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.

DirectAccess in Windows 7 and Windows 2008R2

DirectAccess is a new feature in the Win 7 and Win 2008 R2 operating systems that gives users the experience of being seamlessly connected to their corporate network any time they have Internet access.


DirectAccess allows remote users to securely access intranet shares, Web sites, and applications without connecting to a virtual private network (VPN). DirectAccess establishes bi-directional connectivity with a user’s intranet every time a user’s DirectAccess-enabled portable computer connects to the Internet, even before the user logs on. Users never have to think about connecting to the intranet, and information technology (IT) administrators can manage remote computers outside the office, even when the computers are not connected to the VPN. DirectAccess is supported by Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate, and Windows Server 2008 R2.


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Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 enables IT administrators to manage roles and features that are installed on remote computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2

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