If you use telnet command and figure out the port between your server pc and client pc is blocked, the next step is to open the port, so no more error message – “A network error occurred while communicating with connection manager” will pop up again.

In order to open a port in Windows Firewall, you need to access the Advanced Settings of Windows Firewall under Control Panel.

For Windows 7, you can simply go to Start, Control Panels, Windows Firewall and click Advanced Settings on the left hand side.

For Windows 8, you can move your cursor to the upper right hand corner of the screen to access the Charm Bar. Then, you select Settings and Click on Control Panel. After that, you go for Windows Firewall and click on Advanced Settings.

You will see the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security pops up. For server PC, you select Inbound Rules on the left hand side. Then, you select New Rule under Actions on the right hand side. The New Inbound Rule Wizard will then pop up. Select Port and click Next. On the next screen, select TCP and key in port number 13531. If you need to open more ports for multi-user session purpose, you can key in 13531, 13540-13545 and click Next. On the next screen, select Allow the connection and click next. Then, put checkmark for Domain and Private on the next window and click Next. After that, Type “Sage 50 Accounting ports” in the Name field and click finish to exit the setup.

If you need to set up outbound rule for each of your workstation in the network. The step and the port number are the same as previously mentioned. The only difference is that you will choose Outbound Rules instead of Inbound Rules when you open the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window.

This is all for today. Happy Tuesday and see you next time.