Zone Alarm Help Request

[Vgolfmaster]

Hi,

I have searched for other threads looking for a solution to getting folding configured within Zone Alarm firewall, and have yet to see an answer to this dilemma. Has anyone been able to configure a f@h client to successfully send completed work units while ZA is active?

I am able to download and start new work units, but am unable to send results. The only way I can is to disable ZA, let the work units send, then re-enable ZA. I have made exceptions in ZA for the clients (both CPU and GPU), and still no joy.

I am currently running the 6.30r2 client on my GPU, and the 6.23 client on my CPU (installed as a service). I have the executables and the clients for each of these added as exceptions in ZA and all are given full permissions, and still I can not upload completed work units.

Has anyone found a solution for this that does not involve uninstalling Zone Alarm?

tia for any help or suggestions

[bruce]

If ZA has an exception that you made for an earlier version of the clients, you need to make a new exception whenever you upgrade the clients. The simplest way to do that is to remove all FAH-related exceptions and then try to upload. ZA will report that it blocked the upload. Use that reference when making a new exception.

If you're running both 6.23 and 6.30r2 you'll need two exceptions.

[Vgolfmaster]

This is the first time I have installed ZA on this machine, so no previous entries. I'm also don't understand why ZA is not prompting whether to deny or allow the upload. Maybe that ZA behavior is only used for inbound permissions?

Anyway, still no joy here, and I'm not sure how to allow these outbound requests.

[Nathan_P]

I have zone alarm installed and have no problems sending work units - the machine is currently down for maintenance, when its back up i'll have a look and see how I have it configured and let you know

[kg4icg]

Here is 1 way to fix ZoneAlarm, Uninstall it and and install Microsoft Security Essentials, basically all your problems go away while maintainning the security of your computer.

[Jesse_V]

Here is 1 way to fix ZoneAlarm, Uninstall it and and install Microsoft Security Essentials, basically all your problems go away while maintainning the security of your computer.

Perhaps this is true but I'm going to disagree. The choice of ZoneAlarm was his choice, and we should try to support it. I've only been on the forums for a few months now, but I've noticed that he's not the only one with ZoneAlarm. There has to be a solution. When it becomes reasonable to assume that none can be found, then I would support the idea of switching over to a different program. Thanks.

[Nathan_P]

I have just checked my settings and I have no special exceptions set up for F@H. Everything is pretty much set up as at install, all the cores have access to the trusted zone.
Program control is set to max and smart defense is on Auto. Firewall is set to high for the internet zone and medium for the trusted zone

[Vgolfmaster]

Thanks Nathan_P,

Unfortunately I too have both cores and both executables allowed in the trusted zones, but neither is able to send. I am still forced to disable ZA to let them send, and then re-enable it. Mine is the free version of ZA firewall, with Program control set to 'Low' and SmartDefense set to 'Manual'. You must be running a different version than the free one, as the 'High' setting for Program Control isn't available in the free version, maybe that is part of the difference?

Here is 1 way to fix ZoneAlarm, Uninstall it and and install Microsoft Security Essentials, basically all your problems go away while maintainning the security of your computer.

Perhaps this is true but I'm going to disagree. The choice of ZoneAlarm was his choice, and we should try to support it. I've only been on the forums for a few months now, but I've noticed that he's not the only one with ZoneAlarm. There has to be a solution. When it becomes reasonable to assume that none can be found, then I would support the idea of switching over to a different program. Thanks.

Thanks as well Jesse_V, if I was interested in ditching Zone Alarm, I wouldn't be here asking for help. Obviously there are ways to make it work, I just haven't found the magic answer yet !!

Also, I am a bit stumped as to why I am not getting prompted for allowing/denying access when the clients are trying to send wu's. I just switched the Program Control level to Medium, and will see if that prompts ZA to ask me for permissions when it tries to send. If so, I'll allow it, and let you know what exception it adds to the program list, then maybe we will ALL have an answer to this!

[bruce]

I used to run the free version of ZA. Although it was probably a much older version, I was able to make it work.

The FahCore_xx.exe programs never access the internet so they do not need an exception in ZA. Only the client(s) need that. They did not need server permission, only a checkmark in the box that allows it to contact the internet. Whether any of that has changed -- or even if I remember it correctly from a number of years ago -- I'm not sure I can offer anything that's useful for your current situation.

[7im]

Forum Search is your friend. This isn't the first time someone has had a problem with ZA.

[Vgolfmaster]

I have searched the forums 7im and found similar threads, none of which have resulted in a solution for this. You are correct that it isn't the first time someone has had a problem with zone alarm. You are incorrect in your assumption that I haven't researched before posting this.

I have also posted to the ZA forums, and will gladly post any resolution that is discovered. If anyone here knows the fix for this, I'd appreciate learning it here just as much.

[Vgolfmaster]

bruce,

even though I had exceptions for them, I removed the cores from the programs list, as I was also under the understanding that they did not need internet access. Apparently, I was wrong.



I allowed it to give access via this permission request, and will post back if this works. Previously it never asked for this, so my fingers are crossed.

[codysluder]

224.0.0.251 is a reserved address to handle Multicast DNS. Contrary to Zone Alarm's generic pop-up, it's not the internet. It is used by fahcore_a3 so the various SMP threads can talk to each other within your machine.

You did the right thing by allowing it, it's doubtful that it will change your original problem of uploading finished results.

[Vgolfmaster]

Thanks Cody,

A new development, in that (even though they were already added and 'allowed') I also deleted the executables from the ZA program lists, and one has so far finished a w/u and ZA prompted me in the same manner. I added the exception that way, via the popup, and the work unit sent. Now if the other one behaves the same, I am all set. Well, at least Ill have them working, but I still don't understand why the manual exception didn't work.

I also just found that I was unable to send E-mail via Outlook 2007. Disabling ZA didn't correct it. Disabling my Avast AV did (even though I have had Avast installed for months, and have made no changes). Re-enabled the AV and ZA and now my mail is sending again with both running, an no configuration changes. Never seen such quirky behavior from the installation of ZA....

Thanks for the feedback, hopefully this means I am on my way folding again!

[codysluder]

You should never run two packages that have overlapping capabilities. Make either ZA or Avast work for you and uninstall the other.

If you search the forum, you'll find independent reports of problems with both of them. That may help you choose. In my opinion, ZA is much more comprehensive than Avast but I don't run either of them now.