Open Windows Firewall Ports for SQL Server the Easy Way

After installing a new SQL Server 2008 instance on my Windows 7 laptop I find myself unable to logon locally into the instance by using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). I know that due to the changes introduced in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista Firewall this was possibly due to an open port missing.

The Configuring the Windows Firewall to Allow SQL Server Access Books Online entry contains the information to open the required ports in Windows Firewall for each one of the SQL Server services. However, I recently discover a much easier way to open the required Windows Firewall ports for SQL Server on the following Knowledge Base Article (KB968872):

25082009A

This article includes the Microsoft "Fix it" troubleshooter that allows to quickly fix the related problem using an easy-to-follow setup. The "Fix it" button is designed for Windows Server 2008 but the script that is executed by the setup is included on the same KB article and can be executed on Windows Vista or Windows 7 as well:

@echo ========= SQL Server Ports ===================
@echo Enabling SQLServer default instance port 1433
netsh firewall set portopening TCP 1433 "SQLServer"
@echo Enabling Dedicated Admin Connection port 1434
netsh firewall set portopening TCP 1434 "SQL Admin Connection"
@echo Enabling conventional SQL Server Service Broker port 4022
netsh firewall set portopening TCP 4022 "SQL Service Broker"
@echo Enabling Transact-SQL Debugger/RPC port 135
netsh firewall set portopening TCP 135 "SQL Debugger/RPC"
@echo ========= Analysis Services Ports ==============
@echo Enabling SSAS Default Instance port 2383
netsh firewall set portopening TCP 2383 "Analysis Services"
@echo Enabling SQL Server Browser Service port 2382
netsh firewall set portopening TCP 2382 "SQL Browser"
@echo ========= Misc Applications ==============
@echo Enabling HTTP port 80
netsh firewall set portopening TCP 80 "HTTP"
@echo Enabling SSL port 443
netsh firewall set portopening TCP 443 "SSL"
@echo Enabling port for SQL Server Browser Service's 'Browse' Button
netsh firewall set portopening UDP 1434 "SQL Browser"
@echo Allowing multicast broadcast response on UDP (Browser Service Enumerations OK)
netsh firewall set multicastbroadcastresponse ENABLE

 

Executing this on Windows 7 will show several warnings since the netsh firewall command in deprecated on this Windows version (netsh advfirewall firewall is the recommended method) but the script will perform its function nevertheless.

Kudos for the Microsoft "Fix it" team!