Determining if the Problem is a Firewall
A firewall is a piece of hardware or software that filters, or blocks, specific internet traffic for security purposes. The presence of a firewall may block access to your online course completely, or only affect certain functions in the course. The easiest way to determine if the firewall is at fault is to disable it temporarily. While the firewall is disabled, try to access your course. If you can access the course, the firewall is the problem, if not, then the problem lies elsewhere. If the problem is with the firewall, follow the links listed below to find out how to reconfigure each specific firewall.
Note: it is not recommended to leave the firewall disabled for extended periods of time as this can expose your computer to malicious software on the internet. Remember to re-enable the firewall after you are done testing.
Because there is no universal firewall, there is no one set of instructions on how to disable the firewall.
Listed below are several firewall programs, and links to the company's instructions on how to disable them.
Institutional Firewalls (if you are trying to access from a school or business)
The firewalls in institutions such as schools in businesses are much more complex than a typical home firewall. The assistance of your institution's technical support staff is required.
Your technical support staff may need the following information:
Site: http://www.iowacentral.com
IP Address: 216.159.180.21
Protocol: TCP
Port: 8900
Disable - Microsoft support article: How to turn off the internet firewall in Windows XP
Reconfigure - Microsoft article: Understanding Windows Firewall
Disable - Symantec support article: How to enable or disable Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall
Reconfigure - Symantec article: Cannot access a specific Web site after installing Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall 2004 or earlier
Disable - Mcafee support article: How do I disable Personal Firewall/Plus?
Reconfigure - Mcafee article: How do I configure Personal Firewall/Plus to allow traffic through a specific port?
Disable - Right-click the Zone Alarm icon in the task tray and select Disable.
Reconfigure - Zone Labs support article: Frequently Asked Questions