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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To configure the netcup firewall, select your server in the Server Control Panel (SCP), open Firewall, create a policy, add rules, assign that policy to the server, and save. The key UDP detail: unlike TCP, UDP replies are not automatically allowed as tracked return traffic, so you must define rules for both directions you need. A custom rule also changes that direction’s implicit default to DROP, making it important to allow required traffic before restricting it.
Check that the firewall is available for your server
netcup’s documentation gives different availability thresholds. Its Firewall Help Center page, last updated 23 July 2026, says the feature is available for server products from Generation 9, with older generations to be equipped gradually and no exact schedule. A 9 December 2025 announcement describes availability for Generation 12 onward and lists VPS x86, VPS ARM, root-server, and vGPU-server products. The pages do not explain the difference, so check whether Firewall appears for the specific server in your SCP.
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Configure and assign a firewall policy
- Select the server: In SCP, select the VPS or root server and open Firewall. If the existing server has not been configured, click Configure and confirm.
- Create a policy: Under Firewall Policies, create a policy and give it a name.
- Add rules: For each rule, set its direction, protocol, action, source, source ports, destination, and destination ports. Choose only the traffic the server needs.
- Assign the policy: Use Edit Policies, select the policy, and apply it to the server.
- Save and verify: Save the changes. netcup says they apply immediately; a restart is not required.
Why UDP needs explicit rules in both directions
TCP return traffic is tracked
TCP establishes a connection that the firewall can track. Replies to a server-originated TCP connection can therefore be recognized as return traffic without a separate reverse-direction rule.
UDP has no tracked session
UDP does not establish a session for the firewall to track. As netcup’s firewall documentation explains, “both incoming and outgoing rules must be defined for UDP to allow requests and responses.” Set rules for the request and reply paths your service actually uses; opening all UDP traffic is not necessary just because a service uses UDP.
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DNS example: port 53
For the documented DNS server example, permit UDP INGRESS to destination port 53 for incoming queries, then UDP EGRESS from source port 53 for response traffic. These are directional rules: destination port 53 is not interchangeable with source port 53.
NTP example: port 123
netcup’s NTP example permits UDP EGRESS to destination port 123 and UDP INGRESS from source port 123 for answers. Apply this pattern only if the server needs that NTP traffic, including traffic to its configured time server.
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Understand defaults, priority, and common traffic blocks
Adding a rule changes the default for that direction
When you define and save a custom INGRESS rule, unmatched INGRESS traffic is implicitly dropped. EGRESS works independently: adding a custom EGRESS rule changes that direction’s implicit default to DROP as well. A policy can therefore block traffic that has no matching allow rule. netcup recommends creating INGRESS rules only; if you restrict EGRESS, explicitly account for outbound services the server needs.
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Check rule order
The first applicable rule takes precedence; lower-priority rules are ignored for that traffic. Reorder rules when needed so the intended rule is reached before a broader or conflicting rule. Existing established connections may continue under their existing state after a change and are not necessarily rechecked against the new rules.
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Allow outbound services you rely on
For client web connections, netcup gives EGRESS TCP destination ports 80 and 443 as examples. DHCP may be needed during server installation, while NTP may be needed for the configured time server. If you add EGRESS restrictions, identify the server’s actual outbound dependencies rather than assuming that allowing inbound service traffic is enough.
SMTP is blocked by the default mail policy
The default mail-block policy blocks SMTP traffic. To enable SMTP, netcup says to remove that policy in SCP. Do so only when the server is intentionally configured to provide or use the relevant mail service.
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Actions and limits
The guide describes ACCEPT and DROP actions; REJECT is unsupported. DROP silently discards matching traffic without sending a response.
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- One rule can contain up to 100 source or destination IP addresses; each combination counts separately.
- A single policy may contain up to 500 rules.
If no policy is assigned, the help page says the firewall automatically allows all traffic. An unassigned policy is not protective.
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Keep the provider firewall in perspective
The firewall is an upstream layer for basic protection, not a replacement for controls on the server itself. netcup describes it as a way to block unwanted public services or system misconfigurations. Continue to use an operating-system firewall such as iptables, firewalld, or nftables, protect access strongly, and keep the system updated.
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