Let’s see manual configuring Windows Firewall using GUI and using command line. Possibilities of configuring Windows Firewall from command line are identical possibilities of configuring from GUI. Using command line allows you create batch file to run on other computers so you can essentially shorten a time spending for configuring firewall on workstations according to your requirements.
This article examines how to configure Windows Firewall using the Netsh command-line utility.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) includes the Windows Firewall, a replacement for the feature previously known as the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). Windows Firewall is a stateful host firewall that drops all unsolicited incoming traffic that does not correspond to either traffic sent in response to a request of the computer (solicited traffic) or unsolicited traffic that has been specified as allowed (excepted traffic). This behavior of Windows Firewall provides a level of protection from malicious users and programs that use unsolicited incoming traffic to attack computers. With the exception of some Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) messages, Windows Firewall does not drop outgoing traffic. Windows Firewall is also included with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).
Now we configure Windows Firewall step-by-step
- Step 1. Windows Firewall: General
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- Enable/Disable Windows firewall using command line
- Step 2. Windows Firewall: Exceptions
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- Add program-based exception to Exceptions list in Windows Firewall
- Add/Modify program-based exception using command line
- Delete existing program-based exception using command line
- Add a Port to Exceptions list
- Add/Modify port-based exception using command line
- Add/Modify port-based exception using command line
- Delete existing port-based exception using command line
- Windows Firewall Notifications
- Set option “Display a notification when Windows Firewall blocks a program” using command line
- Step 3. Windows Firewall: Advanced Options
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- Network Settings
- Enable or disable Windows Firewall pre-defined services using command line
- Set Windows Firewall Security Logging
- Set Windows Firewall Security Logging using command line
- ICMP Settings
- Set Windows Firewall ICMP Settings using command line
- Configure unicast response to a multicast or broadcast request behavior using command line
- Restore all Windows Firewall settings to default state
- Restore all Windows Firewall settings to default state using command line
- Display Windows Firewall settings using command line
- Conclusion
