Advice for people running Norton Internet Security

[Adrian Lopez]

If you're running Norton Internet Security then you've probably noticed how Lightwave takes a long time to start up whenever you're connected to the Internet. This happens because of Norton Internet Security's "unused port blocking" feature, which ignores packets sent to ports not in use by a running program. Because Layout and Modeler communicate with the Hub via TCP/IP, if an attempt is made by one of the programs to communicate with any of the others and it isn't already running then Norton Internet Security blocks the attempt to communicate, which eventually times out (after a lot of waiting).

The solution is to add the ports used by Layout, Modeler and the Hub to the system-wide permissions. These ports are 1530, 1502 and 1525. If you don't know how to add these ports, here's how to do it:[list=1] Open Norton Internet Security.
Click on "Personal Firewall".
Click on "Internet Access control".
Click on "Configure" and choose "System-Wide Settings".
Click on Add.
Choose "Permit" and click on Next.
Choose "Connections from other computers" and click on Next.
Choose "Any computer" and click on Next.
Choose TCP.
Choose "Only the Types of communication or ports listed below". Click on Add.
Click on "Individually specified ports".
Enter these port numbers into the text box: 1530 1502 1525.
Click on OK.
Click on Next.
Click on Next, again.
Enter a name for the rule, such as "Lightwave 3D".
Click on Next.
Click on Finish.
Click on OK.
Close the Norton Internet Security panel.
You're done. Relax and enjoy.
[/list=1]

[Aegis]

Excellent work Adrian! It comes a bit late for me as I ditched Norton Internet Security and got a refund for that very reason - I've gone back to using Win XP's firewall which does a pretty good job (and doesn't interfere with LightWave) but some peer-to-peer clients (WinMX in particular) don't seem to like it.

I'm sure this'll help some 'Wavers out there though - that wait was maddening!

[peter coley]

I am a novice when it comes to computers will the port numbers work with other firewalls as I have had problems in the past with other makes which in the end I had to remove. Please advice.

peter :confused:

[Adrian Lopez]

The port numbers I gave are the port numbers used by Lightwave by default, so yes they should work with other firewalls. I have no experience with firewall software other than Norton's, but if you can figure out how to force your firewall to allow connections to the ports I listed it should work just fine.

[korn_kid]

I'm not sure if im doing something wrong but this isn't working for me.
this is what I did:

1.) Open Norton Internet Security
2.) Click on "Personal Firewall".
3.) I didn't see the Internet Access control button so I just click on "Configure"(lower right corner)
http://davidaguilar.0catch.com/LWforum/images/nis.JPG
4.) click on "Program Control" tab
NOTE: I did NOT see "System-Wide Settings anywhere.

http://davidaguilar.0catch.com/LWforum/images/nis2.JPG
5.) clcik on add ( I added modeler.exe, hub.exe & lightwav.exe and did #5-21 from ur instructions)

and it still did not work for me.
Did I misses something?:confused: :confused:

info: Windows XP Home SP 1
Norton Internet Security 2003
LightWave 7.5

[Chicken]

I have the best option for Norton Virus :)
Go on add and remove programs, Norton and choose: remove Norton AntiVirus :D

[Adrian Lopez]

Hey korn_kid. Sorry for not replying earlier, but I've been away.

You're using NIS 2003, while the instructions I gave are for the 2002 version of the program. Either way the settings you need to change are not application specific, but system-wide. That's because the problem here is with incoming packets, and since NIS doesn't know which program is sending the packets it cannot permit them based on the program that's sending them.

I don't know where system-wide settings may be found in NIS 2003, but the trick is to allow all computers (including your own) to access port numbers 1530, 1502 and 1525. In NIS 2002 this is done through the system-wide settings.

[meshmaster]

but one problem I see is that if your ports on there are always open, doesn't that open up the pc for a hack attack?

[Tom Wood]

Hi All,

I'm getting a new system for LW/VT that I've decided to leave unconnected to the internet. I do have another computer (obviously) that is connected. It has Norton liveupdate antivirus software. I have a couple of questions:

Are updates to LW/VT simply downloaded, scanned for virii, burned to a CD and sneakernetted to the standalone system, or is there a simpler way?

I notice that Microsoft occasionally looks at my computer and tells me when I need new updates. How do I know when there are updates to the computer that is -not- connected to the internet?

Thanks,

TW

[meshmaster]

to get windows updates, you need to connect the disconnected computer to the internet and go to www.windowsupdate.com (http://www.windowsupdate.com). As far as lw - you don't get auto updates like you do with windows... :( Maybe that'd be a cool thing for the next version though!!! :)

If you have two pcs, you might want to get the one with lw on the net with an ethernet card and cord connected into an ethernet card on the other computer.

That way, even if offline, you could still do net renders!

[korn_kid]

Originally posted by Adrian Lopez
Hey korn_kid. Sorry for not replying earlier, but I've been away.

You're using NIS 2003, while the instructions I gave are for the 2002 version of the program. Either way the settings you need to change are not application specific, but system-wide. That's because the problem here is with incoming packets, and since NIS doesn't know which program is sending the packets it cannot permit them based on the program that's sending them.

I don't know where system-wide settings may be found in NIS 2003, but the trick is to allow all computers (including your own) to access port numbers 1530, 1502 and 1525. In NIS 2002 this is done through the system-wide settings.


Thanks for replying,
I understand what ur saying, I'll check Norton's website if they have a tutorial or something on showing me how to allow access to specific port numbers using NIS 2003.
Thanks again for ur help...