Article ID: 329928 - Last Review: July 14, 2004 - Revision: 3.4

ICF in Windows XP SP1 and Windows Server 2003 blocks unsolicited inbound unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic

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INTRODUCTION

The Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) feature in the original release version of Windows XP examines only inbound unicast traffic. Starting with Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2003, ICF examines and drops (blocks) unsolicited inbound unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic.

Note In Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), ICF is named Windows Firewall (WF).

MORE INFORMATION

Unicast traffic is transmitted between a single sender and a single receiver on the network. Broadcast traffic is transmitted to all devices on the network. Multicast traffic is transmitted to all devices on the network that request it. For example, multicast traffic is transmitted to a running program or service that is "listening" for multicast traffic.

Starting with Windows XP SP1, ICF/WF blocks all inbound unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition include SP1.

If you want to permit broadcast or multicast traffic through the firewall, you must manually open the appropriate ports. When you open a port, all kinds of traffic are permitted through that port. For example, if you open TCP port 80, inbound unicast, broadcast, and multicast traffic on that port and protocol are permitted.

For additional information about how to manually open ports, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
308127  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308127/ ) How to manually open ports in Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
For additional information about ICF in Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
320855  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320855/ ) Description of the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
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Keywords: 
kbfirewall kbenv kbinfo KB329928