How do I ensure my firewall settings are correct for running LabTutor Server?

When LabTutor Server is installed on a computer, the installer automatically opens up the required ports by adding the necessary firewall exceptions, provided no conflicting software is installed on the server machine. Specifically, LabTutor requires the exclusive use of ports 80 and 443 to communicate with clients. Port 8005 is also required for the Apache Tomcat to communicate with itself internally.
To verify that the Windows Firewall is correctly configured, access the following:
  • Windows XP:
    1. Start > Control Panel
    2. Find and open the Windows Firewall control panel item.
    3. Click on the Exceptions tab and look for an entry entitled LabTutor Server
  • Windows Vista:
  1. Start > Control Panel
  2. Find and open the Windows Firewall control panel item.
  3. Click on Change Settings, then click the Exceptions tab and look for an entry entitled LabTutor Server
  • Windows 7, Server 2008:
  1. Start > Control Panel
  2. Find and open the Windows Firewall control panel item
  3. Click on Advanced Settings in the left-hand panel of the window
  4. In the Advanced Settings dialog, click on Inbound Rules in the left-hand panel of the window look for an entry entitled LabTutor Server
  • Windows 8, Windows 10:
  1. Open the Charms menu by mousing over the right-hand edge of your screen
  2. Click on Settings
  3. Click Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Firewall, and click Advanced Settings > Inbound Rules
  4. Look for an entry entitled LabTutor Server

How to add the exception to the firewall if it is missing:
  • Windows XP, Vista 32-bit:
  1. In the Exceptions tab, click Add Program and then Browse...
  2. Navigate to C:\Program Files\ADInstruments\LabTutor Server\tomcat\bin and select tomcat6.exe
  3. Click Open and then click Ok
  4. Tomcat6.exe will now be added to the list of exceptions.
  • Windows Vista 64-bit:
  1. In the Exceptions tab, click Add Program and then Browse...
  2. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\ADInstruments\LabTutor Server\tomcat\bin and select tomcat6.exe
  3. Click Open and then click Ok
  4. Tomcat6.exe will now be added to the list of exceptions
  • Windows 7, Server 2008 64-bit:
  1. In the Inbound Rules tab, click New Rule... which will launch New Inbound Rule Wizard
  2. In the wizard, select Program and then click Next
  3. Select This program path and click Browse...
  4. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\ADInstruments\LabTutor Server\tomcat\bin and select tomcat6.exe (If 32-bit, navigate to C:\Program Files\ADInstruments\LabTutor Server\tomcat\bin)
  5. Click Open, Next and then Allow the connection
  6. Click Next and select the checkboxes for Domain, Private and Public, then click Next
  7. Give the rule a name such as LabTutor Server and then click Finish
  8. Tomcat6.exe will now be added to the list of exceptions
  • Windows 8, Windows 10:
  1. In the Inbound Rules
  2. In the Inbound Rules tab, click New Rule... which will launch New Inbound Rule Wizard
  3. In the wizard, select Program and then click Next
  4. Select This program path and click Browse...
  5. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\ADInstruments\LabTutor Server\tomcat\bin and select tomcat6 (If 32-bit, navigate to C:\Program Files\ADInstruments\LabTutor Server\tomcat\bin)
  6. Click Open, Next and then Allow the connection
  7. Click Next and select the checkboxes for Domain, Private and Public, then click Next
  8. Give the rule a name such as LabTutor Server and then click Finish
  9. Tomcat6.exe will now be added to the list of exceptions
It is also possible that a third-party firewall product is being used instead of the default Windows Firewall. You may need to contact your IT personnel to verify this and, if this is the case, you may need to read the product's instructions for allowing applications or ports through the firewall.
This information is valid for LabTutor v4.0 and later.