McAfee ePO – Client Firewall Exceptions to Allow Agent Deployment

KB ID 0000952 

Problem

It’s been a while, since I deployed ePO, and as I’ve got a big McAfee roll-out coming up I thought I’d better run it up on the test bench and see how much it’s changed since version 4. As the prospective client is going to use Server 2012 and Windows 8, that’s what I tested it with.

Despite my best efforts the the McAfee agent (8.6) refused to deploy to the clients as long as I had the windows firewall on. A quick Google turned up a myriad of suggestions for ports and services, and most of them were for older versions of ePO or were simply incorrect.

Solution

Basically you need to to do two things with the firewall;

  • Allow in ICMP echo requests
  • Allow in File and Printer sharing

Set Firewall to Allow McAfee Agent deployment via Group Policy

This is the simplest option, especially if you have a lot of client to deploy to.

1. On your Domain Controller > Launch the Group Policy Management Console > Create a new policy (or edit an existing one), that is linked either to the root of the domain, or the OU that your computers are in.

2. Edit The policy, and navigate to;

[box]Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesNetworkNetwork ConnectionsWindows FirewallDomain ProfileWindows Firewall: Allow ICMP exceptions[/box]

3. Set to Enabled > Select ‘Allow inbound echo request’ > Apply > OK.

4. In the same location select ‘Windows Firewall: Allow inbound file and printer sharing exception’.

5. Enable this policy > Then enter the IP address of the ePO server > Apply > OK.

6. Then either reboot the clients, wait a couple of hours, or manually run “gpupdate /force” on them. Then Re-deploy your McAfee agent.

Set Firewall to Allow McAfee Agent deployment on an Individual Machine

1. Windows Key +R > cmd {Enter} > firewall.cpl {Enter}.

2. Allow an app or feature though Windows Firewall.

3. Locate ‘File and Printer Sharing’ and enable (Note: Here I’ve enabled for Domain, Public, and Private, you may only want to select Domain) > OK.

4. Advanced Settings > Inbound Rules > New Rule.

5. Custom > Next.

6. All Programs > Next.

7. Protocol Type = ICMPv4 > Customize > Echo Request > OK > Next.

8. Enter the IP address of your ePO server > Next.

9. Allow the connection > Next.

10. Select as appropriate > Next.

11. Give the rule a sensible name > Finish.

12. Re-deploy your McAfee agent.

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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