Clients cannot connect to server

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1

The Windows Server 2003 family provides a software-based firewall to prevent unauthorized connections to your server from remote computers. The Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is disabled by default. However, if you have enabled the firewall in its default configuration after installing a member of the Windows Server 2003 family and before installing IIS, clients will not be able to connect to your server. The following procedure configures ICF to allow clients to initiate Web and other IIS-related connections to your server.

Procedures

To configure Internet Connection Firewall for IIS

  1. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.

  2. Double-click Network Connections.

  3. Right-click Local Area Connection, and click Properties.

  4. Click the Advanced tab.

  5. If you do not want to use the ICF, make sure the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box isn't available, and click OK.

  6. If you do want to use the ICF, make sure the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box is enabled, and click Settings.

  7. On the Services tab, enable a service to which you want to allow access to clients.

  8. In the Service Settings dialog box that appears after enabling a service, do one of the following:

    • If you are enabling a service on the same computer you are working, the correct computer name is already filled in. Click OK.

    • If you are enabling a service on a different computer on your network, type the name or IP address of the computer hosting the service you are enabling, and click OK.

  9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 until all the services you want accessible to clients are enabled.