Windows Firewall

Windows Firewall is a built-in, host-based, stateful firewall that is included in Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and later, and Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 and later. Windows Firewall drops 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). Windows Firewall provides a level of protection from malicious users and programs that rely on unsolicited incoming traffic to attack computers. In Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, Windows Firewall can also drop outgoing traffic.

Introductory Overviews

Introduction to Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
This white paper describes how to manage Windows Firewall in Windows Vista through the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Microsoft Management Control (MMC) snap-in, with Netsh commands, and with Group Policy.
The New Windows Firewall in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
This January 2006 article by The Cable Guy describes the new features and configuration dialog boxes for the Windows Firewall in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
New Networking Features in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
This January 2004 article by The Cable Guy describes the features of Windows Firewall in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and how it is different from its predecessor, Internet Connection Firewall.
Manually Configuring Windows Firewall in Windows XP Service Pack 2
This February 2004 article by The Cable Guy describes in detail the set of dialog boxes to manually configure Windows Firewall provided with Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.
Network Determination Behavior for Network-Related Group Policy Settings
This May 2004 article by The Cable Guy describes how the networking components of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, including Windows Firewall, determine whether or not the computer is attached to a managed network or another network in order to correctly apply a set of network-related Group Policy settings.

Windows Vista Product Documentation

Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying Policies for Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
This step-by-step guide illustrates how to deploy Active Directory Group Policy objects (GPOs) to configure Windows Firewall with Advanced Security in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. You get hands-on experience in a lab environment using Group Policy Management tools to create and edit GPOs that implement typical firewall settings. You also configure GPOs to implement common server and domain isolation scenarios.
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security - Content Roadmap
This page provides links to all of the related topics for Windows Firewall with Advanced Security in Windows Vista.
Getting Started with Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
This topic provides an overview of Windows Firewall with Advanced Security in Windows Vista.
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security - Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
This topic describes how to troubleshoot Windows Firewall with Advanced Security in Windows Vista.

Deployment Resources

Deploying Windows Firewall Settings for Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2
This white paper describes the methods used to deploy Windows Firewall settings in a managed environment so that it is enabled and providing protection, and necessary communications are not impaired.
Using the Windows Firewall INF File in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
This white paper describes how to configure the Windows Firewall INF file to customize the settings of the Windows Firewall either during or after installation.

Troubleshooting Resources

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
This article describes how Windows Firewall works, the common problems with using Windows Firewall, and the set of tools used to troubleshoot Windows Firewall issues.
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security - Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
This topic describes how to troubleshoot Windows Firewall with Advanced Security in Windows Vista.
Troubleshooting Windows Firewall
This section of the Windows Server 2003 Operations Guide helps you identify and resolve problems that are caused by Windows Firewall, including network access problems, problems running programs, and configuration and management problems.
Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles on Windows Firewall

Additional Resources

Windows Server 2003 Windows Firewall TechCenter
This Web page contains links to topics about planning, deployment, troubleshooting, operations, and security for Windows Firewall.
Windows Firewall Technical Reference
This section of the Windows Server 2003 Technical Reference contains in-depth technical information about how Windows Firewall works in Windows Server 2003.
Windows Firewall API
This section of the Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) describes how to use the Windows Firewall application programming interface (API) so that applications can create, enable, and disable firewall exceptions.

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