option is to get a hardware firewall appliance. The Netgear
FR114P is about $80. Easier to administer everything at the perimeter.