Can I use PC Data Backups if I have a firewall?
Yes. For maximum data protection, in addition to PC Data Backups online backup software, we recommend that you use a firewall
and virus protection software. A firewall protects your incoming and outgoing connections from abuse by untrusted software.
There are both software and hardware firewalls. Some of the most popular software firewalls include Norton Personal Firewall
(part of Norton Internet Security), ZoneAlarm, McAfee, Spygate and Tiny.
Typically your firewall will not interfere with PC Data Backups because the agent is installed and run locally. Our software
actually initiates the connection to the data centers from your computer and not by a request from our data centers.
If you get a message that PC Data Backups could not connect to the data center (e.g. the connection was refused, the data center
is busy or unreachable, or a dialog box saying "Waiting to Retry: Next backup session will begin in: ..."), this means that the PC Data Backups software cannot access the internet.
- You will need to configure your software firewall setting to allow "Agent Service Module" or "AgentSRV.exe" to access the
Internet.
Click on the link below to see step by step instructions for your brand of software firewall, or consult the help desk or reference
materials for your particular version of software firewall if not listed below.
- If you have a SOCKS proxy firewall, you will have to provide your firewall's IP address and the port to use within the
PC Data Backups
Connection Settings, in the Options menu. You will not have to reconfigure your firewall or anything else.
- If you have a Non-SOCKS compliant firewall, you will need to configure both the PC Data Backups software and your
firewall.
If you are asked to retry or cancel the connection and suspect your firewall or router might be causing the connection problem,
temporarily disable or shut down your firewall or remove your router from the network and try backing up again. A reboot may be
necessary. If the backup connection works, you know the firewall or router was the issue, and you can troubleshoot it further
Permit TCP/IP outbound to port 16384 to subnets 216.229.146.0/24 and 216.229.150.0/24.
If your firewall requires you to explicitly permit the response packets to come back, do so by permitting TCP/IP inbound to ports
1024-5000 from the subnets listed above, for an already-established connection. It is NOT necessary to permit a connection
originating from outside the firewall.
Note: PC Data Backups software does not utilize UDP or ICMP.
For more information about connection problems and solutions, see the Troubleshooting section in the PC Data Backups
Help screen.
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