Windows XP Service Pack 2 is due to launch on Windows Update on the 25th of august, and at some point you will have to update. One of the new security features in SP2 is an improved Windows Firewall, which is enabled by default. You have the option to turn it off, which I highly recommend you don’t unless you have a hardware firewall like a Router. Running on the Internet with no form of Firewall is highly dangerous and you’re putting yourself and others at risk.

Windows Firewall features inbound and outbound protection, like many software firewalls (like ZoneAlarm). The major benefit of Windows Firewall is it’s on by default, so outbreaks of viruses like MS blaster shouldn’t have as big an impact as home users will be protected from it. Windows Firewall is as good as ZoneAlarm and other leading software firewalls, but its built into the OS which gives it the benefits of being on during PC boot unlike third party firewalls which only come on once your PC is booted, leaving you open to attack during boot up.

If you own a router, you do not require to have Windows Firewall on, although I would still recommend it to protect from internal attacks, for example if one of your PC’s on your internal network becomes infected, it could try to infect your other PC’s via the internal network. If you kept Windows Firewall on, you would not only have to configure the ports on your router, but also on Windows Firewall as well.

Once you have sucessfully installed Service Pack 2 for Windows XP you will find Windows Firewall enabled by default, you will need to access its setup page. To do this, go into control panel, and look for the Windows Firewall Icon. (seen below)



Once you clicked on Windows Firewall, you should be displayed something like this:



At this screen you can either turn it off if you have a router or another firewall, or leave it on and continue.

Go onto the Exceptions tab, and click "Add Program" and then find Jazz 2



Once its done, make sure its ticked and set up correctly (click edit to double check)



Once thats done, you should be setup for playing and hosting Jazz Jackrabbit 2 games on the Internet.

There is another way, and thats just to try and host a Jazz 2 Game, you will be displayed with a pop up upon doing so, that looks like:



Although if you where in full screen mode, it could crash your game.

Theres also the "add ports" button on the Exceptions tab on Windows Firewall, where you can manually add ports if you prefer. You can use this method of configuring Jazz Jackrabbit 2 on a number of your games, and I hope this is helpful.

(Sorry about the Watermarks on all the pictures, I've written guides before, and people just ripped my work and credited themselves)

This is a very a useful guide Nimrod, SP2 is coming and all users will have to upgrade at some point, and this is the first and I believe best guide for configuring the Windows Firewall to function with jazz.

Windows firewall will be secure, powerful, and will be enough protection for most people. This guide explains in detail how to configure Windows Firewall and also has visual content to assist, a good guide Nimrod, professional work.

Just a note to people, if your after SP2, You can obtain it before the 25th august on microsoft.com download section in a few days, otherwise for windows update users, you will have to wait until the 25th august as stated above.

Thanks.

Do you think I should upgrade to SP2? Will it be worth the extra security, or does it also ruin compatability for certain programs as well?

You will upgrade some time I bet, you dont really have a choice, its one of the best updates ever, many changes, but good changes, I have also installed it from MSDN, I've had no problems with it (except a securitycenter issue). And the SecurityCenter can easily be disabled (although I dont recommend it) if you find out that there are major software conflicts.

SP2 should be available in a few days from Microsoft.com, just some delays so far. And it can be uninstalled if you have any problems, so yes I think you should install it, theres nothing to lose ALTHOUGH THE SECURITY CENTER DOES NOT DETECT MCAFEE'S FIREWALL - ASDF! A PAIN! Detects my antivirus though (McAfee ). So far I have Windows Firewall running and McAfee... and err, yes its 'ok'.

Thanks!

Its now available from Microsoft:

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...35-SP2-ENU.exe
(UK and US English Installs Only - Others soon to Follow)

Or you could wait till the 25th of Augest and get it Automatically off Windows Update.

and in regard to EvilMonkeys comment, I would recommend installing it stright away, it offers improved protecton for Internet Explorer (making it the most secure Browser out atm) and a number of important security updates to Windows XP. If you dont install it now, you will be forced to eventually

And as you can see from the reason of this thread, JJ2 will work with SP2

"DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER." I wonder if I should be concerned about this. I doubt they made two versions for nothing.

Yea, Microsoft seems to be trying to prevent everyone from downloading that full version and overloading their servers. A better way to get it now without the strain would be to go to sp2torrent.com and download using a BitTorrent network.

Originally Posted by BlurredD

"DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER." I wonder if I should be concerned about this. I doubt they made two versions for nothing.

BlurredD they do that because the build released on there site is the "Network Install", what a network install is everything in one, so you dont need a internet connection to install.

They want home users to run the small 1mb odd file, which finds out what you need, and only downloads what you need. (Which saves them bandwidth)

Personally I always download the network install, burn it to CD, so I can give it to friends to update who are on dialup.

Its up to you, its a 260mb download for the Network Install, the differences are nothing, its just a big download, but in this day and age with broadband, it shouldnt be a problem for a lot of us.