Opening a port in Windows Firewall

For Windows 7 users

1. Click the Start button.
2. In the Search box, type firewall.
3. In the results list, click Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.

   The Windows Firewall with Advanced Security dialog box is displayed.

4. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
5. In the left pane, click Inbound Rules, and then, in the right pane, click New Rule.
6. Follow the instructions in the New Inbound Rule wizard.

For Windows Vista users

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Security, and then click Windows Firewall.
3. Click Allow a program through Windows Firewall.
4. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
5. Click Add port.
6. In the Name box, type a name that will help you remember what the port is used for.
7. In the Port number box, type the port number.
8. Click TCP or UDP, depending on the protocol.
9. To change scope for the port, click Change scope, and then click the option that you want to use.

   The term Scope refers to the set of computers that can use this port opening.

For Windows XP users

1. Click Start, and then click My Network Places.
2. Under Network Tasks, click View Network Connections.
3. Right-click the connection that you use for the Internet, and then click Properties.
4. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings.

   Note: If the Settings button is unavailable, the Internet connection firewall is not enabled on this connection, and you do not have to open any ports (because they are all already open).

5. Click Add.
6. In the Description box, type a friendly name.

   For example, File Sharing : Port 445.

7. In the Name or IP address of the computer hosting this service on your network box, type 127.0.0.1.

   Note: You can specify the IP address of an internal computer, but the address 127.0.0.1 is typically used.

8. In the External port and Internal port boxes, type the port number.

   Generally, the same number is used in both cases.

9. Click either TCP or UDP, and then click OK.
10. Repeat steps 1 through 9 for each port that you want to open.