In address filtering firewall filters the packets on the basis of addresses of source and destination and port numbers. In protocol filtering, sending or receiving packet is based on the protocol used e-g HTTP or FTP. Firewalls have four main categories, which are stateful multilayer inspection firewalls, packet filters, circuit level gateways and application level gateways. Windows firewall application software is a commonly used firewall software al around the world.
Now we move to common problems that we face when using the windows firewall. The common problems are
The Remote assistance is out of order
- I cannot access local file and printer
- Connectivity problem
- Windows firewall cannot be configured properly
- My network places doesn’t show other computers of the network
- My games, web or my other servers are inaccessible by other Internet users.
Let’s discuss some good tips to tackle these problems
The Remote assistance is out of order
If you have enable the ICF after sending the invitation then the Remote Assistance expert will use invitation and try to connect with your computer, it will receive an error message stating, "Remote Assistance connection can not be established." You can solve this problem either by issuing a new Remote Assistance invitation or restarting the computer on which ICF is enabled.
I cannot access local file and printer
If you are unable to access the local file and printer with firewall enabled. You must enable the file and printer sharing exception in the exceptions tab in windows firewall component control panel.
Connectivity problem
Better way to solve the connectivity problem is use the ping tool to ping the IP address of the system, which you are trying to connect. When you ping a system you are actually send an echo message and in response you receive an echo message. Now by default windows firewall doesn’t allow echo response, which means that you would not receive
Any echo message in response to Allow the incoming echo message allow incoming echo request must be enabled in advanced tab in windows firewall component of control panel
Windows firewall cannot be configured properly
First of all check the windows firewall properties under following tabs General, Exceptions and advanced. If the properties are inactive that you don’t have the administrative rights which mean that your login status is user not administrator only administrators can alter the properties. You can check the login status in control panel and contact the network administrator for more information.
My network places doesn’t show other computers of the network.
This problem is similar as with local file and printer not accessible. Solution is the same just enable the file and printer-sharing exception enable in exceptions tab in windows firewall component control panel. But it is highly discouraged because of malicious user can try to obtain access to local files and other resources.Games, web or my other servers are inaccessible by other Internet users
If your system is acting a server then the firewall should be drop to listen to the incoming traffic. Configure the applications to listen the incoming traffic, which could be done in following ways.
Enable one of the exception in exceptions tab in windows control component panel these exceptions include Remote assistance, file and printer sharing etc.
Manually configure the exception from exception tab.
You can also configure firewall exceptions by firewall Group policy setting.