Configuring Firewall Settings with Group Policy

In windows 2008 R2 Server you can use Group Policy to manage Windows Firewall settings for computers running Vista, 7, 2008, and 2008 R2 by using two nodes:

1.    Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Windows Firewall With Advanced Security\Windows Firewall With Advanced Security

This node applies settings only to computers running Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2 and provides exactly the same interface as Windows Firewall With Advanced Security Console.

2.    Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Network\Network Connections \Windows Firewall.

This node applies settings to computers running Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2. This tool is less flexible than the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console.