Allowing select access to IP addresses using Windows Server 2003

With the release of Windows Server 2003, Microsoft changed the world of host-based firewalls by including Windows Firewall as a standard feature. Using this basic software firewall, it's possible to limit inbound connections to those matching pre-defined rules. To enable Windows Firewall:

• Open the Local Area Connection Properties page;
• Click the Settings button on the Advanced tab;
• On the General tab, ensure that the firewall is turned on.

Use the exceptions tab to create port-specific rules using the Add Port button. It's also possible to limit inbound traffic to certain IP addresses by clicking the Change Scope button on the Add a Port window.

When Windows Server 2008 was released, Microsoft included Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. This product offers a dramatically enhanced graphical user interface (GUI) and allows administrators to create both ingress (inbound traffic) and egress (outbound traffic) rules.

More information:

• Learn how to configure firewall files with Nipper.
• Expert Michael Cobb discusses how Windows Firewall with Advanced Security interacts with an IPsec command line tool.