Configuring LabVIEW, LabVIEW DSC, NI Variable Engine, and Lookout to Work with the Windows Firewall

Primary Software:
Primary Software Version: 2015
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: Lookout, LabVIEW Modules>>LabVIEW DSC Module, LabVIEW Development Systems>>LabVIEW Full Development System, LabVIEW Development Systems>>LabVIEW Professional Development System

Problem:
I'm using the Windows Firewall in Windows XP/Vista/7/8, and I want to make sure that LabVIEW, LabVIEW DSC, NI Variable Engine, and Lookout will not be blocked by the firewall. What settings do I need to modify?

Solution:

Windows provides a firewall which can be enabled for additional network security. If the Windows firewall is enabled and a program attempts to access and open a network port, Windows will prompt the user to ask if they want to unblock the program.

Unfortunately, Windows does not prompt the user to ask about services on the system which attempt to access the network and they are blocked by default if the firewall is enabled. Some of the networking functionality built into National Instruments software relies on services which will be blocked unless specific exceptions are made in the firewall configuration. Without such exceptions, you may run into errors such as error -1950679035 when using Shared Variables that are hosted on the local machine.

Disabling the Windows firewall temporarily would be a quick way to verify if this is the cause of your issue; however, if you want to keep the firewall enabled, follow these steps to unblock NI's Shared Variable/Tag software:

Windows 7/8:

1. Open the Windows Control Panel
2. If on Windows 7, Click Windows Firewall.  If on Windows 8, click System and Security and then select Windows Firewall.
3. Click Allow a program through the Windows Firewall
4. If using Windows 7, click Change Settings
5. Click Allow another program...
6. Click Browse...
7. Navigate to one of the executables listed below.
8. Click Open
9. Click Add
10. Repeat steps 5 to 9 for the entire list of executables.
11. All of the executables added during the previous steps and LabVIEW should now appear in the list of programs. Use the check boxes to allow the programs to be used with each Network Type (Private or Public). Make sure that your network type matches the exceptions.
12. Click OK
13. Close the window
14. Reboot your computer

Windows Vista:

1. Open the Windows Control Panel
2. Click Allow a program through Windows Firewall under Security
3. Click the General tab
4. Ensure that Block all incoming connections is unchecked.
5. Click the Exceptions tab
6. Click Add program...
7. Click Browse...
8. Navigate to one of the executables listed below.
9. Click Open
10. Click Add
11. Repeat steps 5 to 9 for the entire list of executables.
12. All of the executables added during the previous steps and LabVIEW should now appear in the list of programs. Use the check boxes to allow the programs to be used with each Network Type (Private or Public). Make sure that your network type matches the exceptions.
13. Click OK
14. Close the window
15. Reboot your computer

Windows XP:

1. Open the Windows Control Panel
2. Click Windows Firewall under Security
3. Click the General tab
4. Ensure that Don't allow exceptions is unchecked.
5. Click the Exceptions tab
6. Click Add program...
7. Click Browse...
8. Navigate to one of the executables listed below.
9. Click Open
10. Click Add
11. Repeat steps 5 to 9 for the entire list of executables.
12. All of the executables added during the previous steps and LabVIEW should now appear in the list of programs. Use the check box to allow the programs to be used on the network.
13. Click OK
14. Close the window
15. Reboot your computer

Software Programs:

Note: For 32-bit operating systems, use C:\Windows\System32\ instead of C:\Windows\SysWOW64\

LabVIEW or LabVIEW DSC 8.x or Later:

• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lkads.exe
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lktsrv.exe
• C:\Program Files\National Instruments\Shared\Tagger\tagsrv.exe
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\nicitdl5.exe (if using LabVIEW DSC)
• C:\Program Files\National Instruments\DataSocket\cwdss.exe (if using DataSocket)

LabVIEW or LabVIEW DSC 7.x or Lookout 6.0:

• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lkads.exe
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lktsrv.exe
• C:\Program Files\National Instruments\DataSocket\cwdss.exe (if using DataSocket)
• C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW x.x\dscengine.exe (if using LabVIEW DSC)
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\nicitdl5.exe (if using LabVIEW DSC)
• C:\Program Files\National Instruments\Lookout x.x\lookout.exe (if using Lookout)

LabVIEW or LabVIEW DSC 6.x or Below or Lookout 5.1 or Below:

• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lkads.exe
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lktsrv.exe
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\lkcitdl.exe(if using LabVIEW DSC)
• C:\Program Files\National Instruments\DataSocket\cwdss (if using DataSocket)
• C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW x.x\dscengine.exe (if using LabVIEW DSC)
• C:\Program Files\National Instruments\Lookout x.x\lookout.exe (if using Lookout)

Note: If running 32-bit LabVIEW file paths could be in C:\Program File (x86)\. E.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\DataSocket\ cwdss.exe

Related Links:
White Paper: Configuring Software and Hardware Firewalls to Support National Instruments Products
KnowledgeBase 37AEQJVI: Security Alert Dialog Box Appears When Launching LabVIEW on Windows XP SP2
White Paper: Networking Lookout or the LabVIEW DSC Module Across Firewalls
KnowledgeBase 3T9B75XL: Using Lookout, LabVIEW DSC and Network-Published Shared Variables with Firewalls

Attachments: