This article describes how to create an Inbound port allow rule for Windows Firewall 2008.

  1. Launch Windows Firewall with Advanced Security by clicking Start > Administrative Tools > Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.

  2. Select Inbound Rules in the left pane and click New Rule under Inbound Rules in the Actions Pane

  3. The New Inbound Rule Wizard will launch. Select Port and click Next.

  4. This step of the Wizard specifies which ports the rule is applied to and whether that rule applies to connections established using the TCP and UDP protocol.

    • If no specific ports are applicable, select All local ports to apply the rule to all local ports.

    • If specifc ports are applicable, select Specific local ports, and then fill in the port(s), seperating each port with a comma.

  5. Because this is an allow rule, select whether to allow traffic over all connections (secure and insecure) or only secure connections. If you require a secure connection, you can specify whether it also requires encryption, or if it overrides block rules. Click Next to continue.

  6. Select the profiles to which this rule applies.

    • The Domain profile applies when the inbound connection is coming from another interface with the Domain profile selected.

    • The Private profile applies when the inbound connection is coming from a source network with the Private profile selected.

    • The Public profile applies to all connections coming from a source with the Public profile selected.

    Click Next to continue.

  7. Give the rule a name and any description that you want. Click Finish to create the rule and go back to the main screen.