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Windows Firewall Rules: Enabled v. not enabled, allow v. block, when used in combination.

Anonymous
2015-01-29T02:35:06+00:00

In the Windows Firewall Inbound Rules, what's the difference between these 3 settings?

1, 'Name': "Wireless PAN DHCP Server", 'Enabled': "Yes", 'Action': "Block".

2, 'Name': "Wireless PAN DHCP Server", 'Enabled': "No", 'Action': "Allow".

3, 'Name': "Wireless PAN DHCP Server", 'Enabled': "No", 'Action': "Block".

Details.

This controls whether a Wireless PAN DHCP Server can use 'Protocol type': "Any", through 'Local port': "All Ports", from 'Remote port': "All Ports".

For which of the firewall settings: 1 or 2 or 3, will a (presumably external) Wireless PAN DHCP Server have access to my computer?

From 'Windows Firewall with Advanced Security' Help:

'Enabled' == "No": "... causes [the firewall] to stop comparing network packets to the rule", while 'Action' == "Block": Blocks "... any network packet that matches the firewall rule criteria".

For which of the firewall settings: 1 or 2 or 3, will access be blocked?

One would be tempted to say, "All of them", but that judgment doesn't jibe with what Help says. Specifically, #2 & #3 will both be ignored by the firewall because 'Enabled' == "No": "... causes [the firewall] to stop comparing network packets to the rule". So the question is: Since there will be no 'Action' taken, will the firewall let the packets in or will it block them?

In other words, what is the default Action?

Thank You.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-01-30T00:14:33+00:00

    Ratandeep,

    I went here:

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home

    I clicked this:

    "Ask a question" (a link to: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/newthread)

    and was taken here:

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Profile/u/create?referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fsocial.technet.microsoft.com%2FForums%2Fen-US%2Fnewthread&cancelUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fsocial.technet.microsoft.com%2FForums%2Fen-US%2Fcategories

    A text box on that page asks for my "Display Name". I fill it in (markfilipak) and the page responds: "This display name is already in use. Please choose another display name".

    I'm already signed in of course, and the reason that "markfilipak" is already taken is because that's me! The page is broken.

    This is a show-stopper.

    Can you help?

    Thanks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-01-29T23:41:42+00:00

    The issue will be better suited for the IT professionals audience on the TechNet forums.

    I posted another question and got the same suggestion from another MS Support Engr. Why? What is the audience of this support forum?

    I see the URL is 'answers.microsoft.com', but it's called "Community", and I got to it by taking "Support" links. Can you demystify this?

    Thanks.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-02-01T08:26:40+00:00

    Hello Mark,

    Thank you for the reply.

    I am sorry for late response.

    I would suggest you to refer these articles and check if it helps.

    Refer:

    Understanding Firewall Rules

    https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd421709(v=ws.10).aspx

    Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Properties Page

    https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd448527(v=ws.10).aspx

    I hope this information helps.

    Thank you

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-01-29T18:56:40+00:00

    Hello Mark,

    Thank you for posting your question on Microsoft community.

    The issue will be better suited for the IT professionals audience on the TechNet forums.

    I would recommend posting your query in the TechNet forums.

    TechNet forum

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/home?category=w7itpro

    Thank you

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