Bypassing firewalls (my own, that is)

[Numbers1820]

Here's my situation: I frequently want to access updates to my software over the web (e.g., Norton AntiVirus, Intego ContentBarrier, etc.), but I can't.

Well, I can and I can't. Specifically, I have an iBook and a PowerMac. My iBook does this no problem. It's my PowerMac that gives me messages like, "Live UpDate [Norton] is not able to connect to the server. Make sure your network preferences are correct. If the problem continues, reinstall Live UpDate."

Well, I just reinstalled the entire Norton suite. No dice.

Then I decided to be smart, plunk down my iBook in front of my PowerMac, and compare the System Preferences between the two machines, side by side. Everything was going fine until I accessed the Sharing/Firewall tab. I got this message (since disappeared) that read something like, "Additional firewall software is running on your system. Quit this software before updating your Apple preferences."

Well, that ranks up there with all those really helpful error messages. What software? Norton? Something from my router? How do I find out? Is this a job for Process Viewer or Terminal, to hunt this Mysterious Firewall Software down, quit it (or perhaps dump it off my system?)? A quick scan of Process Viewer (both User and Administrative processes didn't turn up anything obvious. (But then, I don't have a clue how to interpret those cryptic Unix-y names like "slpd", "xinetd", etc.

Any insightful help appreciated!

[ksv]

It's probably ContentBarrier. Try disabling it

[Numbers1820]

ksv,

That seems like too simple of an answer because I have (what seems to be) the exact same setup on my iBook (ContentBarrier the same, OS X settings the same), but do not have the same problems. Again: I can do automatic software updates on my iBook (including ContentBarrier), but not on my desktop. What is really weird is that I can't even automatically update ContentBarrier on my desktop. Why would ContentBarrier interfere with itself (unless it was a bug)?

Thanks for the advice - I'll try it anyway and see what happens.

[ksv]

Mac OS X also has a built-in firewall, check if it's enabled. It's in System Preferences>Network>Firewall.

[Numbers1820]

I think I answered this in my original post, mostly. When I click on the Firewall tab (by the way, it's in Sys Pref>Sharing, not >Network : ), I get the "OS X Firewall Unavailable; other firewall software running on your computer. You must shut down that software first" (something like that) message. That's why I looked in Process Viewer - and only ended up scratching my head at all those cryptic acronyms. What I'm looking for is some way to do what that message advises - to find that other firewall stuff (Norton? ContentBarrier? something else?) and shut it down or tweak it or something.

Thanks again.

[Numbers1820]

Oh, by the way, here's another network error I'm getting. When I try to connect-to-server between my iB and PM, I get mixed results. Specifically, I can connect from the PM to the iB no problemo, but when I try the reverse, I get an "Error = -36" message. Is this possibly related?

[mr. k]

whenever i get the -36 error it is because i entered the password wrong - but that is through samba, not through afp (thats what os x uses now, isn't it?).

[Numbers1820]

Yes, that is correct; Apple uses an afp address (at least that's what I see).