Windows 7 / Networking

Troubleshooting Windows Filtering Platform and IPsec Issues Using Netsh Trace

New in Windows 7 is the netsh trace command context, which can be used to activate logging and tracing on the computer for advanced troubleshooting of Windows Firewall and IPsec issues in conjunction with CSS. This new Netsh context replaces the Logman.exe command used in previous versions of Windows. To use netsh trace for troubleshooting a Windows Firewall or IPsec communications issue that you are experiencing on a computer, follow these steps:

  1. Start a trace session using one of the following commands:
    • netsh trace start scenario=WFP-IPsec Starts a trace session for the predefined Windows Filtering Platform and IPsec scenario.
    • netsh trace start provider="Microsoft-Windows-Windows Firewall With Advanced Security" Starts a trace session for troubleshooting issues involving firewall rules using the Microsoft-Windows-Windows Firewall With Advanced Security provider.
    • netsh trace start provider="Microsoft-Windows-WFP" Starts a trace session for troubleshooting IPsec communications issues using the Microsoft-Windows-WFP provider.
  2. Reproduce the Windows Firewall or IPsec communications problem that you have been experiencing on the computer.
  3. Type netsh trace stop to stop tracing.

The result of performing these steps is a NetTrace.etl file and a NetTrace.cab file located at %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Temp\NetTraces.

The .cab file contains a number of different files that contain information collected during the trace. Once you have collected this information, you can send it to Microsoft support personnel, who can decode the information and help you troubleshoot your issue. You can also view this information yourself by extracting the files contained in the .cab file and then opening the Report.html file, one of the extracted files.

More Info More information on troubleshooting Windows Firewall and IPsec issues can be found in the TechNet Library at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771597.aspx.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Configuring Windows Firewall and IPsec
  2. Understanding Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
  3. Improvements to Windows Firewall Introduced Previously in Windows Vista
  4. Additional Improvements to Windows Firewall in Windows 7
  5. Understanding the Windows Filtering Platform
  6. Windows Firewall and the Startup Process
  7. Understanding Windows Service Hardening
  8. Understanding Service SIDs
  9. Windows Firewall and WSH
  10. Windows Firewall and Service Triggers
  11. Understanding Multiple Active Firewall Profiles
  12. Understanding Rules
  13. Understanding Firewall Rules
  14. Inbound vs . Outbound Rules
  15. Allow vs . Block Rules
  16. Allow If Secure Rules
  17. Authenticated Bypass Rules
  18. Filtering Conditions FOR Firewall RULES
  19. Understanding Connection Security Rules
  20. Types of Connection Security Rules
  21. Supported IPsec Settings for Connection Security Rules
  22. Default IPsec Settings for Connection Security Rules
  23. Windows Firewall and Windows PE
  24. Understanding Default Rules
  25. Understanding WSH Rules
  26. Understanding Rules Processing
  27. Managing Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
  28. Tools for Managing Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
  29. Managing Windows Firewall Using Control Panel
  30. Managing Windows Firewall Using the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Snap-in
  31. Managing Windows Firewall Using Group Policy
  32. Considerations When Managing Windows Firewall Using Group Policy
  33. Managing Windows Firewall Using the Netsh Command
  34. Common Management Tasks
  35. Enabling or Disabling Windows Firewall
  36. Configuring Firewall Profiles and IPsec Settings by Using Group Policy
  37. Creating and Configuring Firewall Rules
  38. Creating and Configuring Connection Security Rules
  39. Monitoring Windows Firewall
  40. Troubleshooting Windows Firewall
  41. Troubleshooting Windows Firewall Using Firewall Logs
  42. Troubleshooting Windows Firewall Using Event Logs
  43. Troubleshooting Windows Firewall Using Auditing
  44. Troubleshooting IPsec Issues Using Netsh Wfp
  45. Troubleshooting Windows Filtering Platform and IPsec Issues Using Netsh Trace