Working with per-interface APIs

The per-interface firewall APIs that are part of the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) API set, implemented earlier in this product's history, will not be supported in future versions of the operating system. It is therefore recommended that the new Windows Firewall APIs be used.

The following tasks, using the older ICF architecture, can be accomplished using these APIs.

Task ICF API
Checking whether the firewall is enabled or disabled on a network connection. INetSharingConfiguration::get_InternetFirewallEnabled
Enumerating the open ports on an interface. INetSharingConfiguration::get_EnumPortMappings
Checking if a particular port is open on an interface. INetSharingPortMappingProps::get_Enabled
Opening a port on a network connection. INetSharingConfiguration::AddPortMapping

 

Note  In a change from Windows XP and Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (SP1), calling an API to open a port or enable or disable the firewall on an interface no longer requires user confirmation, so no dialog is displayed as a result of calling one of these APIs.