Windows Firewall Exceptions for Enterprise 2024 Application-Database Server

Thanks for taking the time to reach out to the QuickBooks Community, @brorob.

I hope you're doing great today. 

You're right with your thinking. Creating new exceptions will help resolve this issue. I'm including some steps below and a list of firewall exceptions you can add manually.

1. Open the Windows Start menu.
2. Enter "Windows Firewall" into the search and open Windows Firewall.
3. Select Advanced Settings.
4. Right-click Inbound Rules (later on, you'll create Outbound Rules). Then click on New Rule.
5. Choose Program and then Next.
6. Click on This Program Path and then Browse.
7. Find and select one of the executable files in the table below. Then select Next.
8. Tap on Allow the Connection and then Next.
9. If prompted, make sure all profiles are marked. Hit Next.
10. Create a rule. Give it a name like "QBFirewallException(name.exe)."
     

• Repeat the steps above and create outbound rules. Follow all the same steps, except select Outbound Rules on step 4.

For additional information about setting up the firewall, port numbers, exceptions, etc. check out Set up firewall and security settings for QuickBooks Desktop. 

That should do the trick. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns. I'm happy to assist anytime. Take care! 

Thanks, @Tori B.  Are these all of the exceptions that are needed on the application/DB server to allow the desktop computers to connect to the company files on the server?  I've seen specific ports that need to be allowed on the server, but haven't found any information for this version.  Also these look like executable files that would be used by the desktop software since the software isn't really run from the application server.

Thanks

Yes, those are the firewall exceptions for QuickBooks programs, Brorob. QuickBooks Desktop uses this executable files to perform tasks and connect company files.

For the ports, you’ll need to enter  8019, XXXXX for your QuickBooks year version. To guide you through configuring your firewall manually and adding these exceptions, please proceed to Step 3 in this article: Set up firewall and security settings for QuickBooks Desktop.

If you have further questions, feel free to let us know. We’re here to help.

@AntoniettaE @Tori B So are those exe files necessary to be added to the application/database server if the server is only being used to host the company files that other computers are accessing?  I can't believe Intuit doesn't have a document showing what needs to be allowed on a Windows Server that runs the database for this program.  All of these look like they refer to the Desktop program, but the program is not being run on the server.  If there is no documentation of this, then the software development team needs to create one.

Also, I ran the Tool Hub utility and it was no help at all.  Why would the Check your network and Check your file and network options be greyed out?

Hi there, brorob. Even if you don't open the QuickBooks Desktop app on your server, the .exe programs (like the Database Manager) act as traffic controllers to share your files. If your firewall blocks them, your workstations get completely cut off. 

Regarding the ToolHub, the greyed-out network is expected behavior on a file-hosting server. Since your server only has the Database Manager installed, the Tool Hub realizes the visual files are missing and automatically disables the tests because it cannot run them. For this, we'll need to manually configure the firewall on your Windows Server, which requires taking note of your dynamic port number for the firewall port exceptions first. 

You can do this by going to the Windows Start menu > QuickBooks Database Server Manager > Port Monitor tab > take note of the Port number. 

Then, follow the steps shared by my colleague Tori B on what needs to be allowed on your Windows Server's firewall exceptions. After this, scan your company files to allow the Windows Server to host your company files over your network. Refer to this article for the detailed steps: Use QuickBooks Database Server Manager. 

If you have follow-up questions, feel free to revisit this thread.

Thank you for the detailed explanation, @LouiseG.  I did add the .exe exceptions already and the TCP port listed so I will enable the firewall and do some testing.