Enable SoftLINK to Work with Windows XP Firewall

Download PDF:  KB0109

Summary
Installing Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 installs and enables the Windows firewall by default. The Windows Firewall, in its default configuration, will block all SoftLINK network activity.  The Windows Firewall Configuration must be modified to allow SoftLINK to function properly.

Details
ACS has a utility that will configure the Windows Firewall to allow SoftLINK to function correctly. To use this utility, follow the instructions below.

Allow SoftLINK to work through the Windows Firewall Configuration

1. Download ICFCONFIG.EXE
2. Run the utility on a workstation with SoftLINK installed using the following command:
   ICFCONFIG -e NSS
3. This will create all the required entries in the Windows Firewall Configuration to allow SoftLINK to function correctly.

The ICFCONFIG utility can also be used to remove SoftLINK from the Windows Firewall Configuration.  See below for all the ICFCONFIG Command line options

Full Syntax for the ICFCONFIG utility

icfconfig [options] PRODUCT

options:
-e enable product in Windows Firewall
-d disable product in Windows Firewall
-r remove product from Windows Firewall

PRODUCT:
NSS – SoftLINK
NSM – Manager
DNA – DNA
ALL – Configures for all installed products

Note:
The SoftLINK Deploy application uses Microsoft File and Print Sharing to remotely install SoftLINK. If you need to use SoftLINK Deploy to deploy to a machine that has the Windows Firewall enabled, you must enable File and Print Sharing in the Windows Firewall Configuration.