CA Internet Security Suite Plus vs XBox 360

[cjay8080]

Having replaced Zonealarm and MSE with CA's Internet Security Suite Plus V7 on my Win7/64 box, my XBoxes can no longer connect to the Win 7 Media Center computer. I turn off the CA firewall and everything works fine again, but I want to properly configure the firewall for MCE communications.

I called CA Tech support and they started to help, but then refused to continue once the support supervisor was contacted regarding my problem, indicating it was up to me to obtain and sort out the port problem.

Having read several posts on various sites on the topic outlining theoretical solutions, I have yet to find a do-this-it-works-and-solves-the-problem post. I posted this inquiry elsewhere but got referred back to all the stuff that I'd already found, read and tried (that didn't work).

Since then I've found Microsoft's list of programs and ports that Media Center needs opened up, but am not familiar enough with CA's ISS+ to make the fewest number of changes to get the job done.

Does anyone here have a concrete / proven / step-by-step solution they could post?

Many thanks (in advance).

 

[tman69]

first try CA support site

TechnicalSupport

type XBox into the 'knowledge base' section

you didn't say what version of the CA suite you're using--so that's as far as I can get you...I believe that you need to setup a 'network rule' with the 'rules wizard'.

 

[cjay8080]

Thanks for the post, but I've been through all that and more, and I'm still at the same point where the only thing that eliminates the problem is disabling the CA firewall. I'm running ISS+ Ver 7.0.0.107

 

[tman69]

CA support shows a step by step how-to (it refers to TVersity Media Center) but also would apply to your XBox which is a UPnP device--you need to enable communication on your computer’s UPnP port

find it here:
Firewall blocks TVersity Media Server

 

[cjay8080]

Yup, been there done that, and it still doesn't work. Apparently there's more to it than just that, which is why I was asking for a tried and proven config.

 

[tman69]

what kind of router do you have?--you may need to enable the DMZ function in the router for the XBox to function--it's that way for a PS3

 

[cjay8080]

Currently using a DIR-655 router. But since the XBox 360s perform as expected as a media extender with the CA firewall turned off, and they haven't a clue the Win7 system is there with the CA firewall turned on makes me think it's the firewall, not the router.

 

[tman69]

here is what Microsoft says about firewall ports for your xbox

Firewall ports that must be open to use your Xbox 360 console as a Media Center Extender


beyond this post, my knowledge base is lacking.

 

[cjay8080]

Yup, been there and gone though that as well. But since I've been tweeking and twiddling everything that looks like a problem (without knowing exactly what's required where) I'm not sure if anything negative that I've done counteracts what changes I've made that may have made it work.

My knowledge is lacking as well ... and the CA firewall is still a thorn in my side.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[HammerHead]

Question

Does it work with CA off and Win 7's firewall on?

 

[cjay8080]

Yup, or with Win7 firewall off and Zonealarm on ...

 

[HammerHead]

Meaningless Snip?

You say they refused help. May you should refer them to their own web site.

View attachment 163891

 

[tman69]

your last post said "Yup, or with Windows 7 firewall off and Zonealarm on"


do you still have 'zone alarm' firewall installed? if yes
(more than 1 software firewall is a bad idea)--zone alarm should be uninstalled and CA reinstalled

 

[cjay8080]

Hammerhead - yeah, too bad they don't deliver on what they promise. Had planned on using the package to the 3 computer license limit, but thinking now that I'll be limiting it to the one laptop or just sending it all back.

tman69 - did that. With MSE and Zonealarm uninstalled, problems were as previously outlined.

 

[HammerHead]

Return

If you can return it for what you have invested, I would do that. I stress this is only my opinion and is biased by my own preferences.

If you are going to pay for internet suite, I would reccomend Norton Internet Security 2011. It is for techies somewhat but I use it with no problems.

If you are going the free route MicroSoft Security essentials is effective and is extremely easy to use in conjunction Win 7 firewall.

Two things to remember:
Only run one Antivirus package live. By that I mean turned on at boot and scanning or protecting in real time.

If you shop for NIS 2011 be sure to shop the deals (cupons, sales, offers etc.) I have seen the 3 user for as low as $19+

No package is 100%. So I use other software for manual scans (not turned on all the time)
Some are:
MBam (free)
MRT (free from MicroSoft)
MSE (free from MicroSoft)

 

[cjay8080]

Thanks for your candid perspective Hammerhead, much appreciated. I'll check out your recommended apps.

So far, ISS+ seems to have been performing ok on the laptop, but I've gone back to MSE and Zonealarm (along with AdAware and SpyBot as needed) on the media server to get the XBox media extenders back in operation.

Have been checking the Event Viewer on the media server and been finding all kinds of things ISS+ was interfering with - not looking forward seeing what I find on the laptop. That'll be the determining factor if/when I pull the last plug on ISS+ here.

CA seems to have put considerable effort into it this product, but their documentation and support are well below par for what it's supposed to be capable of. It doesn't matter how many great features a product has if the end-user can't set it up properly for what they want and need.

Since no one has offered up a step-by-step solution (here or at CA's Total Defense user forum) I'll extrapolate from this observation that no one on these boards has tried or successfully configured this combination. If someone does post it here in the short term, I'll try ISS+ again, but at this point it's back on the shelf awaiting the jury's final deliberation.

Many thanks to you Hammerhead and anyone else who has taken the time to read and consider this post.

 

[cjay8080]

Well, discovered that CA's ISS+ is not compatible with IE9 (ISS+ aspect panels grey out). Tech support installed a patch which then left the laptop's desktop repeatedly crashing (apparently IE and WinEx are tied together). Spent way too much time on these problems ... ISS+ is going back ...

 

[HammerHead]

Good Decision

I hesitated to urge you. Good that you decided on your own.

There are some good internet suites out there.
Kaspersky
Bit Defender
Avast (be aware under some hardware and software configs has mail problems, but solveable)
Norton Internet Security 2011 (my favorite)

All can be bought rather cheaply by searching the net for deals and cupons.

Good luck