PDA

View Full Version : Windows XP Port Blocking/Unblocking


McDethWivFries
11-09-2006, 01:57 AM
This may be a totally n00b q, but I cant for the life of me find an answer.

Problem - I manage a held desk in an IT dept. We have Cisco VoIP installed and running. There is a "Desktop Agent" that you run in order to enable to call center queue right? There is a "Supervisor Agent" that allows you to see who is logged into the call center, whether they are taking a call etc but this program hasn't worked since VoIP was implemented.

Apparent Solution - Have been working with Cisco to get this sorted out and it looks like I have to unblock ports 59000-59030 for it to work properly. Now I've had our network team check the servers and switchs and they tell me this prot range isn't blocked, yet they are being blocked somehow and I have to unblock them (presumably on my PC). To do this they suggest disabling all firewalls on the PC etc which has already been done.

Now my question to you dear reader is how do you force XP to unblock a port/port range?

I've checked MS Knowledge Base and the only references I've been able to turn up there are relating to adding exceptions to the firewall (which again is turned off anyways). I've googled for a solution and have found pretty much similar things.

Before you start shouting "Ask the network team!", I've done that and have been met with deathly silence (again, that cricket churping thing)

[Edit] - Have also asked Cisco, responce was "you turn off the firewalls" . . . yes firewall disabled information was mentioned before that responce came back to me.

Cheers in advance

pigster
11-09-2006, 08:04 AM
For a single machine, you go to Control Panel, Windows Firewall, then click on th Exceptions tab

For all the machines in a network, use group policy: http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/8/a/68a81446-cd73-4a61-8665-8a67781ac4e8/wf_xpsp2.doc

McDethWivFries
11-09-2006, 09:22 AM
Yeah thats all I've been able to find is either "turn off Windows Firewall" or add in an exception. Windows Firewall is already turned off tho, so I'm wondering if there is anything else in XP that could be blocking ports or allow you to unblock ports.

I know in the TCP/IP properties you can filter/block ports but that is set to allow everything, nothing is blocked in there.

SJConsultant
11-09-2006, 12:43 PM
Yeah thats all I've been able to find is either "turn off Windows Firewall" or add in an exception. Windows Firewall is already turned off tho, so I'm wondering if there is anything else in XP that could be blocking ports or allow you to unblock ports.

I know in the TCP/IP properties you can filter/block ports but that is set to allow everything, nothing is blocked in there.

If Windows firewall is turned off and TCP Filtering is set to allow all, then your problem lies elsewhere and most likely not with XP.

McDethWivFries
11-09-2006, 06:48 PM
Exactly what I thought. Oh well back to trying to convice others that it isn't my machine doing the blocking (fat chance). Thanks guys :)